Discourage clients who don't get a flu shot to protect my elderly Mother
October 28, 2014 5:28 AM Subscribe
My 87 year old Mother likes to help in my office. She is healthy, but frail. Should I mention to clients that I don't want them coming in to see me when they are sick and that I would prefer they have a flu shot? Is there some sort of proper business etiquette for this? Thanks. I'm in casual California, if that helps.
I'd make this more about a broader health policy than something specifically about your mother. Can you post a sign and/or send an email that encourages clients to stay home when they're sick, and offer to do business with them remotely (via phone and/or Skype) if necessary? You might also include info about, or link to a site endorsing the flu shot's benefits at the same time, though I don't think you should say that clients need their flu shot. Just frame it as a public health issue.
FWIW, I fully endorse your idea. You're well within your rights to push for a sanitary work space. I just think you'll have more luck if you frame it in this way. People who unnecessarily spread their germs are the worst. I'm looking at you, sneezy cubicle-mate who refuses to go home, despite the 3+ weeks of paid sick leave everyone at my job gets.
posted by schroedingersgirl at 5:37 AM on October 28, 2014 [10 favorites]
FWIW, I fully endorse your idea. You're well within your rights to push for a sanitary work space. I just think you'll have more luck if you frame it in this way. People who unnecessarily spread their germs are the worst. I'm looking at you, sneezy cubicle-mate who refuses to go home, despite the 3+ weeks of paid sick leave everyone at my job gets.
posted by schroedingersgirl at 5:37 AM on October 28, 2014 [10 favorites]
It's better if your mum gets the flu shot. I have no idea what your profession is but I think it's weird and would avoid you unless I had known you for a really long time.
Certainly don't ask people to have flu shots ( really you were serious?) ...but if they're unwell they may not get the most out of their appointment with you so should perhaps reschedule for that reason. Don't make it about your mum if you want your business to seem professional. Make it for their own good/value for money.
But generally... Tell her to wash her hands before touching anything that goes near her face, and to make excuses to leave if people are coughing near her. But a trip to the cinema or on a bus is likely more problematic than contact with a person she knows is sick when she has access to plenty of soap and water and can pointedly offer them tissues and a bin for their disposal.
posted by taff at 5:38 AM on October 28, 2014 [10 favorites]
Certainly don't ask people to have flu shots ( really you were serious?) ...but if they're unwell they may not get the most out of their appointment with you so should perhaps reschedule for that reason. Don't make it about your mum if you want your business to seem professional. Make it for their own good/value for money.
But generally... Tell her to wash her hands before touching anything that goes near her face, and to make excuses to leave if people are coughing near her. But a trip to the cinema or on a bus is likely more problematic than contact with a person she knows is sick when she has access to plenty of soap and water and can pointedly offer them tissues and a bin for their disposal.
posted by taff at 5:38 AM on October 28, 2014 [10 favorites]
Unless you are a medical professional, there is no way to professionally tell people they should get medical treatments, no.
On the other hand, depending on what you do, you could have a liberal appointment cancellation / phone support policy so that people don't feel obligated to come to your office when they are sick. Depending on how you communicate with your clients normally, you could even send an email that says something like "I know cold and flu season is upon us again, and some people will end up needing to cancel last minute because they're sick. Please just let us know in advance so we aren't waiting for you and we'd be happy to reschedule without penalty / meet with you over the phone / whatever you can offer." That makes it about your business and policies and not you providing unsolicited medical advice.
posted by jacquilynne at 5:43 AM on October 28, 2014 [15 favorites]
On the other hand, depending on what you do, you could have a liberal appointment cancellation / phone support policy so that people don't feel obligated to come to your office when they are sick. Depending on how you communicate with your clients normally, you could even send an email that says something like "I know cold and flu season is upon us again, and some people will end up needing to cancel last minute because they're sick. Please just let us know in advance so we aren't waiting for you and we'd be happy to reschedule without penalty / meet with you over the phone / whatever you can offer." That makes it about your business and policies and not you providing unsolicited medical advice.
posted by jacquilynne at 5:43 AM on October 28, 2014 [15 favorites]
Why should everyone else have the flu shots, and not your mother?
posted by devnull at 6:21 AM on October 28, 2014 [12 favorites]
posted by devnull at 6:21 AM on October 28, 2014 [12 favorites]
It's not something you can plan, but make sure you (and any employees) are setting the right example, too, by staying home (or doing phone appointments only) when you're sick, and explaining why to clients, so that it becomes an expected norm at your workplace.
posted by jaguar at 6:22 AM on October 28, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by jaguar at 6:22 AM on October 28, 2014 [1 favorite]
I really like schroedingersgirl's suggestion of emailing clients to let them know that you're willing to catch up via Skype etc.
Maybe something like: "Hi Valuable Clients, Winter is coming [insert picture of guy from Game of Thrones here?], which means that cold and flu season is upon us. We now offer appointments/meetings/catch ups via Skype, so if you're feeling under the weather and would prefer to do business remotely, just let us know. As always, it's also still possible to cancel or reschedule, but ample notice is appreciated."
I wouldn't mention flu shots, though. Surely your mother has had hers if she's considered high risk? Likewise, your clients will make their own medical decisions based on their own situation.
posted by kinddieserzeit at 6:22 AM on October 28, 2014 [10 favorites]
Maybe something like: "Hi Valuable Clients, Winter is coming [insert picture of guy from Game of Thrones here?], which means that cold and flu season is upon us. We now offer appointments/meetings/catch ups via Skype, so if you're feeling under the weather and would prefer to do business remotely, just let us know. As always, it's also still possible to cancel or reschedule, but ample notice is appreciated."
I wouldn't mention flu shots, though. Surely your mother has had hers if she's considered high risk? Likewise, your clients will make their own medical decisions based on their own situation.
posted by kinddieserzeit at 6:22 AM on October 28, 2014 [10 favorites]
Why don't you have your mother get the flu shot? That way you don't have to worry about clients.
posted by tckma at 6:35 AM on October 28, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by tckma at 6:35 AM on October 28, 2014 [2 favorites]
People can often be scared of cancelling appointments, thinking the professional is going to be mad at them. Letting them know, explicitly, that cancellations are normal and okay sometimes helps.
It's a subtle nitpicky thing, but I have found clients are more likely to reschedule appropriately (that is, with fair notice) when I (verbally) phrase my cancellation policy as, "If you need to reschedule or cancel, that's totally fine. I just need at least one business day's notice," rather than talking about how rescheduling is "possible" or something people "sometimes need."
So I might try something like:
And make sure that if they do reschedule with appropriate notice, you and anyone answering phones or emails is not grumpy about it.
posted by jaguar at 6:40 AM on October 28, 2014 [18 favorites]
It's a subtle nitpicky thing, but I have found clients are more likely to reschedule appropriately (that is, with fair notice) when I (verbally) phrase my cancellation policy as, "If you need to reschedule or cancel, that's totally fine. I just need at least one business day's notice," rather than talking about how rescheduling is "possible" or something people "sometimes need."
So I might try something like:
Dear clients:If for whatever reason you can't send an email, I'd post the "We are always happy to reschedule appointments, so if you're feeling under the weather, please just let us know and we'll get you in when you're feeling better. We can also provide [phone/Skype/email] appointments if you need to stay home," bit on a sign by the front desk.
With winter comes cold and flu season, and I wanted to alert you to our office policies. We are always happy to reschedule appointments, so if you're feeling under the weather, please just let us know and we'll get you in when you're feeling better. We can also provide [phone/Skype/email] appointments if you need to stay home.
And make sure that if they do reschedule with appropriate notice, you and anyone answering phones or emails is not grumpy about it.
posted by jaguar at 6:40 AM on October 28, 2014 [18 favorites]
Oh, and you can repeat the "We're always happy to reschedule, so just let us know if you need to" every time you set up an appointment, even with existing clients.
posted by jaguar at 6:41 AM on October 28, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by jaguar at 6:41 AM on October 28, 2014 [1 favorite]
I don't want them coming in to see me when they are sick
Cool, let them know and be flexible about rescheduling.
I would prefer they have a flu shot
Not your business.
posted by orangejenny at 6:43 AM on October 28, 2014 [7 favorites]
Cool, let them know and be flexible about rescheduling.
I would prefer they have a flu shot
Not your business.
posted by orangejenny at 6:43 AM on October 28, 2014 [7 favorites]
If someone truly has the flu, they are very unlikely to be able physically to get to your office. If they have a cold, a flu shot wouldn't have protected them from it in any case.
posted by altolinguistic at 6:54 AM on October 28, 2014 [14 favorites]
posted by altolinguistic at 6:54 AM on October 28, 2014 [14 favorites]
An aspect of this - do all your clients have genuine ability to cancel/reschedule based on their own health? Or is this the kind of service where they have to work with you because of their jobs? Many people are discouraged from allowing any delay in their work when sick. (Everywhere I've ever worked, the official line is "go home if you're sick" and the actual line is "don't let there be any delays in your work" - I've had a cold for the past week, I'd love to take time off and I hate getting glares from other people, but I'd need two or three days off before I'd stop wheezing, and that would get me in trouble due to being behind on stuff.)
posted by Frowner at 7:04 AM on October 28, 2014 [4 favorites]
posted by Frowner at 7:04 AM on October 28, 2014 [4 favorites]
To people suggesting that the mom get the flu shot, she probably does, but it does not protect you 100%. Part of the benefit is meant to be generated by herd immunity. So even if she has the shot, not being around flu-y people would be important.
You can't tell people to get the flu shot. You can tell them not to come in. You can even say that you absolutely won't see sick clients (though that might cost you clients) if they show up and get told to come back another day. What might be a better strategy, depending on the type and size of business that you run, is to make it convenient for your employees and clients to get flu shots: Can you host an on-site vaccination clinic? When you announce this you can even frame it in a way that makes getting the flu shot sound like the default thing that everybody does "I know you may already have your flu shot, but if you haven't had the time yet, we'll be hosting a clinic on X days at X times. Come by and get a free widget and cookie with your shot."
Also, put hand sanitizer everywhere. And if you want to go over the top, hire someone to wipe down surfaces with lysol (my mom's employer has done this during flu seasons. There is literally a person who goes from door knob to door knob, phone to phone, disinfecting things all day so they're all disinfected multiple times a day).
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 7:29 AM on October 28, 2014 [3 favorites]
You can't tell people to get the flu shot. You can tell them not to come in. You can even say that you absolutely won't see sick clients (though that might cost you clients) if they show up and get told to come back another day. What might be a better strategy, depending on the type and size of business that you run, is to make it convenient for your employees and clients to get flu shots: Can you host an on-site vaccination clinic? When you announce this you can even frame it in a way that makes getting the flu shot sound like the default thing that everybody does "I know you may already have your flu shot, but if you haven't had the time yet, we'll be hosting a clinic on X days at X times. Come by and get a free widget and cookie with your shot."
Also, put hand sanitizer everywhere. And if you want to go over the top, hire someone to wipe down surfaces with lysol (my mom's employer has done this during flu seasons. There is literally a person who goes from door knob to door knob, phone to phone, disinfecting things all day so they're all disinfected multiple times a day).
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 7:29 AM on October 28, 2014 [3 favorites]
I speak from the customer's point of view. I do not know what kind of business you have, but unless you are a doctor, financial adviser or lawyer who has years of background information for me, I suspect your business is fungible in that there are other folks doing what you do and I can get my service from them. I think you will have most of your customers smile and say ok and go about their day. I think a small amount will just say I am not going to that business, they are insane.
If you are offering a professional service such as mentioned above, and the appointment is not time sensitive such as a medical issue or a legal deadline, have your office call the day before to confirm the appointment and mention at that time that you would prefer to reschedule if you have a cold or are feeling ill as there is a person in the office with a compromised immune system.
If they do reschedule, I think it only proper to give them an appointment in a timely manner at a day and time of their choosing.
posted by 724A at 7:29 AM on October 28, 2014 [3 favorites]
If you are offering a professional service such as mentioned above, and the appointment is not time sensitive such as a medical issue or a legal deadline, have your office call the day before to confirm the appointment and mention at that time that you would prefer to reschedule if you have a cold or are feeling ill as there is a person in the office with a compromised immune system.
If they do reschedule, I think it only proper to give them an appointment in a timely manner at a day and time of their choosing.
posted by 724A at 7:29 AM on October 28, 2014 [3 favorites]
I think it really depends on your relationship with your clients and the type of service you provide... really not enough info here. In most cases I don't think it would be appropriate for you to ask people to get the flu shot.
posted by mskyle at 7:37 AM on October 28, 2014
posted by mskyle at 7:37 AM on October 28, 2014
another way of looking at this is just a perception of your level of professionalism ... businesses typically cater to their customers to make the experience welcoming, warm, not weird or uncomfortable, and overall express a gratitude for their patronage and a willingness to go the extra mile for them. asking them "not to come to my office when you're sick" implies that (a) you don't trust them to exercise good judgment.and (b) that you consider them a risk to your family ... neither of which message is congruent with the general tone of welcome and gratitude you want to set. Asking a customer who has done nothing wrong to "please don't" do something is rude. asking them to get a flu shot to avail themselves of your services (I take it you are an accountant?) is bizarre and beyond the pale. furthermore. if something were to go wrong with the flu shot gotten at your behest, I could imagine a very unhappy client or even a professional complaint to the accounting board that you insisted upon a medical procedure as a condition of further work.
and on top of all that, the perception would be that "he's telling us to get flu shots because there's a little old lady puttering around his office ...WTF?" .... which is not the most professional profile to present.
posted by jayder at 8:05 AM on October 28, 2014 [1 favorite]
and on top of all that, the perception would be that "he's telling us to get flu shots because there's a little old lady puttering around his office ...WTF?" .... which is not the most professional profile to present.
posted by jayder at 8:05 AM on October 28, 2014 [1 favorite]
I have a compromised immune system and my own friends chafe when I ask them to get the flu shot. They rarely do it even when I ask and it only causes weirdness. And also causes me to get the flu (got it twice this year despite having a shot last season and this season). I'd advise against this.
Your mother may consider wearing a face mask, which works by keeping others from approaching you. Also she should wash her hands a lot and not touch her face without washing her hands first.
posted by sockermom at 8:13 AM on October 28, 2014 [1 favorite]
Your mother may consider wearing a face mask, which works by keeping others from approaching you. Also she should wash her hands a lot and not touch her face without washing her hands first.
posted by sockermom at 8:13 AM on October 28, 2014 [1 favorite]
Tell your mother not to touch your customers, and the two of you take 2 minutes several times a day to wipe down the doorknobs and frequently-touched surfaces with Clorox wipes.
I think you could get away with a notice that during flu season you will gladly reschedule for illness with no penalty, and if you can slip in smoothly that you and your elderly mother appreciate it, that's okay and not insulting anybody's intelligence.
But the fact of the matter is that the flu shot is something of a gamble every year, vaccinating against the 4 most likely A and B strains. There are many years when a different strain emerges, especially regionally, and so someone who's been vaccinated but drew the short straw on one of the outlier viruses could still come to your office.
Across the board you and your mother will both be safer if you don't shake hands, clean frequently-touched surfaces, humidify your office when the weather is especially dry, and set a pump of alcohol gel everywhere that people are likely to stop moving for a second and use it.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:14 AM on October 28, 2014 [2 favorites]
I think you could get away with a notice that during flu season you will gladly reschedule for illness with no penalty, and if you can slip in smoothly that you and your elderly mother appreciate it, that's okay and not insulting anybody's intelligence.
But the fact of the matter is that the flu shot is something of a gamble every year, vaccinating against the 4 most likely A and B strains. There are many years when a different strain emerges, especially regionally, and so someone who's been vaccinated but drew the short straw on one of the outlier viruses could still come to your office.
Across the board you and your mother will both be safer if you don't shake hands, clean frequently-touched surfaces, humidify your office when the weather is especially dry, and set a pump of alcohol gel everywhere that people are likely to stop moving for a second and use it.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:14 AM on October 28, 2014 [2 favorites]
If your mother isn't on the payroll and is just stopping by to visit/"help out", no, this is inappropriate.
It would be sort of OK maybe if your business is not really "client facing" to the public and you would otherwise have reason to expect the few clients you do meet with in the office to have had a flu shot.
I think a flu shot is good to have, but until they become compulsory on the level of the polio vaccine, you can't really demand that all members of the general public who come to your business be vaccinated.
posted by Sara C. at 8:15 AM on October 28, 2014 [4 favorites]
It would be sort of OK maybe if your business is not really "client facing" to the public and you would otherwise have reason to expect the few clients you do meet with in the office to have had a flu shot.
I think a flu shot is good to have, but until they become compulsory on the level of the polio vaccine, you can't really demand that all members of the general public who come to your business be vaccinated.
posted by Sara C. at 8:15 AM on October 28, 2014 [4 favorites]
I definitely do not think you can suggest the flu shot. You and your mom should get it, for sure. But, then you'll be covered for the strains that are covered, and you won't be covered for the strains that aren't covered, just like any clients that do get the shot. I'm not sure what additional benefit there is for clients to get the flu shot -- they're not going to be receiving a more comprehensive one than what is available to you, and so they still have the chance of getting one of those non-covered strains (just as you and Mom do).
As for asking people to reschedule in the case of illness (whether flu or something else contagious), I think it depends a LOT on the type of service your provide. For example, when I was seeing a therapist, I did sometimes go when I was sick, not because I wanted to get her ill but because I really needed to be seeing a therapist. I can see other cases where the service provided is really vital and clients may need to judge for themselves whether they are able to cancel (for example, some type of social worker services, where missing a meeting could mean a delay in receiving benefits, or a medical practice where you're doing time-sensitive diagnostic tests). On the other hand, if a delay of a week or two won't negatively impact your clients, I would simply offer them a penalty-free rescheduling option -- there are lots of good scripts for this above.
Other than that, I think wiping down surfaces a lot and not having Mom interact directly with clients is your best bet. I'm not sure about your office layout, but perhaps if someone comes in who's looking worse for the wear, she could go hang out in a back office/copy room/etc. for a bit and then you wipe surfaces down before she rejoins the public area? This will obviously depend on how busy things are and how the office is set up, but could be an option.
posted by rainbowbrite at 8:34 AM on October 28, 2014 [2 favorites]
As for asking people to reschedule in the case of illness (whether flu or something else contagious), I think it depends a LOT on the type of service your provide. For example, when I was seeing a therapist, I did sometimes go when I was sick, not because I wanted to get her ill but because I really needed to be seeing a therapist. I can see other cases where the service provided is really vital and clients may need to judge for themselves whether they are able to cancel (for example, some type of social worker services, where missing a meeting could mean a delay in receiving benefits, or a medical practice where you're doing time-sensitive diagnostic tests). On the other hand, if a delay of a week or two won't negatively impact your clients, I would simply offer them a penalty-free rescheduling option -- there are lots of good scripts for this above.
Other than that, I think wiping down surfaces a lot and not having Mom interact directly with clients is your best bet. I'm not sure about your office layout, but perhaps if someone comes in who's looking worse for the wear, she could go hang out in a back office/copy room/etc. for a bit and then you wipe surfaces down before she rejoins the public area? This will obviously depend on how busy things are and how the office is set up, but could be an option.
posted by rainbowbrite at 8:34 AM on October 28, 2014 [2 favorites]
Maybe this is Berkeley, but the office I worked in was very clear about STRONGLY asking people not to come in sick out of respect for the folks with compromised immune systems. I strongly suspect an obviously sick person would have been sent home, money or no money.*
There was never a mention of flu shots, though. This is a population in which real vaccines are still controversial.
* multimillionaires probably exempt.
posted by small_ruminant at 9:03 AM on October 28, 2014 [1 favorite]
There was never a mention of flu shots, though. This is a population in which real vaccines are still controversial.
* multimillionaires probably exempt.
posted by small_ruminant at 9:03 AM on October 28, 2014 [1 favorite]
Conscientious sick people don't go out in public. By the same token, sick people who go out in public are not conscientious. When you ask sick people not to come in, you're talking solely to conscientious people, because non-conscientious people - by definition! - pay no heed to other people's requests (unless there's a regime of detection and enforcement to force compliance, embarrass them, etc.). And conscientious people don't need to be told.
People who post signs in their public bathrooms ala "Please do not pee on the toilet seats!" demonstrate a flawed understanding of human nature. The people who'd read and respect the sign aren't the ones peeing on the toilet seats. The people peeing on the toilet seats don't give a damn about your sign.
The notion that you can convince your clients to get their flu shots, or at least convince the remainder to stay away during flu season, is an even more absurd gambit than the toilet seat sign. The expectation that they'd do so in sympathy for your concern about your mommy is even more so. And the setting of all this - clients who pay you, and who therefore have expectation of accommodation running their way, not yours - makes me hope you have a partner, mentor, or consultant to run ideas by in the future (i.e. not just AskMeFi), because while I'm sure you're very skilled, smart, and diligent in your work, the office management/customer service aspect of your operation may not be your greatest forte.
posted by Quisp Lover at 9:37 AM on October 28, 2014 [6 favorites]
People who post signs in their public bathrooms ala "Please do not pee on the toilet seats!" demonstrate a flawed understanding of human nature. The people who'd read and respect the sign aren't the ones peeing on the toilet seats. The people peeing on the toilet seats don't give a damn about your sign.
The notion that you can convince your clients to get their flu shots, or at least convince the remainder to stay away during flu season, is an even more absurd gambit than the toilet seat sign. The expectation that they'd do so in sympathy for your concern about your mommy is even more so. And the setting of all this - clients who pay you, and who therefore have expectation of accommodation running their way, not yours - makes me hope you have a partner, mentor, or consultant to run ideas by in the future (i.e. not just AskMeFi), because while I'm sure you're very skilled, smart, and diligent in your work, the office management/customer service aspect of your operation may not be your greatest forte.
posted by Quisp Lover at 9:37 AM on October 28, 2014 [6 favorites]
sick people who go out in public are not conscientious.
I deeply disagree with this. It's a very new concept and a lot of people have been told their whole life to just "suck it up" and if you give in to the cold you're being weak and not getting your WORK done! (heaven forbid!).
From what I can tell, it took until the AIDS crisis for it to even START to sink in to people that their annoying cold could actually kill someone, and even now, it's often seen as a sign of weakness to stay at home in bed unless you're physically unable to get up.
That's why people need to be told that they not only have permission to "inconvenience" you by cancelling their appointment, but that it's your express request that they do so.
posted by small_ruminant at 10:09 AM on October 28, 2014 [10 favorites]
I deeply disagree with this. It's a very new concept and a lot of people have been told their whole life to just "suck it up" and if you give in to the cold you're being weak and not getting your WORK done! (heaven forbid!).
From what I can tell, it took until the AIDS crisis for it to even START to sink in to people that their annoying cold could actually kill someone, and even now, it's often seen as a sign of weakness to stay at home in bed unless you're physically unable to get up.
That's why people need to be told that they not only have permission to "inconvenience" you by cancelling their appointment, but that it's your express request that they do so.
posted by small_ruminant at 10:09 AM on October 28, 2014 [10 favorites]
sick people who go out in public are not conscientious.
This is ridiculous. Would be that our society were set up so that this could be the case, but sadly it is not. Many, many people do not have paid sick leave, meaning they might literally lose their jobs or at the very least not get paid (and thus possibly not be able to pay rent, eat, etc.) if they choose to stay home when they're sick. Many businesses actually won't let you cancel on short notice without a penalty. While some people might be able to easily absorb those penalties, many cannot.
I will also add that many people who "look" sick are not going to get YOU sick. I have pretty serious allergies and asthma, and so I am often sneezing and coughing, but you cannot catch allergies and/or asthma so I'm not a danger to anyone else. If I stayed home just to make people feel better, I would never be able to leave the house.
Point being, lose the judgement at the door and definitely do make a no-penalty cancellation policy very explict. Most businesses do NOT work that way.
posted by rainbowbrite at 10:17 AM on October 28, 2014 [14 favorites]
This is ridiculous. Would be that our society were set up so that this could be the case, but sadly it is not. Many, many people do not have paid sick leave, meaning they might literally lose their jobs or at the very least not get paid (and thus possibly not be able to pay rent, eat, etc.) if they choose to stay home when they're sick. Many businesses actually won't let you cancel on short notice without a penalty. While some people might be able to easily absorb those penalties, many cannot.
I will also add that many people who "look" sick are not going to get YOU sick. I have pretty serious allergies and asthma, and so I am often sneezing and coughing, but you cannot catch allergies and/or asthma so I'm not a danger to anyone else. If I stayed home just to make people feel better, I would never be able to leave the house.
Point being, lose the judgement at the door and definitely do make a no-penalty cancellation policy very explict. Most businesses do NOT work that way.
posted by rainbowbrite at 10:17 AM on October 28, 2014 [14 favorites]
Conscientious sick people don't go out in public. By the same token, sick people who go out in public are not conscientious.
Or are poor. Or have no alternative childcare. Or are paid by the hour. Or have no entitlement to leave. Or have used all their sick days.
posted by DarlingBri at 11:40 AM on October 28, 2014 [14 favorites]
Or are poor. Or have no alternative childcare. Or are paid by the hour. Or have no entitlement to leave. Or have used all their sick days.
posted by DarlingBri at 11:40 AM on October 28, 2014 [14 favorites]
You mention preparing taxes in another question so I'm going to operate from a general assumption that this is accounting/financial services kind of stuff. I think a lot of this boils down to what's really good cold/flu season advice for operating a small practice. Have a sane cancellation policy, make sure you communicate with your clients about that policy and remind them that you're available by phone/email if it turns out they need to talk to you about something important. The ability to handle as many documents as possible electronically not only means it's easier to do stuff remotely, but it also means you don't have papers coming in from elsewhere that you have to handle.
Keep hand sanitizer everywhere and actually use it, and make sure it's placed conveniently enough to where your clients will be that they can do the same if they care to. You can't really tell them to without being rude, but they'll be way more likely to if it's on their side of the desk, for example. Also on their side of the desk: Tissues and a trash receptacle within reach. (And in the reception area if you have one, for all of those.) Wipe down desks/doors/etc periodically. Avoid the magazines in the reception area thing; if you're worried about someone having to wait long enough that they'll be bored, you might consider a TV and setting it to some generally inoffensive channel. If the noise is annoying, you can mute it and turn on captions.
On the whole, that'll cut down the spread of whatever's going around, no matter which direction it's going.
posted by Sequence at 11:57 AM on October 28, 2014 [1 favorite]
Keep hand sanitizer everywhere and actually use it, and make sure it's placed conveniently enough to where your clients will be that they can do the same if they care to. You can't really tell them to without being rude, but they'll be way more likely to if it's on their side of the desk, for example. Also on their side of the desk: Tissues and a trash receptacle within reach. (And in the reception area if you have one, for all of those.) Wipe down desks/doors/etc periodically. Avoid the magazines in the reception area thing; if you're worried about someone having to wait long enough that they'll be bored, you might consider a TV and setting it to some generally inoffensive channel. If the noise is annoying, you can mute it and turn on captions.
On the whole, that'll cut down the spread of whatever's going around, no matter which direction it's going.
posted by Sequence at 11:57 AM on October 28, 2014 [1 favorite]
I hate hate HATE TVs in waiting rooms but you have just provided the first reasonable reason a waiting room might have one. I never put that together before.
posted by small_ruminant at 12:00 PM on October 28, 2014
posted by small_ruminant at 12:00 PM on October 28, 2014
Ok, let me rephrase, then: Conscientious people WHO HAVE A CHOICE don't go out sick in public (and, yes, it's true that people used to be far less conscientious).
None of these distinctions has anything to do with the scenario at hand, however (which is why I didn't labor to address all possible distinctions) so my point stands: people will not alter their willingness to get a flu shot (or to go out and about with the flu) based on the request or insistence of a business-owner hoping to protect her frail mother who works in the office.
If frail mothers are something that concern you, you're ALREADY gotten your flu shot, or at least won't go out with the flu if you have a choice. If not, this office policy will not change your mind.
posted by Quisp Lover at 1:02 PM on October 28, 2014 [3 favorites]
None of these distinctions has anything to do with the scenario at hand, however (which is why I didn't labor to address all possible distinctions) so my point stands: people will not alter their willingness to get a flu shot (or to go out and about with the flu) based on the request or insistence of a business-owner hoping to protect her frail mother who works in the office.
If frail mothers are something that concern you, you're ALREADY gotten your flu shot, or at least won't go out with the flu if you have a choice. If not, this office policy will not change your mind.
posted by Quisp Lover at 1:02 PM on October 28, 2014 [3 favorites]
Herd immunity, people. Even if OP's mother has her vaccine, it may not "take." The more vaccinated people she comes into contact with, the less of a chance she'll have of picking it (or a slightly mutated strain) up. The more unvaccinated people she runs into, the more of a chance one of them is carrying it - even asymptomatically - and could transfer it to her. This is why new parents, caretakers of the elderly, etc are all encouraged to get their flu shots every year.
OP, I don't have any good advice for you. While I recognize your concern, I have to say having been asked to have my flu shot before, for example, meeting someone's baby didn't go over well with me (the shot would have been at my own cost as I didn't have US insurance, the baby was not immunocompromised beyond the normal newborn thing, and it wasn't a close enough friend that I couldn't just wait another month or two after flu season before meeting the kid). I understand why you want it to happen, and I'm with you on that front, but you'll have to accept that there's not really a polite way to do this. It's not just insane anti-vaxxers; it's people without insurance, or people who for legitimate medical reasons cannot have the vaccine, or whatever. Someone will be pissed off and possibly will take their business elsewhere. If you're going to make the request, you have to be okay with that, unfortunately.
posted by olinerd at 1:05 PM on October 28, 2014 [1 favorite]
OP, I don't have any good advice for you. While I recognize your concern, I have to say having been asked to have my flu shot before, for example, meeting someone's baby didn't go over well with me (the shot would have been at my own cost as I didn't have US insurance, the baby was not immunocompromised beyond the normal newborn thing, and it wasn't a close enough friend that I couldn't just wait another month or two after flu season before meeting the kid). I understand why you want it to happen, and I'm with you on that front, but you'll have to accept that there's not really a polite way to do this. It's not just insane anti-vaxxers; it's people without insurance, or people who for legitimate medical reasons cannot have the vaccine, or whatever. Someone will be pissed off and possibly will take their business elsewhere. If you're going to make the request, you have to be okay with that, unfortunately.
posted by olinerd at 1:05 PM on October 28, 2014 [1 favorite]
The only scenario were I see this working is if 1) you have the ability to loose many clients and 2) you work as a therapist, social worker or other non health care service professional in a similar vein.
I'm a social worker.
I always always encourage my clients to cancel, and 1) my immune system is shit so I will postpone even if they show up sick and 2) I work with people with HIV so I remind them that I don't want to spread any cold or flu to anyone else on accident.
I might send out a notice that states something like please be kind to our staff during cold and flu season. If you are sick please notify us to reschedule. Please note we have the right to postpone services if you come in sick for an appointment.
posted by AlexiaSky at 3:40 PM on October 28, 2014 [1 favorite]
I'm a social worker.
I always always encourage my clients to cancel, and 1) my immune system is shit so I will postpone even if they show up sick and 2) I work with people with HIV so I remind them that I don't want to spread any cold or flu to anyone else on accident.
I might send out a notice that states something like please be kind to our staff during cold and flu season. If you are sick please notify us to reschedule. Please note we have the right to postpone services if you come in sick for an appointment.
posted by AlexiaSky at 3:40 PM on October 28, 2014 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks for the spirited feedback. I primarily do taxes. And yes, my Mother gets a flu shot and a pneumonia shot every year.
If anybody looks remotely sick this year I'm just going to send Mom home! And then spray a fine chlorine mist over my clients.
posted by mrhappy at 9:58 AM on November 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
If anybody looks remotely sick this year I'm just going to send Mom home! And then spray a fine chlorine mist over my clients.
posted by mrhappy at 9:58 AM on November 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by jayder at 5:35 AM on October 28, 2014 [32 favorites]