Most people struggle into work despite being unwell. However with the flu, they may have been spreading the virus for days, without even realising it.
Will you lose money to the flu this year?
- Each year, on average, up to 20% of staff become infected with flu (1)
- More than one million working days are lost each year in Australia by people who develop flu and take time off work to recover (2)
- Once you have a flu outbreak at work, it is difficult to protect staff
- Although the most severe symptoms usually last 2-3 days, other flu symptoms can persist for 7 days or more
Will your workplace safety and efficiency be compromised?
- Having flu can slow reaction times by 20-40% - this is comparable to the effect of alcohol consumption (3)
- There is an increased risk of injury as flu-affected staff may continue to work
- Decrease productivity due to tiredness and exhaustion, may continue to affect employees long after they have returned to work.
- Helps protect others who are at high medical risk from flu whether at home or in the workplace
- A flu vaccination program demonstrates an employer's investment in the health and well-being of their staff
(1) Fogarty P and Irving L. Influenza. Current Therapeutics May 1999: 21-25
(2) Mills J, Yapp T. An economic evaluation of three CSIRO manufacturing projects. 1996 Australia: CSIRO
(3) Smith et al. Effect of influenza B virus on human performance. BMJ 1993; 306;