What month is flu season?

By Carrie Kramer

Organizations that foster a culture that supports employee health and well-being opens in new window reap the benefits. Higher productivity, increased profitability and lower healthcare costs are just a few advantages of prioritizing a healthy workforce. Wondering what months cold and flu season spans? It typically runs from October to May, and there’s no time like the present to encourage employees to be prepared. In this annual cold and flu prevention update, get tips, plus health and wellness promotional items.

Flu season typically runs from October to May.

Stop the spread

Keep germs from spreading opens in new window by stopping them dead in their tracks. Regularly wipe down frequently touched surfaces, like desktops, phones, doorknobs and handrails, with antibacterial wet wipes. Avoid sharing commonly touched items like writing utensils. Or opt for pens and pencils that have antimicrobial properties. Encourage frequent handwashing and keep plenty of sanitizer around for when soap and water aren’t easily accessible.

Encourage healthy habits

As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Good nutrition and hydration help maintain a healthy immune system opens in new window. Launch a healthy eating challenge where employees earn points for nutritious choices, like meeting daily fruit and vegetable goals, avoiding added sugar or limiting unhealthy fats. Allow team members to use their points toward wellness prizes, like salad spinners or blenders.

Help employees boost their water intake by giving everyone a branded water bottle. Some people don’t care for plain water. If that’s the case, encourage them to use an infuser bottle, which allows them to add fresh fruits, vegetables or herbs for a hint of flavor.

Promote good rest

A good night’s rest is important for immunity. Sleep reduces inflammation opens in new window, promotes cell repair and lowers stress—all crucial for fighting infections. Encourage employees to get adequate sleep by maintaining consistent bedtimes and wake-up routines, limiting or abstaining from alcohol, avoiding caffeine late in the day, reducing blue light near bedtime and sleeping in a cool, dark room. Share these tips with staff and encourage them to do the same. When a staff member shares their good sleep know-how, reward them with a wellness promotional item, like a sleep mask or journal.

Treat with care

Foster a culture of care by encouraging sick employees to stay home and recuperate opens in new window. Showing up to work unwell not only puts others at risk; it can delay recovery. It can also lead to presenteeism—being present at work but not productive—which can cost organizations more than absenteeism. When an employee falls ill, send a get-well gift basket. Include wellness promotional items like a cold and flu kit with tissues, ibuprofen and a disposable thermometer; a soup mug with dried soup mix; and a plush blanket. Tuck in a note with healing wishes from the team.

Manifest good health using wellness promotional items

We can’t stop cold and flu season, but we can prevent germs from spreading, boost immunity and take care when feeling ill. Try these tips, coupled with health and wellness promotional items, to keeps sickness at bay. Be well!

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