Avoiding Illness in the Office | TLC Office Systems

While the cold and flu season typically peaks in January or February, did you know that it can extend through May? It’s a wise idea to brush up on office health tips while the sick season is still going strong. Check out these tips from TLC Office Systems that you can implement in the workplace to help keep your and your employees healthy.

When it comes to viruses like the cold, flu, or norovirus, it’s all about preventative measures. That means taking action to practice proper hygiene before anyone gets sick.

• Encourage employees to get a flu shot every year. Host a flu shot clinic at work or make a list of the local pharmacies and clinics where workers can quickly stop by to get vaccinated. Continue to out reminders throughout the flu season to remind your employees to get the flu shot if they haven’t yet done so. Sometimes when people don’t get the flu shot early on, they miss out getting it in later months because they don’t think it will work. But for most people, it’s still better late than never.

• Educate employees about proper hygiene practices in the office like routine hand washing and sneezing or coughing into the crook of their elbow increased of their hands. Post hand washing reminders in the bathroom and provide waterless hand sanitizing stations around the workplace. Have supplies readily available for employees to sanitize their desk surfaces. Put a plan into effect to sanitize conference room tables and all doorknobs regularly.

• Because some employees will inevitably become ill with one of these viruses, it’s imperative to communicate the expectations about staying home from work. Employees with the flu or norovirus (which is frequently called the “stomach flu”) should not come into work because they can easily infect others.

• The norovirus is a gastrointestinal virus that’s much more difficult to prevent than the common flu. There’s no vaccine for it, and it’s more contagious. Because it can cause both vomiting and diarrhea, handwashing is especially crucial since the virus can linger after symptoms end, which means a seemingly healthy person can be contagious.

We all want to enjoy a more productive 2017 in the office, and the right tools will help you do just that. Visit our website today to learn more about our services and solutions to help make sure your day-to-do-day office needs are fulfilled with ease.