TY - JOUR
T1 - Policies to reduce influenza in the workplace
T2 - Impact assessments using an agent-based model
AU - Kumar, Supriya
AU - Grefenstette, John J.
AU - Galloway, David
AU - Albert, Steven M.
AU - Burke, Donald S.
PY - 2013/8
Y1 - 2013/8
N2 - Objectives. We examined the impact of access to paid sick days (PSDs) and stay-at-home behavior on the influenza attack rate in workplaces. Methods. We used an agent-based model of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, with PSD data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, standard influenza epidemic parameters, and the probability of staying home when ill. We compared the influenza attack rate among employees resulting from workplace transmission, focusing on the effects of presenteeism (going to work when ill). Results. In a simulated influenza epidemic (R0 = 1.4), the attack rate among employees owing to workplace transmission was 11.54%. A large proportion (72.00%) of this attack rate resulted from exposure to employees engaging in presenteeism. Universal PSDs reduced workplace infections by 5.86%. Providing 1 or 2 "flu days"-allowing employees with influenza to stay home-reduced workplace infections by 25.33% and 39.22%, respectively. Conclusions. PSDs reduce influenza transmission owing to presenteeism and, hence, the burden of influenza illness in workplaces.
AB - Objectives. We examined the impact of access to paid sick days (PSDs) and stay-at-home behavior on the influenza attack rate in workplaces. Methods. We used an agent-based model of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, with PSD data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, standard influenza epidemic parameters, and the probability of staying home when ill. We compared the influenza attack rate among employees resulting from workplace transmission, focusing on the effects of presenteeism (going to work when ill). Results. In a simulated influenza epidemic (R0 = 1.4), the attack rate among employees owing to workplace transmission was 11.54%. A large proportion (72.00%) of this attack rate resulted from exposure to employees engaging in presenteeism. Universal PSDs reduced workplace infections by 5.86%. Providing 1 or 2 "flu days"-allowing employees with influenza to stay home-reduced workplace infections by 25.33% and 39.22%, respectively. Conclusions. PSDs reduce influenza transmission owing to presenteeism and, hence, the burden of influenza illness in workplaces.
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U2 - 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301269
DO - 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301269
M3 - Article
C2 - 23763426
AN - SCOPUS:84880155825
SN - 0090-0036
VL - 103
SP - 1406
EP - 1411
JO - American journal of public health
JF - American journal of public health
IS - 8
ER -