Is Your Office Ready for Cold and Flu Season?

The first chill in the air isn’t just a sign of sweater weather – it’s a reminder that cold and flu season lurks just around the corner.

If you are an office manager, you might be thinking about how to keep your staff healthy this autumn and winter.

After all, it isn’t hard to imagine this: On Monday, an employee reports to work with a sniffle, and by Friday afternoon, half the office is sneezing. Unfortunately, this story is all too familiar in workplaces and offices where people share close quarters. However, there are actionable steps you can take to protect your staff and maintain a healthier, happier, and more productive workspace.

Understanding the Perils of Cold and Flu Season in Your Office

The reality of office life is that staff members often work close to others. Shared equipment and high-touch surfaces like printers, break rooms, and door handles can turn your workplace into a hotbed for germs. And when the colder months roll around, it’s easy for illnesses to spread, impacting your team’s well-being and productivity. But there’s good news: a little proactive effort can go a long way in keeping everyone healthier.

Steps to Prepare Your Office for Cold and Flu Season

Here are some key ways to keep your office space ready and resilient as the worst of the cold and flu season approaches. These tips, though simple, can be incredibly practical in keeping those sniffles at bay.

Step Up Cleaning and Disinfecting

• Consider scheduling professional cleaning more frequently during the colder months.
• Pay added attention to high-touch surfaces: door handles, keyboards, desks, and shared equipment.
• A professional cleaning service can reach all areas for thorough disinfection, reducing the chances of spreading germs.

Hand Sanitizer Stations

• Make hand sanitizers readily available throughout the office – at entryways, near shared equipment, in washrooms, meeting rooms, or reception areas.
• Remind employees to use hand sanitizer frequently, especially after touching shared surfaces.

Encourage Good Personal Hygiene

• A few reminders can go a long way. Put up friendly posters or digital reminders that encourage good hygiene, like frequent handwashing.
• Make tissues readily available, along with no-touch wastebaskets to dispose of used tissues quickly.
• Remind employees to cover their mouths when sneezing or coughing – using the inside of their elbow to cover the cough rather than their hands.

Support Remote Work When Feasible

If your business allows it, encourage employees who feel under the weather to work from home. Doing so can prevent illness from spreading to healthy staff while keeping work on track. Flexibility is a great way to reduce the impact of seasonal sickness.

Keep Your Indoor Air Clean

• Consider air purifiers for added protection, especially if your workspace has limited ventilation.
• Regular HVAC maintenance supports healthier indoor air quality, reducing the chances of illness.

Promote Healthy Habits

• Set a positive example by promoting a healthy office culture. Encourage employees to get a good night’s sleep, eat well, and stay active.
• Consider offering fruit or other healthy snacks for employees to snack on in the break room to help boost immunity.

Reduce Shared Items

• Cut down on shared items where possible. Encourage employees to use their own computer workstations, pens, keyboards, and phone handsets as much as possible.
• If your office has a shared kitchen or break room, clean these areas frequently, especially before and after lunch or other breaks.

Incorporate Live Plants

Adding live plants throughout the office can help purify the air and reduce toxins while boosting mood and overall well-being.

For easy-to-maintain, air-purifying plants, consider the following live plants. These plants are known for their ability to improve indoor air quality and require minimal upkeep, making them the perfect addition to office environments:

Snake Plant (Sansevieria)

• Known for its resilience, the snake plant can tolerate low light and irregular watering.
• It helps filter out formaldehyde, benzene, and other toxins.

Pothos (Devil’s Ivy)

• Devil’s Ivy thrives in various conditions, from low light to indirect sunlight.
• Effective in filtering toxins like formaldehyde, xylene, and benzene.

Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)

• Peace Lily plants require moderate light and occasional watering.
• It purifies the air by absorbing harmful chemicals such as ammonia, formaldehyde, and benzene.

Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

• Spider plants require minimal maintenance and grow in low light.
• It is known for removing carbon monoxide and xylene.

Aloe Vera

• Aloe vera is simple to grow and requires minimal watering.
• Helps filter formaldehyde and benzene while also being handy for minor skin irritations.

Adding any of these plants to your office supports better indoor air quality and adds greenery and life to your office, creating a more inviting and comfortable workspace.

Frequently Asked Questions: Cold and Flu Season in the Workplace

Q: How often should an office be professionally cleaned during flu season?
A: Increasing to weekly or bi-monthly professional cleaning and daily disinfection of high-touch surfaces is recommended.

Q: Is it vital to have hand sanitizers at every corner?
A: Yes, having hand sanitizers readily accessible encourages more frequent use, which can make a big difference in reducing the spread of germs.

Q: How do air purifiers help during cold and flu season?
A: Air purifiers can reduce airborne contaminants, including viruses and bacteria, creating a healthier environment, especially in spaces without good ventilation.

Q: What should I do if an employee shows up to work sick?
A: Politely encourage them to work from home if possible and remind them of the importance of minimizing contact with others while unwell.

Keeping Your Office Healthy is Possible

Cold and flu season doesn’t have to mean widespread illness across your team. With some preparation and actionable steps, you can make a real difference in keeping a healthy and productive workspace.

By ramping up professional cleaning, promoting good hygiene, and offering flexibility for employees who aren’t feeling their best, you’ll be on your way to confidently navigating this year’s cold and flu season.

If you’re ready to proactively keep your Quincy, MA, area office germ-free, consider contacting us at Stephco Cleaning. We are happy to customize professional office cleaning services tailored to your needs.

Let’s create a healthier workspace that keeps everyone feeling their best, even during cold and flu season.