Flu outbreak is costing companies billions

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Source: http://money.msn.com/now/post.aspx?p...9-ae5984b22226


Flu outbreak is costing companies billions
It's the worst flu season in years. Workers concerned about job security are coming to the office sick and making it worse.
By Bruce Kennedy 1 hour ago

...In the current, shaky economic environment, "workers are reluctant to call in sick or even use vacation days," CEO John Challenger said in a press statement. "Of course, this has significant negative consequences for the workplace, where the sick worker is not only performing at a reduced capacity, but also likely to infect others.?


Challenger has some suggestions for companies trying to keep their operations humming despite the flu outbreak...

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Re: Flu outbreak is costing companies billions

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/econ...ther-1B7928002

Mark Koba , CNBC.com
Major flu outbreak threatens to slow US economy further

One of the worst flu seasons in a decade is putting further strains on an already sluggish U.S. economy as companies get slammed with increased health care costs and lower productivity from widespread worker absences.

On average, seasonal flu outbreaks cost U.S. employers $10.4 billion in direct costs of hospitalization and outpatient visits, according to the Centers for Disease Control. That doesn't include the indirect costs related to lost productivity and worker absenteeism...

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Re: Flu outbreak is costing companies billions

Source: http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Articl...Day.aspx#page1


The High Cost of Taking a Sick Day
By BLAIRE BRIODY, The Fiscal Times
January 10, 2013

This winter, the flu is hitting hard and fast. So far this season, there have been over 22,000 reported flu cases, up from 849 last year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, prompting Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino to declare the outbreak a public health emergency on Wednesday.

All of this means that more employees are calling in sick and pulling infected children out of school or daycare -- but what?s the cost of taking that sick day?

According to the Centers for Disease Control, typical seasonal flu outbreaks cost employers some $10.4 billion in hospitalization and outpatient visits? that number doesn?t include the costs related to the worker being away from the job and lost productivity...

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Re: Flu outbreak is costing companies billions

Source: http://www.marinij.com/ci_22388491/f...all-businesses

Flu outbreak particularly bad for small businesses
By joyce M. Rosenberg
Associated Press
Posted: 01/16/2013 04:17:27 PM PST

NEW YORK -- The flu season has created a scramble for New Jersey Limo Bus & Limousine.

Two of the company's seven full-time employees called in sick at the same time. They were in charge of maintaining and cleaning the limos and buses. Two part-time drivers also called in sick.

"It's very difficult to get things done," says Ann Marie Brasco, owner of the Fairfield, N.J., firm...