Withbetween 140,000 to 710,000 hospitalizations from the flu each year,adopting preventative steps to cut your company's exposure isvitally important for your employees' health and your bottom line.(Photo: Shutterstock)

The 2017-2018 flu season was one of the most severe in recenthistory—and employers were faced with difficult challenges relatedto lost workdays and low productivity as a result of sick employees.That's why it's more important than ever to take steps now toprepare and protect your workforce for the upcoming flu season. Andwhile there are simple, personal health practices employers canadvocate to help keep employees healthy, getting an annual flu shotis still the most effective way to protect against the virus.

Related: Why offering employees flu shots benefitseveryone

Employees miss an average of five workdays per year due to theflu, at a cost of about $200 per person for each lost day. Thatmeans for a workforce of 250 employees, the flu season could cost$250,000 in missed workdays every year. And with between 140,000 to710,000 hospitalizations from the flu each year, adopting preventative steps to cut your company'sexposure is vitally important for your employees' health and yourbottom line.

There are many convenient options for preventing flu in theworkplace, including on-site flu shot clinics. Some companies offerthis option as part of a worksite wellness program in which theyadminister flu shots and provide educational materials – and theseclinics have been proven to work. In fact, according to the U.S.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), on-site flu shotshave been shown to increase productivity and decrease absenteeismin the workplace.

Business leaders can help employees stay healthy this flu seasonby understanding the roadblocks that often prevent their workforcefrom getting an annual flu shot – and how on-site flu shot clinicscan help make it easy for employees to get vaccinated. As aphysician, here are just a few of the roadblocks some of mypatients have cited:

1. Time

Many people struggle to find enough time in the day to go towork, cook meals, visit the gym, and spend time with family orfriends – let alone make an extra stop on the way home in trafficto get a flu shot. On-site flu shot clinics take the time andstress out of getting vaccinated. The clinics make it easy foremployees to stop by during a lunch break or before or after workto get their annual flu shot. Plus, employees can feel good knowingthat they are encouraged to get a flu shot during company hours.It's also a great way to help employees get vaccinated early in theseason. It takes about two weeks for the vaccine to becomeeffective, so getting the vaccine before the end of October istypically recommended.

2. Education

Unfortunately, there are a lot of myths about the flu shot,including that the flu shot will make you sick, that it'sineffective, and more. The fact of the matter is that thesemisconceptions simply aren't true. For example, the flu shot cannotmake you sick because the viruses used in the vaccine are inactive.However, many people mistake minor side effects associated with thevaccine, like soreness, achiness, headache, or low-grade fever, asthe flu itself. Also, while the effectiveness of the flu shotvaries each year depending on the circulating flu strains, it'sstill important to get vaccinated. The vaccine provides an addedlayer of protection that wouldn't otherwise be possible. In fact,it can actually help reduce the severity of flu symptoms if anemployee does get the flu – which means they're able to get back ontheir feet (and back to work) faster.

To help employees understand fact from fiction when it comes toflu shots, many companies also offer educational materials andhealthy handouts as part of an on-site flu shot clinic.

3. Cost

While many insurance providers cover the cost, some people maybe concerned that they will have to pay out of pocket for a flushot – and often side-step getting vaccinated to avoid addedhealthcare costs. However, many on-site flu shot clinics areoffered at no or low cost to employees.

Are you prepared for flu season?

• Preparing your workforce for fluseason
• Flu estimated to cost employers $9B thisyear
• How employers can fight the flu

Reed A. Erickson, MD, MBA, CPS/A,MedExpress, as a medical leader of our Employer Health Services, isan expert in the area of workplace health, especially DOT/FMCSAmedical certifications and guidelines.