NederlandsThis week it was announced that there is officially a flu epidemic. Flu has a clear seasonal pattern and we can partly predict absenteeism due to this. As an employer, you want to keep absenteeism due to illness as low as possible. What can you do proactively? Here you can read our tips.
Differences in absenteeism between companies
The figures differ per industry. In general, absenteeism is highest in healthcare. We also see high absenteeism rates in waste management, industry and public administration. Actief Werkt! is active in all these sectors. Controlling absenteeism is therefore an important topic for us. What other differences do we see? Absenteeism is lowest in companies with up to 10 employees. Absenteeism is reasonably low in SMEs anyway: 3.8%. However, we also see a slight increase here. This has everything to do with attention to absenteeism prevention among employers. Conclusion: putting the subject on the agenda makes sense.
Of course, the costs of a sick employee vary enormously. According to TNO, a sick employee costs an average of € 223 per day. In Nederland this means a cost of claims of hundreds of millions of euros for employers.
A late flu wave this year?
Research by Statistics Netherlands and TNO shows that most of the sick leave reports are the result of the flu and the common cold. This complaint is mentioned in 40% of the cases. The top 3 is further completed by abdominal complaints (2) and psychological complaints (3).
Last week, the Nivel Health Institute announced that the current flu wave can last for ten to fifteen weeks. Compared to other years, we are late in 2020. Often flu waves in Nederland already start in December.
Can the flu be prevented?
There are many ways to reduce your risk of getting the flu. Everything revolves around hygiene. The measures are obvious to most people: use paper tissues, wash hands often, stay away from people who have the flu. Although it is not always easy to take it into account in the workplace, you can greatly reduce the chance of becoming infected if you do.
What can you do as an employer?
It makes sense for employers to pay more attention to safe and healthy work in a broader sense. When you have a healthy lifestyle, it is beneficial for your immune system, the basis. The immune system is the first defense against the flu virus. As the employer of our flex colleagues, we pay a lot of attention to encouraging a healthy lifestyle; to sufficient exercise and sleep, to the importance of fresh air and healthy food.
A few tips:
- Offer fresh fruit to the workplace.
- Pays attention to healthy food in the company canteen.
- Provides ample opportunity for outdoor breaks.
- Encourage hand washing, and provide information about this. (Did you know it takes 15 to 20 seconds for soapy water to work?)
- Provide cleaning wipes and hand sanitizer in the workplace and common areas.
- Encourage employees to stay at home if they carry the virus to prevent contamination.
- Make it easy for your employees to drink a lot.
- Provide adequate ventilation in the workplace.
And finally, also in perspective; Since stress weakens the immune system, we should not be too panicky about the prevention of flu. Once you've fallen, accept that, take care of yourself and take good care of yourself. Courage!
Would you like to know more? Please contact one of our employees.