Few corporations benchmark their flu programs, a published study from the Disability Management Corporation Coalition finds. But those that do often discover room for improvement.
Nearly 80 percent of corporations provide staff access to flu shots, either onsite or at a local clinic. And 72 percent cover some or all of the cost (typically compensating between $10 to $20). But –
• At 89 percent of firms, fewer than half of personnel actually get a flu shot
• At 38% of businesses, fewer than 25% of staff members participate
• only 6 percent of firms are able to get at least 75 percent participation
• 87% of survey respondents said they never measure absenteeism during flu season, and
• 75% never tracked whether personnel who get flu shots are actually absent less often.
The firms that get best results are those that actively educate workforce, track flu-related absenteeism and send sick workforce home.
