Cold and Flu Season – How Does Being Sick Affect Work Performance?

How does being sick affect work performance? No one’s work performance is optimum when they are feeling sick. Unfortunately, if someone comes into work sick, they could have a negative impact on their colleagues’ health and productivity, too.

Illness in the workplace tends to have a ripple effect, as everyone who works closely with that person feels an impact. For some, it might be increased workload. For others, it might be concerns about exposure, while others may actually become sick and be contagious themselves.

 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports American workers have become more likely to report to work rather than use sick leave (if their employer offers paid sick time) and stay home when suffering from a cold or flu, costing employers about $150 billion to $250 billion. While workers may be worried about losing pay, employers must worry about lost productivity.

 

For employers, preventing illness and absenteeism is good business. Office Pride Commercial Cleaning Services can help.

 

Cold and flu season can take a toll on employees and worker productivity. With most pandemic precautions behind us, the risk of a workplace outbreak has increased again. The influenza virus is a respiratory infection spread by the droplets produced when an infected person sneezes or coughs. Talking and touching things also present risks, and droplets may linger in the air or on various surfaces in the workplace. High-traffic areas are at especially high risk for virus spread. In addition, the flu virus is known to live for up to 48 hours.

 

Office Pride Commercial Cleaning Services can help.

 

In fact, Office Pride may be your best buddy during flu season, and you may want to see your local cleaning crew more often during these months. While Office Pride’s regular cleaning practices include wiping down and disinfecting high-touch surfaces, which is effective against germs that are present, increased cleaning frequency can help prevent repeat contamination and infection spread.

 

Office Pride cleaners also take care of other risks, such as floor care. Germs can be carried in on footwear, as well as distributed through sneezing and coughing. Carpets should be vacuumed regularly, while hard flooring needs to be mopped and disinfected.

 

What you can do to prevent illnesses from spreading through the workplace:

• Encourage employees to take sick days or work from home when they are sneezing, coughing, or running a fever rather than come to work sick.
• Institute a wellness program or culture that recognizes the value of work-life balance.
• Provide masks and disinfecting wipes for when an exposure occurs.
• Talk to your Office Pride cleaners or account manager to increase frequency of your workplace cleanings.

 

If you’re not currently using Office Pride Commercial Cleaning Services, you can learn more about the routine and special services that Office Pride offers at www.OfficePride.com. Please check out our franchise locations and call your nearest franchise location to request a free custom quote for all your cleaning and disinfecting needs.