Tips for preventing the spread of illnesses in the workplace

It's that time of year again — time to prepare for the months we refer to as cold, flu and COVID season. According to Mayo Clinic, there are several reasons why viral infections surge from November through February. First, people spend more time indoors, which puts us in closer contact with people who may be infected. Second, there is less humidity in the air. That means when we speak, cough and sneeze, small droplets hang in the air longer where they can be breathed in by someone else.

Small- and mid-sized businesses are particularly affected when viruses are at their peak. Employee absences due to illness can delay work, drive up health insurance claims and impact morale on the job. While nobody can completely stop the spread of illnesses, there are steps companies can take to greatly reduce the risks.

How are illnesses spread?

Viruses spread by gaining entrance into our bodies, usually through the eyes, nose or mouth. There are four ways this commonly occurs:

• Direct contact, or touching the clothes or skin of an infected person.
• Indirect contact with germs on a surface or object. This occurs when an infected person leaves germs behind on an object that another person then touches and puts into their bodies.
• Large droplets that contaminate surrounding objects or are inhaled into the lungs by others.
• Aerosol, or mists of moisture that are exhaled in normal breathing. These tiny drops can hang in the air for minutes or hours and be inhaled into the lungs by others who pass by.

What can employers do?

Protecting your employees doesn't have to be expensive. The World Health Organization offers the following low-cost guidelines to help companies manage the spread of COVID. These are effective measures for preventing many other infections as well:

• Make sure your work environment is clean. Make sure desks, telephones, keyboards and other equipment is cleaned regularly with germ-killing wipes.
• Put hand sanitizer or disinfectant wipes at entrances, service counters, meeting rooms and other prominent places.
• Encourage employers, customers and contractors to wash their hands. Display posters or use other educational materials as reminders of good hygiene practices. (The National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention offers free posters that can be downloaded, printed from a standard office printer, and displayed in bathrooms and common areas).
• Offer face masks, facial tissue and closed trash bins.
• Communicate often about good hygiene through employee newsletters, meetings, intranet sites, etc.
• Encourage employees and contractors who are sick to stay home. Anyone with a mild cough or low-grade fever (99 degrees F), and anyone who has taken over-the-counter cough suppressants or painkillers to mask symptoms should stay home.
• Evaluate whether people need to gather in close proximity for meetings. Can meetings be held through a teleconference or online? Can a meeting be scaled down so fewer people are exposed to each other?
• Assess the benefits and risks of travel plans. Avoid sending employers to places where infection rates are high. (The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control offer a map of influenza infections that is updated weekly. Similarly, their COVID data tracker can provide insight into current infection risk.)
• If possible, allow your employees to work from home or less crowded locations. According to the CDC, putting distance between employees can help lower the risk of spreading respiratory viruses.
• Develop a business continuity plan that will help your company to continue to operate when infection rates are high in your location.

Access to quality health coverage matters

It's important for your employees to feel like they know where to go and can afford care if they are ill. Viruses such as the flu, RSV and COVID can be dangerous for people who are older or very young, or who have underlying medical conditions such as diabetes or asthma.

According to KFF, studies show that people who lack health insurance are less likely to receive preventive care and treatment for health problems than those with quality health plans.

Vaccinations in particular are proven to be highly effective in preventing serious viral illnesses and keeping people out of the hospital. Offering a health insurance plan to your employees makes it more likely your employees will get their vaccinations and treatment, when needed.

Allstate Benefits offers both self-funded and fully insured group health options that are specifically designed for small- and mid-sized companies.

Our self-funded plan designs are a great choice for employers who are looking for ways to take control of their health care costs. If your group's claims are lower than expected, you may get a refund of a portion of the difference at the end of the plan year.¹

Secure Choice fully insured plans are a great option for small businesses that are looking for a traditional major medical plan.

All of our plans include preventive coverage that aligns with Affordable Care Act requirements.

Contact a Group Health sales executive to learn more about how Allstate Benefits can help your company and your employees.

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