The flu sucks! Every year we fight against this virus to protect ourselves and our loved ones. We also want to protect our workplace. The flu can take a toll on employees and productivity in commercial office environments.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that influenza was associated with 38 million illnesses during the 2019-2020 flu season. For these reasons, it is important to protect the workplace during the flu season. Daily prevention and regular commercial cleaning and disinfecting will help to combat the flu.
There are also other ways to help protect employees and help fight against flu. Here are a few suggestions in keeping the office healthy and safe during this flu season.
Host a Flu Clinic
If possible, make it easier for employees to get their flu shot. Getting the flu vaccination has been shown to reduce illness, doctors’ visits and missed work. The CDC maintains statistics each year concerning the effects of the flu on the population. Many times, however, it is difficult for employees to fit a vaccination into their workday. The threat of the coronavirus does not help either. A lot of individuals are putting off important tasks to avoid the risk of being exposed to COVID. An employer, however, can provide their employees with what they need in order to be safe this flu season.
A flu clinic can be offered at work. Give your employees an opportunity to get their flu shot right in the office during work hours. Have them sign up for a certain time slot to reduce the amount of work downtime. You can find a wealth of information on how to schedule an onsite flu clinic on the CDC website. There are also local business’ such as Wegmans or CVS that provide on-site flu clinics.
Another way to promote a safe workplace during flu season is to have flu liaisons in the office. Maybe have the office manager or a volunteer within your organization be an “influencer” and provide information to employees. They can let employees know the locations of where they can get a flu shot and other helpful information. Some workplaces also provide comprehensive flu prevention programs that include reminders, educational information, and incentives. The goal is to maximize the number of employees who receive a flu shot. This is one of the most effective ways to protect the office against flu.
Mandate Basic Hygiene
According to the CDC, the influenza virus can infect people for up to 48 hours when transmitted by surfaces. This is why practicing simple hygiene can go a long way in preventing the spread of flu. It is important for people to follow basic hygiene guidelines, especially in a shared work space. Some ways to assist employees to adhere to these guidelines are:
Encouraging employees to stay home if they are sick
Display hygiene educational materials around the office
Display reminders to wash hand regularly and cover coughs and sneezes.
Provide hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes throughout the office
Encourage employees to disinfect their personal work space as well as commonly used equipment
Of course, these standards are not simply great for flu season, but can help prevent illness year-round. It may seem too much to put reminders about personal hygiene around the office, but every bit helps.
Increase Frequency of Disinfecting
We have discussed this previously, and cannot emphasize it enough. During flu season and with COVID-19 still a major concern, increasing the amount of disinfecting in the office is critical.
Regular cleaning and disinfecting just is not enough right now. It’s important to ramp up your cleaning schedule with your commercial cleaning company, especially as COVID-19 continues to spread more rapidly.
These two techniques are proven to combat flu and COVID-19 viruses effectively:
Perform daily touch point disinfecting
Consider Electrostatic Spray Technology
The most common touch point areas within an office are:
Elevator buttons
Light switches and plates
Desktops
Computers and telephones
Copiers, fax machines, postage meters and all other office equipment
All kitchenette and dining area touch surfaces
Microwave and refrigerator doors
Coffee maker
Vending machines
Water cooler
Door handles and locks (really any handles in the office)
Handrails
Remote controls
Restrooms touch surfaces
These areas should get special attention as they are ones that are used the most by multiple people.
Working with a commercial cleaning service is your best defense against the flu season!
Cleantec aims to offer helpful information to our clients and friends. We currently serve all of New York, including the Syracuse, Ithaca, Manhattan, Rochester, Utica, and Buffalo regions. We also have operations in Palo Alto, CA; Denver, CO; Muscle Shoals, AL; Tampa, FL; and Sanford, NC. Give our sales professionals a call at (877) 469-0543 for a free consultation and quote regarding janitorial services. Learn how we can help your business achieve your cleaning needs.
Cleantec ensures all staff members are thoroughly vetted conducting background checks and drug testing. In addition to providing professional cleaning services, we are also a supplier of specialized cleaning products and green chemicals. Please call (315) 463-5353 to place an order.
