Reducing workplace illnesses

Once the flu or a common cold hits the office, it is only a matter of time before you lose half of your staff for several weeks or days. Employers are always trying to reduce workplace illness to keep their employees healthy and at work. When an employee uses their sick leave, employers are automatically going to lose money because they need to pay them for their sick leave benefit and they also need to pay for the lost production costs. So what can you do to reduce the spread of workplace illness? Here are some tips that may help:

Tip # 1 - Clean
This may sound basic, but you would be surprised to see how many germs are living on the surface of your keyboard. It may also shock you to find out that almost half of your employees do not properly wash their hands after using the bathroom. To prevent workplace illness from spreading you should provide employees with an effective and convenient means of disinfecting their workspace. Disinfect everything that is touched regularly. Clean telephones, light switches, doorknobs, filing cabinets, keyboard and break areas frequently. Encourage washing hands regularly and the use of hand antiseptics. Viruses spread through the air and by touching any surface so minimizing the amount of germs on common areas will increase the health of your workplace.

With the outbreak of swine flu in Mexico and its integration into the United States, it is more important than ever to encourage your employees to start washing their hands often. Give them disinfectant lotion to carry around and use if they are in a situation where they cannot wash their hands. This way you can at least cut down on the spread of the flu in the office.

Tip # 2 - Offer Sick leave
Sick leave really doesn't cost your company as much money as you might think. It is important to offer sick leave to your employees, especially when they are really sick. The last thing you need is to have someone come into the office and spread their illness to everyone else and their families. Suggest employees stay home when they are sick, and support that policy. Studies have found that employees that feel like they will not face discipline for taking time off when they are sick are more willing to use it sparingly and appropriately.

Ask yourself if it is really worth having a sick employee come into the office and infect their coworkers, causing the entire office to become less productive. The risk of infecting coworkers with colds and flu viruses is not worth the limited work a sick employee will accomplish by coming in.

Tip # 3 - Encourage Exercise
A great way to prevent illness from spreading in the workplace is to encourage your employees to stay physically fit. When people exercise and take care of their bodies, their immune systems are stronger and they are able to resist getting sick. Exercise and a good diet will also improve their stamina and energy when they are at the office. If they do get sick, they will bounce back faster because they are healthier.

Although you can't stop the spread workplace illnesses, you can greatly reduce it from taking out every staff member you have. Keeping the office clean and healthy will increase the physical well-being of your employees, and the overall mental attitude of your employees. Employees will be able to perform their jobs easier because they are healthier and more productive. This in turn will lead to greater profits for the company and it will increase employee satisfaction and retention.