The common cold, influenza, and the novel Coronavirus have employers on edge this flu season. Seasoned supervisors know that any viral outbreak in the workplace can cause significant slowdowns in productivity. We also care about our employees as people too. And keeping disease out of the office is a hot topic this year.
We’ve put together this article to highlight ways to keep employees healthy and limit the spread of viruses in the workplace. We assume that you know the basics like thorough handwashing and disinfection at community spaces (like conference tables).
- With this article, we’ll cover employee education and healthy office layout ideas.
We’re not medical professionals at OfficeMakers. We’re business office furniture specialists. If you stumbled on this blog because you’re experiencing severe flu or Coronavirus symptoms, you should reach out to your doctor right away.
So, if you’re having trouble breathing, call 911 right now.
If you’re concerned that your office is experiencing a dangerous viral outbreak of any kind, call your local health authorities or the CDC.
Employee Education: Designate a Health Officer at the Workplace
Employee education and awareness of healthy hygiene may reduce employee illness by as much as 80%. Reminding employees to wash their hands and sanitize their equipment is tremendously helpful. That is, especially when employers provide soaps, wipes, and sanitizers.
Therefore, the best way to get a grip on employee health is to designate / delegate virus control to a leader at your place of business. Their qualifications don’t need to be medical or scientific. They need to be a respected leader in the office. So, you should choose someone with excellent communication skills and an approachable demeanor.
Task them with:
- Taking the World Health Organization (WHO) Coronavirus online training course. It’s three hours of virus control training, at no cost, that your organization will benefit from for years to come.
- Creating memos, emails, and fliers about proper handwashing, hygiene, and virus symptoms.
- Developing a health-focused corporate culture, that encourages sick employees to stay home.
- Purchasing and distributing alcohol-based hand sanitizers to every desk, cubicle, lobby, and reception area.
- Ensuring that staff cleans their phones, keyboards, and devices with a bleach-based cleaner or disinfectant.
If this is a particularly busy time of year at your office, your lead employee may be reluctant to take on extra responsibilities. So, encourage them with a titular advancement, a monetary raise if possible. Or even the offer of a bonus if your office stays outbreak-free until summer.
Healthy Office Layout & Design Ideas – Make Cubicles Great Again
Open office designs have been popular for decades, and roughly 70% of modern offices are laid out this way. Proponents of these office layouts say an open design allows for fast communication among teams, making a more creative and efficient business environment. However:
- Fifteen separate studies were reviewed in 2017, and the results prove that open office layouts are less far healthy for employees, encouraging the spread of infectious diseases like the flu or Coronavirus.
- One 2011 study in Denmark proved that employees in open-office layouts took 62% more sick days than those who worked in enclosed offices.
Can Cubicles Reduce the Spread of Communicable Disease?
Fifteen studies prove they can! OfficeMakers offers a range of cubicles fit for any budget, and we’re ready to help you revamp your office for employee health. New office furniture is a tax-deductible investment your employees will thank you for this cold and flu season. Contact us today to learn more about healthy office layout design and check out our blog for more meaningful office design articles.