Since you were young and in school, you were probably taught the importance of washing your hands, especially during cold and flu season. You brought in tissue boxes and bottles of hand sanitizer to help your teacher stock the classroom for the winter. And you took a sick day when you didn’t feel well.
But is the same true in the open office environment? Is your workspace stocked with the things you need to stay healthy? Are you willing to stay home when you are sick?
Stock Up on Supplies
To keep germs from spreading in the open office environment, provide sanitizing stations throughout the office. Disinfectant wipes should be conveniently located to help workers fight any germs they may encounter throughout the day, whether what they be on coffee pots, doorknobs, or desks. Because according to Charles Gerba, a microbiologist at the University of Arizona, a desk can have hundreds of times more bacteria than a toilet seat.
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers should also be easily accessible in sanitizing stations throughout the office. With at least 60% alcohol, alcohol-based sanitizers can kill germs as effectively as washing your hands with soap and water. It is important to supply hand sanitizers that include a moisturizing element to prevent hands from drying out, becoming itchy, and possibly even bleeding. When your hands lack the proper moisture, it can be difficult to complete simple tasks, like typing and writing.
Supply hand sanitizers that are free of fragrance. Many people are hyper-sensitive to fragrances. One whiff of a strong scent and a worker may be hit with an impeding headache or nausea. Overall, strong scents are overbearing. And when they linger into your individual workspace, they can be the distraction that stops you from getting your work done.
You can also stock your break-room up with lots of healthy snack options. Instead of doughnuts and cookies, opt for fruits and vegetables. Nutritious foods can help your body’s natural defense system and give you the sustainable energy boost you need to get through the day. Overall, eating healthy, exercising, and getting enough sleep shouldn’t be overlooked when you are trying to stay healthy in the open office environment.
Prevent Presenteeism
Encourage sick days. Today’s workers would rather work while sick, than take a sick day to recover and protect their fellow workers from becoming ill. Presenteeism describes the loss in quality and quantity of work done by a sick employee on the job. Sick workers are more likely to move slower and make bigger, more serious mistakes.
By coughs and sneezes, germs can travel far. But they don’t have to in the close quarters of an open office environment. That is why it is important that sick workers stay home, not only for their own health, but to prevent spreading germs among otherwise healthy workers in the office.
