How to Prepare Your Workplace for Flu Season
Do you notice more coughing and sneezing in the office as fall arrives? Particularly in public areas like workplaces, illnesses usually spread more readily in lower outdoor temperatures.
Have you wondered how to keep your office healthy during this season? Fall brings colds, flu, allergies, and other diseases that can rapidly prevent someone from working and impact everyone. However, creating a secure and healthy environment for your team is simple.
Following a few basic guidelines can keep everyone well and limit the spread of common fall illnesses. Ready to learn how? Let’s explore some easy strategies to keep the office healthy this fall!
Common Fall Illnesses in the Office
The Common Cold
The Common Cold Among the most prevalent illnesses in the fall is the common cold. Symptoms like a cough, sore throat, and runny nose, which are particularly common in workplaces, cause its quick spread. The cold is viral and can spread from one person to another via airborne droplets or contact with infected surfaces.
The Flu (Influenza)
The Fluentia The flu is a more threatening illness than the common cold. Like the common cold, the influenza virus is the reason it spreads. The probable symptoms are fever, chills, body aches, tiredness, and dyspnea. Fall marks the beginning of flu season; hence, preparing the workplace for this rather severe illness is essential.
Allergies
Allergies Fall allergens like mold and ragweed can affect employees who suffer from seasonal allergies. Typical symptoms include sneezing, itchy eyes, and a stuffy nose. Although they are not contagious, allergies can affect comfort and performance in the office.
Strep Throat
Typical times for bacterial infections like strep throat are also common illnesses. Symptoms of this ailment include fever, a painful and swollen throat, and headaches. Strep throat can spread to an office where everyone shares the same computers and air conditioning.
Bronchitis
Bronchitis often develops after a cold or flu. It causes coughing, lack of breath, and nausea in the stomach. Viral bronchitis is a common issue in cold weather as it is easily transmitted through the air.
How Illness Spreads in the Office
Offices are ideal for spreading infections as workers interact often and share close quarters. These are some of the most often occurring methods that diseases find their way across offices:
- Close Interaction: Working near a sick person increases your chance of contracting their nasal droplets.
- Touching Shared Surfaces: Like door knobs and laptops, shared items are excellent sites for germs to flourish.
- Improper Hygiene: Germs can circulate in the workplace if you do not wash your hands after sneezing, coughing, or restroom visits.
Tips to Keep Your Office Healthy During the Fall
Encourage Hand Washing
Promote Hand Washing One of the simplest and most effective ways to minimize the spread of germs is to ask team workers to wash their hands regularly. Make sure your office is adequately equipped with hand sanitizer and soap, especially in shared areas like kitchens and bathrooms.
Promote Flu Shots
Promote the flu vaccine use. Encouraging or providing flu vaccines can significantly reduce employees’ chances of getting the flu. More people vaccinated increases the likelihood of an office-wide flu outbreak being avoided.
Disinfect Frequently Touched Surfaces
Regularly sterilize high-touch surfaces like keyboards, doorknobs, and phone buttons. This will help stop the spread of sickness and remove any remaining bacteria or viruses.
Encourage Sick Employees to Stay Home
One major first step in stopping the spread of illness is allowing sick employees to stay home. Encourage a situation wherein people feel comfortable using sick days as needed. Otherwise, they cannot enter the workplace and spread their infection to others.
Maintain a Clean Environment
Controlling the spread of illness depends on keeping a clean workplace. This includes regular housekeeping of toilets, desks, and break places. Ensure the cleaning team uses the correct disinfectants and focuses on places employees often use.
Work-from-Home Options
Offer Customized Work From-Home Solutions. If an employee feels under the weather but can still work, consider offering options for working from home. This helps them stay productive even if it prevents them from spreading diseases across the company.
Seasonal Allergies – A Hidden Workplace Problem
Allergies can affect the condition of your workplace in the fall. Even in cases where they are not communicative, they can negatively affect employee well-being and output. Here’s how to minimize the harmful impacts of allergies in the workplace:
- Regular Dusting: Frequent office cleaning will help maintain dust-free locations. Carpets and upholstered furniture are particularly favorable sites for dust mites and allergy settling.
- Use Air Filters: Using a high-efficiency air filter helps to reduce the possibility of airborne allergies.
- Keep Windows Closed: Closing the windows can assist in keeping the workplace airborne even with high pollen levels.
Conclusion
Maintaining the health of your workplace in the fall doesn’t require much effort. Regular cleaning, encouraging sick workers to remain home, and promoting everyone’s practice of excellent hygiene can stop common illness transmission. Hiring a professional cleaning company like AmeriStar Facility Solutions can help ensure your workplace is germ-free.
To learn more about how AmeriStar Facility Solutions can help keep your office healthy, call (570) 675-5525, visit our website at ameristarfacilitysolutions.com, or email us at info@ameristarfacilitysolutions.com.