For as much as transitioning to cooler weather and seasonal festivities is nice, it also brings with it an increased risk of illness. Flu season is upon us and upon businesses everywhere. If the bug makes its way around your office, morale will plummet, as will productivity. Keep your employees safe and well with these tips to prep your office for flu season.
Disinfect Like the Best
Cleanliness is your first line of defense against influenza. To prevent the spread of germs in your office, establish a rigorous disinfecting routine. Your cleaning team should regularly sanitize high-touch surfaces, such as doorknobs, elevator buttons, keyboards, and shared office equipment. Make sure you use commercial-grade cleaners, as commercial cleaners offer benefits like improved disinfection and lower cost if purchased in bulk.
Every week or so, a deep clean can be beneficial to stamp out lingering germs. Plus, it never hurts to have your office look as nice as possible.
Additionally, encourage your employees to clean their personal workspaces. Providing easy access to disinfectant wipes makes it more likely that they will.
Promote Vaccination and Sanitary Practices
Vaccinated employees are less likely to get sick and therefore less likely to miss work. If you have the resources to do so, consider organizing an on-site vaccination clinic to make it convenient for employees to get their flu shot.
If not, you can still promote vaccination through information! Make sure your team knows about the benefits of the flu vaccine, and address any concerns they might have. Refer them to resources, such as a list of locations where they can get the shot for free.
Alongside vaccination, encourage sanitary practices, such as frequent handwashing and the use of hand sanitizers. Display informative posters reminding everyone of proper hygiene practices.
Encourage Sick Days and Remote Work
Ideally, no one would get sick. However, we don’t live in an ideal world, and you will do more harm than good for your company by restricting sick days and enforcing in-office work. This just makes it more likely that the flu will spread throughout your workplace, hampering employee satisfaction and productivity.
Therefore, actively promote wellness and safety measures. Encourage your employees to take a day off or work from home if they feel at all sick. Your employees will appreciate the flexibility, making it a great way to boost employee retention, and your business will benefit from reduced infection rates.
As a business owner, you have a vested interest in creating safe and healthy workplaces during flu season. You can prep your office using these tips and enjoy a relatively smooth transition into the winter months. Best of luck!
