Health and work update for clients as at 6 December 2022

UPDATE ON PROMOTING, PROTECTING AND SUPPORTING HEALTH IN WORK

1. Preventing ill health and spread of infectious disease

COVID-19 infections continue to reduce. However, we are likely to see significant cases of influenza this season. In the latest Government update at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/national- flu-and-covid-19-surveillance-reports-published the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reports that swab positivity for flu has increased and is now at 10.5%; it remains highest in 5 to 14-year-olds at 18.5%.

Hospital admission rates and intensive care admission rates with ‘flu’ have increased further in the last week. The highest rates of admission are being seen in children under the age of 5 (6.88 per 100,000) and adults aged 85 and over (6.94 per 100,000).

Administrative control measures, including ensuring employees do not come into work with symptoms, will reduce spread of COVID-19 and ‘flu’ in the workplace and in the community through travel to and from work.

Immunisations are a highly important tool in reducing the risk of becoming infected, and in reducing the severity of infection especially for those who are more vulnerable. As advised in previous client updates, this season everyone over 50 is eligible for a ‘flu’ jab, as well as pregnant women and those with health conditions making them more vulnerable.

We advise that all employees should be encouraged to have their COVID-19 boosters when called. We have again this year been providing ‘flu’ vaccinations for employees of many of our clients; immunising those who are not eligible for an NHS influenza immunisation will assist in reducing the likelihood of them becoming infected, and also will assist in reducing spread of infection in the workplace. If clients have further employees needing ‘flu’ immunisation this season, we recommend arranging this through your account managers.

2. Managing sickness absence

One of the reasons for sickness absence this winter will be through respiratory infections, including COVID-19 and ‘flu’. This is likely to have an impact on business continuity. Ensuring that “presenteeism”- people coming into work with symptoms of respiratory infection – is kept to a
minimum aims to reduce the likelihood of further absence due to spread of infection in the workplace.

Nonetheless, sickness absence does of course need to be managed, particularly if there are pressures due to infections this winter. On 17th November ACAS launched their sickness absence campaign. ACAS advises that with over one-quarter of employers reporting an increase in staff absences, their guidance offers tips to businesses and employers on how best to handle sickness absence and how to better support employees during their illness and upon their return to work.

The ACAS sickness absence toolkit is available at: https://company-180825.frontify.com/d/9XEi1YzDsXxS/n-a#/campaigns/sickness-absence

ACAS has also produce a blog at: https://www.acas.org.uk/podcast/sickness-absence-how-employers-can-better-manage-sick-leave?utm_source=SicknessPodcast&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Sickness

Dr Robin Cordell
MBA FRCP FFOM
6 December 2022

We continue to provide updates and maintain resources on our website for employers at: https://cordellhealth.co.uk/