It seems that winter is here to stay. Unfortunately, the persistent cold and frequent snowfall not only bring a cosy atmosphere, but also illness. In the coming weeks and months, we can expect an increased sickness rate in companies - viruses and bacteria are at their peak at this time of year. And no matter how well you try to protect yourself from them every year, they will strike at some point, whether with a simple cold or serious case of influenza. Major waves of illness don’t just affect schools and daycare centres, but also offices and other businesses. However, employers can take a few precautions to help their employees stay healthy throughout the winter. We have put together 4 tips.
Tip 1: Provide your employees with hooks or storage areas for their bags
Try to break through transmission paths of germs. There is a lot of traffic in many offices. Employees, customers, external service providers: they all walk on the floor with their street shoes, bringing with them a multitude of germs that are spread on carpets and tiles with every step. If employees place their bags or briefcases on dirty floors, the pathogens stick to them. If they then place them on their desk - for example to look for something - the germs end up on the tabletop or directly on their hands. You can interrupt this transmission path by offering your employees storage compartments or hooks for their bags. This prevents them from getting into contact with the contaminated floor in the first place. Problem solved.
Tip 2: Eat in the office kitchen or canteen please!
We've all been there – you’re under a tight deadline, so you forgo a lunch break, grab a sandwich, eat at your desk and continue working on the project. Quite apart from the fact that this is rather counterproductive for your own effectiveness - after all, the body could regenerate well during a real break and many things would be easier to do afterwards. There is another reason why eating at work is an absolute no-go. The classic office workstation can be up to 100 times more contaminated with germs than a toilet seat.
If keyboards, computer mice or desktops are not cleaned consistently, countless colonies of germs adhere to them, which get onto our hands with every touch and from there onto your lunch. You don’t just get a big bite of your sandwich; you also get a good portion of bacteria and viruses. This is particularly critical at the start of winter and can easily lead to the transmission of colds.
Our tip: Talk to your employees and make them aware of why a lunch in the canteen can be beneficial.
Tip 3: Don't take your mobile phone to the toilet
Have you ever noticed that your employees put their mobile phones in their trouser pockets before going to the toilet? That's not surprising, because what used to be the newspaper is now the mobile phone. Many use the time in the washroom to catch up on information.
But beware: the probability that the smartphone is then contaminated with faecal germs is very high. That means that even the most diligent handwashing is ineffective, since the next time you reach for your smartphone, your hands are immediately contaminated.
Don't want to broach the subject directly? Too intimate? That's understandable. Our tip: Put up informative posters in the office that draw attention to the various ways germs spread and give tips on proper hygiene in the workplace. Your employees could also wipe their smartphones with a disinfectant wipe from time to time, especially in autumn and winter, to prevent germs from spreading.
Tip 4: Hygienic environment
Speaking of sanitising wipes - it's best to provide all your employees with appropriate canisters with antibacterial wipes on their desks. They are ideal for cleaning desk surfaces and keyboards as well as being suitable for quick hand cleaning.
And another tip: Position hygiene dispensers with hand sanitisers in washrooms and in places where there are a lot of people. Most germs are transmitted via the hands and hand sanitisers reliably kill germs off. To ensure that the dispenser systems are reliably visible to your employees, it is best to install them at a height of around 1.20 metres.
Let's all get through the winter in good health!
