Now that fall is approaching, it also means cold and flu season will be returning. Taking certain actions now will help prevent the spread of these illnesses at your workplace if your business is operating in person. Here are some tips to protect your workplace during cold and flu season.
Educate Employees and Understand the Risks
Some workplaces have increased risks of spreading illnesses than others. If you work in the healthcare field, you know that protecting healthcare workers from seasonal illnesses is crucial because they have increased exposure to viruses and other contagions. Understanding your risks and what you can do to prevent them is vital, whether you work in the healthcare field or in a standard office space. Educating employees is the first step to fighting sickness in the workplace. Teach employees what they can do individually to promote a healthy environment and let them know about the resources your business has in place if they do experience symptoms.
Provide Hand Sanitizer
Everyone knows to keep their nose and mouth covered when coughing or sneezing, but germs can spread from your hands if you don’t clean them properly. Make sure that your workplace offers hand sanitizing stations for your employees to reduce the spread of germs. Placing hand sanitizer near entrances and workspaces can help minimize the spread of cold and flu-causing bacteria throughout the day.
Keep Workspaces Clean and Sanitized
Your employees can use hand sanitizer to kill germs, but what about sickness-causing germs that could be lurking around your office? Keeping your workplace clean and sanitized during cold and flu season is crucial to preventing illness. Encourage employees to clean their computers, desks, and general workspace with sanitizing wipes and sprays. You should also make sure that your facility maintenance personnel clean and sanitize common areas where germs could spread, such as kitchens, conference rooms, and bathrooms. Keeping your workspace clean will also promote comfort and peace of mind for your employees, especially during this time of year when illness spreads quickly.
Now is the perfect time to practice these steps in your commercial space. Start applying these tips to protect your workplace during cold and flu season to minimize your employees’ chances of getting sick at work this year.