3 Ways the Flu Decreases Employee Productivity (And How to Get it Back)

The flu may not care about important meetings or deadlines, but you certainly do. And if you’re like most US employers, you may have noticed that about one in five call-offs in the winter is a result of the flu. This year, prepare your workforce for flu season with onsite flu shots that protect against illness and maintain productivity through the winter.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) affirms that onsite flu shots are a proven cost-effective strategy for increasing productivity, reducing overall absenteeism and preventing direct health costs.

Don’t just take their word for it… Let the numbers do the talking:

How the Flu Affects Employee Productivity

Studies indicate that influenza diminishes employee productivity. Here’s what the findings have to show:

The flu is costing you MILLIONS in lost productivity

Each year in the US, the flu is responsible for 200 million days of diminished productivity, 100 million days of bed disability, 75 million days of work absences and 22 million visits to health care providers

Employee performance declines with the flu

Studies show that employees with the flu demonstrate impaired performance of simple reaction-time tasks by 20 to 40 percent, which can increase the probability of error or injury.

Older employees are particularly susceptible to lost productivity due to the flu

Influenza is responsible for 45 percent of workdays lost and 49 percent of low productivity days among working adults ages 50-64.

Hypothetical Cost of Decreased Employee Productivity due to Flu

Assuming an average employee salary of $50,000 (consistent with the latest US median income figures), here’s an example of how the flu could cost your company:

• Average cost of a lost workday per employee: $200
• Average number of workdays lost per employee due to the flu: 5
• Total cost per employee of lost workdays due to the flu: $1,000

Let’s say a company has 1,000 employees and approximately 20 percent (1 in 5) get the flu in a given year. The total annual cost of productivity losses due to the flu is $200,000.

And that doesn’t even account for direct health care costs.

The average cost of a doctor’s visit is $154.55. If each employee who gets the flu sees a doctor, the employer is likely to see over $30,000 in additional expenses.

Solution: Onsite Flu Shots

There you have it — the price of a workforce unvaccinated against the flu is high. That’s why many employers are opting to provide onsite flu shots to ensure employees are prepared in the event of a flu outbreak.

Consider Cover-Tek your productivity partner… We want to help your workforce stay healthy and productive all winter long. Call today to get the best bulk flu shot pricing and to schedule your onsite flu clinic in advance!