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Policies to reduce influenza in the workplace: Impact assessments using an agent-based model

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  • Kumar, S.
  • Grefenstette, J.J.
  • Galloway, D.
  • Albert, S.M.
  • Burke, D.S.

Abstract

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. © 2013 American Journal of Public Health.

Suggested Citation

  • Kumar, S. & Grefenstette, J.J. & Galloway, D. & Albert, S.M. & Burke, D.S., 2013. "Policies to reduce influenza in the workplace: Impact assessments using an agent-based model," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 103(8), pages 1406-1411.
  • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2013.301269_6
    DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301269
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    Cited by:

    1. Marissa G Baker & Trevor K Peckham & Noah S Seixas, 2020. "Estimating the burden of United States workers exposed to infection or disease: A key factor in containing risk of COVID-19 infection," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(4), pages 1-8, April.
    2. Weiwei Zhang & Shiyong Liu & Nathaniel Osgood & Hongli Zhu & Ying Qian & Peng Jia, 2023. "Using simulation modelling and systems science to help contain COVID‐19: A systematic review," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(1), pages 207-234, January.
    3. Thomas, Felicity, 2016. "Young people's use of medicines: Pharmaceuticalised governance and illness management within household and school settings," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 165(C), pages 150-158.
    4. Silvia, Chris & Krause, Rachel M., 2016. "Assessing the impact of policy interventions on the adoption of plug-in electric vehicles: An agent-based model," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 105-118.
    5. Kim, Namhoon & You, Wen, 2018. "Does Paid Sick Leave Induce Welfare Burden?," 2018 Annual Meeting, August 5-7, Washington, D.C. 274174, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    6. Godøy, Anna & Dale-Olsen, Harald, 2018. "Spillovers from gatekeeping – Peer effects in absenteeism," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 167(C), pages 190-204.
    7. Richard, Sébastien & Skagen, Kristian & Pedersen, Kjeld Møller & Huver, Benjamin, 2017. "Assessing the Propensity for Presenteeism with Sickness Absence Data," DaCHE discussion papers 2017:1, University of Southern Denmark, Dache - Danish Centre for Health Economics.
    8. Hazel Squires & James Chilcott & Ronald Akehurst & Jennifer Burr & Michael P. Kelly, 2016. "A systematic literature review of the key challenges for developing the structure of public health economic models," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 61(3), pages 289-298, April.
    9. Svetlana Lakiša & Linda Matisāne & Inese Gobiņa & Hans Orru & Ivars Vanadziņš, 2022. "Sickness Presenteeism among Employees Having Workplace Conflicts—Results from Pooled Analyses in Latvia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-12, August.
    10. Shiran Zhong & Fenglong Ma & Jing Gao & Ling Bian, 2023. "Who Gets the Flu? Individualized Validation of Influenza-like Illness in Urban Spaces," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(10), pages 1-16, May.
    11. Kim, Namhoon & Mountain, Travis P., 2018. "Do we consider paid sick leave when deciding to get vaccinated?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 1-6.

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