As the fall season unfolds, flu season comes to ahead, threatening the health, wellness, and productivity of your business. This flu season, better prepare your staff to reduce the number of employee absences and illnesses, while maintaining productivity. You know what they say – healthy employees are happy employees. We outline the best practices for reducing the spread of germs and bacteria as well as identify the harmful impact this illness has on workplace productivity.

Flu Prevention Tips

According to OSHA, here are some of the top flu prevention tips:

1. Encourage employees to get vaccinated
2. If you have the flu or are ill, stay home from work
3. Wash your hands as much as possible with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
4. Refrain from touching your nose, mouth, and eyes
5. Cover your sneezes and coughs with a tissue; if not available, use your upper sleeve
6. Wash your hands after sneezing or coughing
7. Clean office equipment such as a phone, desktop, computer, and other tools on a daily basis with an anti-bacterial solution
8. Refrain from close contact with employees who may be ill
9. Stay well – eat healthy, sleep properly, and exercise regularly
10. Have janitorial supplies on hand to prevent the spread of germs and harmful bacteria

Office Flu & Impact on Productivity

The flu and other illnesses can greatly impact the overall productivity and wellness of the workplace. According to an article by FLU.GOV, each year, 111 workdays are lost, due to flu illnesses: this number translates into $7 billion in lost productivity and sick days. Not only does this statistic illustrate the staggering impact of the flu on employee absence, but it also indicates a substantial amount of time devoted to accommodating employee illnesses, negatively impacting the productivity of managers and supervisors. The Center for Disease Control estimates that one out of five Americans will suffer from the flu each season. A great deal of these citizens are members of the work force and having them absent will impact the productivity of the workplace.

Look Out for These Office Areas

There are several areas in the office that are particularly dirty, where bacteria and harmful germs can impact the health of employees. According to a New York Daily News article, Kimberly-Clarke Professional conducted a study in which they identified the dirtiest places in the office. In order to measure the amount of germs found in each place, the researchers used a device to identify the Adenosine Triphosphate, or ATP, which is the molecule found in different types of yeast and mold cells, For readings of 100 or more: this indicates that the space should be cleaned; on the other hand, readings of 300 or greater indicate a serious contamination issue. Here are some of the most popular and contaminated areas in the office that had a reading of 300 ATP or more:

• 75 percent of breakroom faucets
• 27 percent of keyboards
• 26 percent of refrigerator handles
• 21 percent of vending machine buttons

Here’s a sample of places with a reading of 100 ATP or more:

• 51 percent of computer mice
• 51 percent of desk phones
• 48 percent of coffee pots
• 53 percent of water fountain handles

Get your staff ready for flu season. Shop our wide variety of janitorial and cleaning supplies now!