When you’re sick, especially with a virus like the flu, it’s hard to do much of anything. This includes performing well on the job. At the same time, businesses need their employees to work in order to run efficiently.
Recently, however, there has been some discussion about whether employers encouraging employees to take sick days could be more beneficial than having them work while feeling under the weather.
Taking time off when sick can increase employees’ recovery times as well as improve the overall health in the workplace. Additionally, this practice can reduce the amount of money employers have to shell out for insurance premiums and payroll – including pay for substitute overtime or temp workers.
For years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have kept meticulous records of annual outbreaks of the flu. Advancements in technology have allowed the CDC to run real-life trials and then use the data to analyze areas where employers are required by law to extend paid sick time for employees.
The data has revealed that when employees are encouraged to stay home when ill, there is a 5 to 10 percent decrease in the spread of the flu. Researchers note that this may also lead to employers experiencing a decrease in their health costs. While the flu doesn’t typically require high healthcare costs, accompanying complications often do.
These complications can include brain, heart and muscle tissue inflammation and even multi-organ failure. While these side effects are rare, they can result in high expenses. Therefore, it’s advisable to encourage your employees to get inoculated for the flu annually. You should also extend sick leave to employees with the flu in the event that the vaccine is ineffective.
Having employees out sick can be inconvenient, especially for a small business. But in many cases your staff as a whole will benefit in the long run.