The subject of keeping employees healthy continues to be a hot topic. As more and more folks are returning to in-person work, it’s becoming more and more important for employers to be actively involved in promoting a healthy workplace. We’re not talking about yoga in the break room or trying to convince your staff to take the stairs instead of the elevator; we’re talking about preventing widespread outbreaks of colds, flus, and other bugs that can race through your entire workforce and have a negative effect on your bottom line.
Here are two ways you can prevent the spread of germs in your office.
1. Encourage Sick Folks to Stay Home
Even after all the world has been through over the past three years, employees persist in coming to work when they are knowingly sick. But here’s the thing: it’s not good for anyone when sick folks come to work. First, it’s not good for the sick employee. They aren’t going to get the rest and recuperation they need sitting behind a desk or working the warehouse floor. They’ll feel better faster if they stay home. Second, it’s not good for your business. Sick employees aren’t at their best; their productivity is low as is the quality of their work. And sick employees create more sick employees.
Having a culture that encourages, even indirectly, to come to work when they are ill will have a negative impact on your bottom line. It’s a far better option to proactively encourage your staff to come to work healthy. Here are a few things you can do:
- Instructing managers to send emails during cold and flu season reminding their staff to “please stay home if you feel unwell.”
- Training managers to respond to sick calls with phrases such as “take all the time you need” or “I hope you feel better soon.” These responses will help employees feel more at ease when calling in sick,
- Encouraging managers to set the example and stay home themselves when they feel unwell.
- Offering telecommuting options that allow employees to work from home if needed.
- Cross training employees so everyone knows staying home sick won’t bring things at work to a complete stop.
2. Keep Your Office Bathroom Clean
Your office restroom is highly used and, alas, full of germs. You can reduce the spread of germs in the office bathroom by doing the following:
- Post signs encouraging employees to wash their hands before leaving.
- Offer single-use towels for hand drying rather than jet dryers which just blow the germs around the room.
- Use effective commercial-grade cleaners as directed to clean and disinfect surfaces daily. Discount office supply retailers are good sources for these cleaners at reasonable prices.
Keeping your staff healthy is good for everyone.
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