The flu doesn't discriminate as to who it will infect, which is why it's important to make sure your workforce is prepared for flu season. While there are simple personal health practices everyone can adopt to help stay germ-free, getting an annual flu shot is the most effective way to protect against the virus. 

Employees miss an average of five workdays per year due to the flu, at a cost of about $200 per person for each lost day. That means for a workforce of 250 employees, the flu season could cost $250,000 in missed workdays every year. And, with between 140,000 to 710,000 hospitalizations from the flu each year, adopting preventative steps to cut your company's exposure is vitally important for your employees' health and your bottom line.

There are many convenient options for preventing the flu, including on-site clinics. Some health care companies offer this option as part of a worksite wellness program in which they administer flu shots and provide educational materials. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), on-site vaccines increase productivity and decrease absenteeism in the workplace.