THE Queen’s health has been widely reported as keeping her away from her usual duties.

The whole UK once again appears to be in the grip of a wave of colds and other winter ailments and many colleagues are bravely working on.

Unfortunately, they are also spreading it by coming to work.

If you are running a lean-operation, as many companies now are, then your operation can be compromised with relatively few staff being absent.

Every winter a surge in health problems is experienced and the NHS reports being overloaded. It is a cycle we are all familiar with.

Some employers have been offering the ‘flu-jab’ as a preventative measure.

Others point out simple measures such as hand-washing as a means of preventing transfer.

Perhaps the greatest protection for many could be though flexible working practices.

While many workers absolutely have to be in the workplace every day many can now work very productively from home for at least some of the time. Not only does this prevent the spread of infection, but it also can be good for mental health.

The traffic congestion would also benefit and we all know that Warrington has its’ fair share there.

  •  LAWRENCE Bellamy is deputy provost at the Padgate campus of the University of Chester.