Five ways to keep your workplace healthy this flu season
Whether you’re a business owner or employee,
it’s important to keep your workplace healthy, especially during the flu
season. Taking a few simple steps to protect your office or workplace from the
spread of infection can not only prevent the costs associated with extended
sick leave, but also ensure that everyone in the workplace stays healthy,
happy, and productive.
Here are five ways to keep your workplace
healthy:
Maintain
clean workspaces and common areas
Regularly cleaning desktops and surrounding areas
can help prevent the spread of bacteria. May workplaces choose to employ
professional cleaners to maintain clean and tidy workplaces, but there are a
few things you can do to facilitate employees keeping their workstations clear
as well. Ensuring that there’s plenty of bins to dispose of food scraps,
tissues and other rubbish is one way to minimise bacteria. It’s also important
that employees have access to antibacterial cleaning spray and cleaning cloths
or paper towel so that they can regularly wipe down and disinfect their cubicle
or desk. Remember to regularly disinfect surfaces and items which are regularly
touched like doorknobs, keyboards, and telephones, as these often tend to
harbour germs.
Encourage
exercise in the workplace
Getting plenty of exercise is an important
part of maintaining good health and wellbeing. Some workplaces choose to
implement a workplace wellbeing program that incorporates access to a gym or
subsidized membership, but it’s equally important to stay active and moving throughout
the day. Encouraging regular breaks for walks or stretching can help employees
squeeze in a little extra movement into their day. You may also wish to
schedule walking meetings as opposed to meeting in a conference room or seated
in an office. Not only does this mean everyone gets a bit of exercise, but it
can also help with staying alert and energised throughout the day.
Facilitate
healthy food choices
At the end of the day, each of us are
responsible for the food that we eat. However, there’s a lot to be said for
creating a healthy and supportive culture in the workplace to assist with
living a healthy lifestyle. Processed food like biscuits and cakes are often
shared for meetings or morning teas in the workplace, but over time can
negatively affect our health when they’re eaten in excess. Instead, try
offering a platter with a variety of colourful vegetables and healthy dips, or
consider chopping up some fresh fruit.
Encourage
personal hygiene
Much like our diets, personal hygiene comes
down to the behaviours and habits of each individual. However, there are subtle
ways to support hygiene practices that prevent the spread of germs. Make sure
that bathrooms and kitchen areas are stocked with antibacterial hand wash and
consider reminding staff to regularly wash their hands. It’s also important to
have a steady supply of tissues throughout the office so that people can cover
their mouths and noses when they cough or sneeze to prevent the spread of
germs.
Get
your office vaccinated against the flu
One of the most effective ways to protect
yourself, your office, and your community against the flu is to get the flu
vaccination. Capital Chemist is committed to making it as easy as possible to
get immunised. We offer a corporate flu vaccination service where one of our
pharmacists will arrive on site and find a private place to administer the
vaccination. Each staff member will be prescreened to ensure that they are fit
and suitable to receive the vaccine. Once the prescreening is completed,
they’ll be administered the vaccination and monitored for any reactions. It’s a
convenient and simple way to proactively protect your employees or colleagues
against the spread of infection.
Geographic restrictions apply, so contact your local
participating Capital Chemist today and inquire about getting work workplace
vaccinated.
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