Influenza is one of the leading causes of employee absences. The Society of Human Resource Management estimates that 10 to 12 percent of all employee absences are due to the flu virus. Each infected employee could miss up to six days of work and need up to two weeks to make a full recovery.

Your business takes a bigger hit than just the health care costs, too; consider the costs related to lower productivity because of missed workdays, delayed projects or employees who decide to come into work sick. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, that equates to approximately $7 billion per year in sick days and lost productivity. Through advanced education and proper planning, you can help protect your employees and shield your business from the seasonal flu.

To minimize the effect of flu on your business, there are seven key ways you can help protect your employees:

1. Educate employees about the symptoms and spread of the influenza virus.
2. Step up your office’s hygiene practices.
3. Review your policies for paid time off/sick leave and telecommuting.  
4. Create a plan of communication.
5. Identify critical tasks and develop a strategy to guarantee they are completed.
6. Ensure your employees are educated about their health insurance coverage.
7. Host an on-site flu shot clinic.