When the winter months arrive, employers begin the annual ritual of managing absenteeism. Cold and flu season can severely compromise productivity levels and affect both healthcare and business costs.

Worse still is “presenteeism,” where sick employees come to work but are not fully functional. Sick employees spread germs, infect other workers, and set off a chain reaction of maladies causing further workplace instability.

This can be particularly distressing for smaller companies where each body counts for a whole lot more. Five sick employees out of an office of 20? It’s not hard to imagine the impact when 25 percent of an organization’s workers are missing in action.

Keeping productivity in line while fighting viruses and infections requires a healthy, year-round strategy. Here are five easy-to-implement ways organizations can keep employees healthy and ward off the ill winds that can slow down business as usual.

1. Let sick workers know that there’s no place like home. Rest at home is the best treatment for colds and the flu. Make sure employees understand that it’s important to have only high-functioning, healthy people in the workplace. Let them know it’s okay to pick up the phone and call in sick when they’re not feeling well. And make certain your managers sincerely support this same philosophy. You never want employees to feel that calling in sick is a sign of inadequate commitment.
   
   
2. Conduct germ warfare. Desks, phones, computer keyboards, doorknobs, and light switches are key germ transfer points and prime habitats for the viruses that cause colds and flu. Step up janitorial services during the season by disinfecting work areas daily, and post hand-washing reminder signs in restrooms.
   
   
3. Bring in some backup. Operations can reach a standstill when even just a few employees are out sick. Companies should cross-train staff, partner workers on projects, and promote the job-sharing of responsibilities. Open up the information exchange to keep workflow in motion despite temporary staff losses. Consider lining up additional outside resources and manpower to help out during the critical season.   
   
   
4. Involve everyone in health and wellness. Beyond cold and flu season lie a host of health issues that can affect employees, impact health costs, and hurt bottom-line business. Among them are stress, depression, smoking, and obesity. To keep people as healthy and productive as possible, both on and off the job, organizations can offer frequent on-site educational programs. Such programs focus on motivating employees to assume responsibility for their health behaviors and provide support for their health concerns and wellness goals. Since health benefits and costs often extend to an employee’s family members, including them in such program offerings is also a smart move.