Health and wellness, specifically preventative care, is a major concern for companies throughout the year, but especially so during cold and flu season.
It is such a priority at Amgen Rhode Island, the West Greenwich-based technology company scheduled six in-office flu-shot clinics between Oct. 25 and Nov. 28.
In-office flu-shot clinics are “an essential function of Amgen,” said Sandra Jamieson, a physician assistant and health care system senior manager, who runs the annual event.
Across their six clinics, she said, 287 Amgen employees and contract workers received the flu vaccination this year – 32 percent of the 885 employees and contract workers on-site daily.
Tara Urban, senior manager, corporate affairs, explained the clinics are part of what help strengthen Amgen’s “community mentality.”
Companies across Rhode Island are devoting time and resources to ensuring the well-being of their employees via in-office flu-shot clinics.
In a 2013 report, the Society for Human Resources Management said: “Flu-vaccination clinics are becoming increasingly common in U.S. workplaces.”
Between 5 percent and 20 percent of U.S. residents catch the flu during cold and flu season, and their absences can “cost businesses approximately $10.4 billion” per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data cited in the report.
Locally, a Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island spokeswoman said the insurance company had provided “nearly 200” clinics for more than 150 clients since “at least” 2007.
In addition, Woonsocket-based CVS Health Corp. has received 90 requests and booked more than 80 on-site flu-shot clinics in Rhode Island in 2017, according to a spokeswoman. She added that the health care company received close to 9,000 requests for clinics nationwide in 2017 and booked roughly 8,200.
After two years of receiving flu shots along with clients at a general clinic, 2017 is the second year Crossroads Rhode Island hosted an employee-specific clinic, said Rob C. Upham, director of human resources.
Upham said flu “exposure is greater” for Crossroads employees working with people “at a low point in their life,” be they in shelters or on the street, for up to eight hours each day, “than that of someone [sitting] sedentary at a desk all day.”
‘Anything you can do to prevent illness benefits the bottom line.’
ROB C. UPHAM, Crossroads Rhode Island human resources director
“Anything you can do to prevent illness benefits the bottom line,” he said of the Providence-based nonprofit organization’s budget.
Crossroads’ clinic, coordinated by BCBSRI, saw 32 of its roughly 70 on-site employees participate. He said if the organization hadn’t signed up at least 15 people before the event, they would have had to pay $25 per vaccine.
Due to the relative newness of the program, Upham could not comment on the impact of the clinic on employee-extended sick leave. Anecdotally, however, he said the benefits outweigh the time spent organizing the in-office events.
“It takes five minutes to get a flu shot,” he said, “but if that person got the flu, they’re out for five days and run the risk of dehydration, and hospitalization, which impacts our insurance costs.”
Pawtucket vacation planner Collette, West View Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in West Warwick, Lincoln’s Amica Mutual Insurance Co. headquarters, Cox Media’s West Warwick offices and the Rhode Island Foundation in Providence also hosted in-office clinics for their employees in 2017 – all were offered at no cost to the employee.
“Healthy employees lead to high productivity,” said Collette benefits manager Phyllis Shields. In her three years as benefits manager, Shields said there has been increasing interest and participation in the clinic.
But it’s the Providence branch of law firm Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP that has folded the event into its corporate culture.
In-office clinics have been a staple at Hinckley Allen for close to 20 years, said Megan A. McCormack, director of human resources.
“Worksite vaccinations are an easy solution with proven results,” she said, adding they are part of the firm’s wellness plans, in which 80 percent of employees partake.
For the first time, Hinckley Allen held two 2017 clinics to accommodate availability of the specialty vaccine for individuals aged 65-plus. Covered by BCBSRI and staffed by The Wellness Co., 60 percent of the firm’s roughly 130 Providence employees received their flu vaccinations at the office this year.
Since the program predates McCormack, she was unable to measure its impact but said offering in-office flu-shot clinics is beneficial in two ways: convenience and a healthy workforce.
Also, she added, “anytime you offer a benefit employees enjoy, it boosts morale.”
Upham said he would suggest any company that does not offer the service, poll its employees to get a feel for interest. “[They] would be quite surprised how many [employees] take advantage of it and think better of you as an employer because you’re looking out for them,” he said.
