6 Best Cold & Flu Prevention Tips For The Workplace

Prevention and Control of Influenza and The Common Cold

The CDC estimates that there have been 13 million illnesses and 120,000 hospitalizations from the flu this season alone.

Keeping the workplace clean during cold and flu season is imperative to prevent workers from getting sick. However, not everyone knows what steps to take to maintain a safe and healthy environment. Wiping down surfaces is not enough.

We’re here to provide vital cold and flu prevention tips for the workplace, so everyone stays healthy and productive. Read on to discover what changes you can make to protect your company.

1. Offer On-Site Flu Vaccinations

Influenza viruses usually spread in the fall and winter and peak around December or January, so getting a vaccination in the fall is crucial.

Doctors recommend getting a flu shot by the end of October. However, getting your flu shot is okay even if you miss this recommended deadline. Immunization is still beneficial, and it will provide more protection than not getting the shot at all.

Many people mistakenly believe that if they miss the end-of-October deadline, there’s no point in getting the vaccine. However, you can still get it.

One way to promote flu safety in the workplace is to promote the flu vaccine, provide information to your workers, and consider offering flu shot programs to employees. Most company healthcare plans cover flu shots.

2. Advise Sick Employees to Stay Home

If one of your workers does get sick, they must stay home, or they can spread the illness to others. Advise employees that if they experience symptoms of the flu to stay home. Symptoms include:

• Fever or feeling feverish
• Sore throat
• Cough
• Body or muscle aches
• Fatigue
• Stuffy or runny nose
• Headaches

Keep in mind that not everyone will experience the same symptoms. For instance, some people may feel feverish, while others do not develop a fever at all. Individuals may get nauseous or vomit, but this is more common in children.

If they experience a fever, tell your employees to stay home for at least 24 hours until the fever subsides without using medicines.

3. Encourage Proper Workplace Hygiene

All employees should know to cover their coughs and sneezes. They should use tissues, have easy access to trash cans, and wash their hands after coughing or sneezing. If washing their hands isn’t possible, they should use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

If employees sneeze into their sleeves or the crook of their arm rather than their hand, that area must also be washed or sanitized afterward.

Encourage proper hand-washing techniques with educational posters and reminders. You can place these in the bathroom.

If you have the budget, ensure the workplace is well-stocked with tissues, extra soap, hand sanitizer, and disinfectant wipes. Investing in touch-free trash cans, the type that uses a pedal to open, also helps to prevent the spreading of viruses and illnesses.

4. Keep a Clean Workplace

When it comes to the prevention and control of influenza, keeping the workplace clean and sanitized is key. Although you should always keep the office clean, it’s crucial to take extra steps in the winter months when the flu is at its peak.

Pay special attention to keyboards, desks, light switches, door knobs, phones, and other high-touch surfaces.

Of course, wiping down these surfaces isn’t always enough in cold and flu season. There may be spots you miss, or you may not have the time to sanitize each area effectively.

If you want to prevent influenza, hiring a professional commercial cleaning service is the best option. Commercial cleaning companies know which areas need special attention and get to more nooks and crannies. Businesses, from hospitals to fitness centers, rely on these companies to keep their areas clean and healthy.

Professional cleaning services also provide additional benefits. For instance, we offer a germ disinfection program that makes it easy to kill bacteria and viruses on difficult-to-clean equipment or surfaces. It’s highly advantageous during the flu season as a preventive measure.

5. Remain Flexible

A staggering 90% of workers go to work even while they’re sick. Some of the most common reasons include having too much to do, feeling pressure from their employer, and not wanting to take a sick day.

It’s a sobering stat, as it means many of your workers are coming in even when they might have a cold or the flu.

Flu safety in the workplace begins with flexibility. You’ll likely need to make changes to allow workers to work from home or stay home to prevent spreading illness. Your employees should also feel comfortable asking for time off due to feeling sick.

Start by developing or reviewing current sick leave policies. Make necessary changes to encourage employees to use their sick days or work remotely.

Most importantly, ensure your employees aren’t worried about losing their job if they call in sick. It’s much better to allow one worker to stay home rather than have them spread the cold or flu around and lose multiple people.

6. Ask Sick Workers to Go Home

If you see someone who appears sick or displays flu-like symptoms, ask them to go home. Keep them separated from others in the area as much as possible and stress the importance of leaving for the day and getting rest.

Not only is it better for their health, but it also promotes a healthier environment at work. This is the time when you may need to learn flexibility. For instance, if your sick worker is busy on a project, see if you can’t delegate the tasks to others in their absence or permit them to work remotely.

Use These Cold and Flu Prevention Tips for the Workplace

These workplace colds and flu prevention tips should help keep your staff healthy and safe. They should also help protect your bottom line and show that you care about the well-being of your employees.

Are you interested in getting a truly professional deep cleaning? If so, you can rely on us at RBM Maintenance. We offer various services, including commercial cleaning, post-construction cleanup, junk removal, and more in New Jersey, New York and Eastern Pennsylvania. Schedule a disinfection cleaning today to protect your workplace from germs and viruses year-round.