How to Maintain a Healthy Office During the Cold and Flu Season

The influenza virus is most active during the fall and winter months when the weather forces us to spend more time indoors. Our experience with the coronavirus has taught us ways to minimize risk and protect family and coworkers from illness. Prevention is the best defence. The same steps that we take to ensure safety from COVID-19 apply to the cold and flu season too. If you're an employer and/or work in an office setting, the following tips can help you protect your employees/coworkers during the flu season.  

• Promote cold and flu vaccinations: Encourage employees to be proactive about their healthcare by recommending that they receive a flu vaccination. Though there will be new cold and flu viruses that the vaccination will not cover, the inoculation offers protection against the most common strains, reducing the chances of employees/coworkers becoming ill and missing work. Most people experience no side effects and, if they do, they are typically mild and last only a few days. Encourage everyone to be vaccinated by the end of October, the beginning of the cold and flu season.

• Encourage good hygiene practices:

  • wash hands thoroughly with soap and water

  • when hand washing is not possible, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer

  • sneeze and cough into a sleeve instead of your hands

  • avoid touching your face

  • always wash hands before eating

  • dispose of tissues immediately

  • wipe down your workspace (desk, keyboard, mouse, etc.) often

  • rinse coffee cups and hot water bottles in hot soapy water, daily

  • opt for individually packaged snacks and discourage sharing

  • refrain from shaking hands

  • wear a mask 

• Educate employees about good hygiene:

  • put up signs and engage in regular conversations to ensure correct hygiene procedures

  • distribute information about best health and safety practices

  • ensure the office is stocked with supplies of tissues, disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer and garbage bins that don’t require to be touched by hand

  • provide resources/education for employees who may be athigh risk for serious flu complications (pregnant women, those with a chronic medical condition such as asthma, heart disease, or diabetes)

  • encourage respiratory etiquette by providing education and reminders about covering coughs and sneezes with tissues and washing hands with running water and soap or alcohol-based hand rubs.

• Develop and/or review policies:

  • develop and review sick leave policies that encourage sick workers to stay at home without fear of reprisal

  • employees with flu symptoms upon arrival or during the work day should be promptly separated from others and asked to go home

  • develop flexible policies to allow workers to work from home (if feasible) when feeling unwell 

  • create leave policies to allow workers to stay home to care for sick family members

  • encourage employees who have underlying medical conditions or who are pregnant to call their health care provider for advice if they become sick

  • offer paid sick time and ensure employees feel comfortable using it by not requiring doctors’ notes or other proof which is time-consuming or costly to obtain

• Regularly clean commonly used surfaces: A virus present on a shared surface can spread to 40 to 60% of your workforce in just a few hours! Use anti-bacterial cleaners to curb the spread of germs and viruses, regularly cleaning commonly touched surfaces (lunchroom, countertops, doorknobs, coffee machine, bathrooms) as well as personal workspaces (desk, keyboard, phone). Dispose of garbage frequently.

• Restrict unnecessary travel: Public spaces (airports, airplanes, buses, public transit) are incubators for cold and flu. Reduce or cease work travel during winter months to minimize risks to employees. 

• Consider aromatherapy: Inhaling certain essential oils (eucalyptus, bergamot, tea tree) can help prevent and alleviate flu symptoms and deactivate influenza viruses in confined spaces. 

• Hire a professional cleaning service: A reputable cleaning company can help combat flu and colds within the workplace with industry-certified techniques (disinfecting, sanitizing) of surfaces (common areas, floors, carpets, air ducts). Consider having them clean more frequently during the cold and flu season. 

Take proactive steps to prepare for and prevent the potential impacts of cold and flu season upon your company and your employees. If you take precautions, encourage best practices, provide information and hire a professional cleaning service, it’s possible to reduce the effects of illness in your office/business.

Need help keeping colds and the flu at bay in your office this winter? Want help keeping surfaces clean and sanitized? Call Strathcona Cleaners Ltd at 403-237-8355 or email info@strathconacleaners.com. Our Calgary-based business provides janitorial services to an array of industries. We custom tailor our cleaning and maintenance plans to suit your specific needs. You can even choose non-toxic products and eco-friendly equipment. Depend on us for quality janitorial and office cleaning. Contact us today!