Cold and flu season is setting in and close quarters in the workplace allow coworkers to easily trade germs.
The National Institute of Health reports there are more than 1 billion cases of the common cold annually in the United States. The flu also affects 5 to 20 percent of Americans every year with the peak season starting in late November, according to the Center for Disease Control
The Better Business Bureau recommends that business owners take a few simple steps to prevent illnesses from spreading and promote productivity throughout the workplace.
Build up an arsenal to fight germs. Tissues, hand sanitizer and products for cleaning work spaces are three basic purchases employers can make for fighting germs around the office. Also, consider investing in no-touch trashcans.
Encourage people to stay home. Sick employees may think they’re being dedicated workers when they still come into work but, truth be told, they spread germs to other employees and cut down on overall productivity. Encourage employees to stay home when they are sick at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever or severe symptoms. Consider instituting a flexible leave policy — and appropriate technology — that allows employees to work from home if they or their kids are sick.
Promote good hygiene around the office – Remind everyone of the importance of hand washing and covering your mouth if you sneeze or cough. Encourage employees to regularly clean shared equipment such as phones and computers and wipe down common areas. Post friendly reminders around the workplace in languages that all employees can easily understand.
Encourage flu shots – Contact your local hospital to see if they provide on-site flu shots or consider reimbursing some or all of the cost for employees to get a shot on their own time.
Hold a health fair – Contact your local hospital to see if they provide health fairs for larger offices. You can also contract the coordination of an onsite health fair with a company specializing in the service.
Set a good example – When you’re the boss it can seem like an impossible task to take a sick day, but stay home and keep your germs out of the workplace.
Start With Trust. For more small business tips and information, visit us online at wynco.bbb.org or call 970-484-1348 or 800-564-0371 for reliable consumer tips and information. Don’t go a day without your BBB. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Flickr.
About the BBB
The Better Business Bureau, founded in 1912, is a champion for ethics and trust in the marketplace. Only businesses that meet the high BBB standards are invited to become BBB Accredited Businesses. Today, 123 BBBs across the United States and Canada rate more than 4 million local and national businesses and charities with scores ranging from A+ to F. Only a BBB Accredited Business may elect to participate in BBBOnLine, one of the most trusted and recognized Internet seal programs in the world.
The BBB serving northern Colorado and Wyoming topped 1.1 million instances of service to consumers and businesses in the last 12 months. These services include reliability reports on local companies and charities, access to companies that can be trusted by industry, help with dispute resolution, and trustworthy information on consumer and business topics.
Luanne Kadlub, BBB media relations manager, 970-488-2044 lkadlub@wynco.bbb.org