The height of winter flu season is here, so it’s a good time to test your flu avoidance program’s chances for success.

Few companys benchmark their flu programs, a research study  from the Disability Management Business Coalition locates. But those that do often discover room for improvement.

Almost 80% of businesss provide workers access to flu shots, either on-site or at a local clinic. and 72% cover some or all the cost (typically paying between $10 to $20). But –

• at 89% of firms, fewer than half of employees actually get a flu shot

• at 38 percent of organizations, fewer than 25 percent of workers participate

• only 6% of firms are able to get at least 75% participation

• 87 percent of survey respondents said  they never measure absenteeism during flu season, and

• 75 percent never tracked whether workers who get flu shots are actually absent less often.

The firms that get best results are those that actively educate workers, track flu-related absenteeism and send sick workers home.