Employers may recommend that employees get flu shots. In certain industries, such as health care, they are required. In certain situations exceptions to mandatory vaccination should be made, such as for a disability or religious accommodation request. In the middle of a pandemic, employers may think about encouraging inoculation.
Employers may want to consider offering free on-site flu vaccinations at their business locations. Making annual flu vaccinations part of the workplace wellness program offers many benefits to employers and employees. The CDC notes benefits* to both:
Benefits to Employers:
- Reduces cost by decreasing time missed from work to get vaccinated
- Reduces cost by reducing absences due to illness, resulting in improved productivity
- Vaccination often already covered under employee health plans
- Improves morale
Benefits to Employees:
- Reduces absences due to sickness and doctor visits
- Improves health
- Convenience
- Improves morale
*Benefits will vary based on investment by employers in championing vaccination and number of employees vaccinated.
The CDC has resources available for hosting a flu vaccination clinic, including a step-by-step guide to help clinic coordinators/supervisors who oversee vaccination clinics.
If not hosting a flu vaccination clinic at the workplace, employers may contemplate other steps recommended by the CDC to encourage vaccination:
- Be flexible in your human resources (HR) policies. Establish policies that allow employees to take an hour or two to seek flu vaccinations in the community.
- Use promotional posters/flyers to advertise locations in the community that offer seasonal flu vaccinations. Display posters about flu vaccination in break rooms, cafeterias, and other high-traffic areas.
- Post articles in company communications (i.e., newsletters, intranet, emails, portals, etc.) about the importance of flu vaccination and where to get the vaccine in the community.
- Share the flu vaccine finder with employees to help them find out where they can get a flu vaccine: https://vaccinefinder.org/external icon.
- Encourage flu vaccination for employees’ families by distributing information for employees to take home.