Free flu jabs to beat winter sickness for North East company

A North East telecommunications firm is hoping other businesses follow its lead after revealing they are offering free flu jabs.

Odyssey Systems has offered flu jabs for all company staff and their close family members in a bid to beat the regular flu outbreaks that often plague offices in the winter months.

About 7.6 million working days are lost in the UK each year, costing the British economy up to £1.35bn due to flu related illnesses.

For most flu victims, symptoms such as fever, coughing, chills, diarrhoea and aching muscles can last up to a week however tiredness can last for much longer. For businesses both the illness and post fatigue can affect productivity and customer service.

Odyssey staff member Linda Cairns said: “Having a flu jab is something that you intend to arrange, but often never get round to, if you have to make a special trip to have it done.

“So, it’s great that it has been set-up so I have the injection at work. Having flu is horrible and I am glad that thanks to Odyssey’s latest staff wellbeing initiative, I have had the vaccination.”

Mike Odysseas, managing director of the firm, said: “At Odyssey Systems, we place great value on the wellbeing of our staff and anything that helps them keep fit and healthy is to be recommended.

“Flu is one of the leading causes of work absence across the country and as a service business staff are our biggest asset. It is important that, as a responsible employer, we do everything possible to help our staff remain healthy and offering a free flu jab is part of this.

Samantha Thompson of Norton Glebe Pharmacy said: “Flu can come on suddenly and cause the patient in question a lot of pain and discomfort, it is also very contagious. We are urging businesses to follow Odyssey’s example to offer staff flu jabs and avoid the risk of absences.”