How Can I Reduce Sicknesses in the Workplace?

In the fall and winter months, illnesses tend to be more common, and often virulent. This results from more individuals staying indoors and enjoying less access to fresh air. But the risk of disease doesn’t disappear in the warmer months.

Regardless of size or industry, every business shares the same responsibility to improve office health year-round. In this blog, we’ll discuss strategies to reduce sickness in the workplace.

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Kicking Sickness to the Curb: Strategies for a Healthier Office Space

Most business owners are surprised to learn stagnant and recirculated indoor air allows diseases to pass more readily from one individual to another. In fact, it’s been estimated that interior air pollution is between 2 and 5 times greater than outdoors—making sickness more common inside the office. Some of the most recurring office illnesses include the common cold, flu, and in recent years, Covid-19.

Understanding How Sickness Affects the Work Environment

Sick days result in an estimated 84 million days of work lost each year. Whether this labor loss is attributable to common illnesses like the cold and the flu, or the result of back and neck pain or mental illness, these absences exact a substantial toll on the workforce.

Sick days amount to an average loss of $670 per day per employee. This loss of productivity does not just involve the employees, but the businesses as a whole. The CDC estimates that absenteeism due to illness or injury costs employers a total of $225.8 billion a year.

When sickness invades the workplace, it can also have a detrimental impact on workplace morale. Productivity slows and costs employers even more. In contrast, when morale is high, workplace absenteeism falls and individuals are more happy to come in, perform their tasks, and contribute in a positive way to the bottom line.

Sick of Office-Wide Illness? It’s Time to Promote Health in the Workplace

There are many ways to shrink the number of sick days in your workplace. One of the most obvious ways to promote health is to promote a health-conscious environment. Some recommendations for companies to accomplish this include gym membership options, worksite wellness programs, support groups, positive mindset training, positive reinforcement, leadership, etc.

The following strategies also help reduce sickness in the workplace.

Promote Health Initiatives: Encouraging a workplace fitness culture leads to a healthier workforce, and a more tight-knit work community. When individuals set goals to improve their health together, they are more likely to be encouraged to meet those goals.
Place an Emphasis on Mental Health: When employees focus more on their physical and mental health, the result is a happier workplace. An additional benefit of improved mental health is a more open and communicative environment. This fosters a stronger sense of community and may lead to better ideas and problem solving.
Opt for Healthier Alternatives: Work parties will level up your staff in terms of their health as well. Instead of a night out at the bar, perhaps they will schedule a different team-building event, such as rock climbing, a painting class, or other physically challenging, mentally stimulating, or mentally/emotionally uplifting events.

How Office Cleaning Services Help Create a Healthier Workspace

Another critical yet sometimes overlooked facet of health promotion in the workplace is the cleanliness of the work environment. In fact, a well-known and increasingly reported phenomenon occurs when buildings are not properly cleaned. It is known as sick building syndrome (SBS).

Some illnesses associated with the syndrome include “headache, dizziness, nausea, eye, nose, or throat irritation, dry cough, dry or itching skin, difficulty in concentration, fatigue, sensitivity to odors, hoarseness of voice, allergies, cold, flu-like symptoms, increased incidence of asthma attacks and personality changes.”

Other considerations for determining whether you have SBS would be to verify whether you have proper ventilation, lighting, humidity, and ergonomics, as well as psychological factors.

One of the primary factors that may contribute to SBS is improper lighting. When you arrange to have your windows regularly cleaned, this can facilitate better distribution of proper sunlight throughout your space. In addition to better light, clean windows also create a better first impression for visitors.

These symptoms can be common and all-encompassing, yet not specific to any particular illness. Regardless of the symptoms, all can contribute to a sicker workplace, reduced morale, and generally poorer job performance. All of that eats into your company’s bottom line.

The Value of Professional Office-Cleaning Services

For some, keeping a clean office is simple. It includes a normal, day-to-day upkeep of their environment. Unfortunately, this may only scratch the service of what should be done, often more frequently than firms have scheduled.

Depending on the foot traffic your office receives, you may need to increase your cleanings. One of the best ways to control the spread of diseases in your work environment is to disinfect your surfaces.

Given the recent prevalence of Covid-19, it can be healthy and wise to employ a more stringent cleaning service that focuses on this facet of workplace cleaning. The CDC has said that the regular cleaning of surfaces and consistent hand washing are among the best ways to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Another practice you should investigate if you seek a more healthy work environment is to change your air filters more often, and also schedule an annual HVAC cleaning. This will not only diminish the allergens and irritants in your spaces, but also unpleasant smells and odors. Regular cleanings will also prolong the life of your system.

Health-conscious work environments should also investigate the installation of air-filtration systems to purify their air further. This can significantly lessen the spread of contaminants in your office.

Absolute Janitorial: Your Trusted Choice for Office-Cleaning Services in Arkansas

Looking to make your office more healthy, and in return, reduce sickness in the workplace? Good news, you’re in the right spot. Absolute Janitorial is the preferred choice for commercial businesses throughout Arkansas. Get in touch with our experts, and let’s create a plan to disinfect your space more effectively.

How Can I Reduce Sicknesses in the Workplace?

Kicking Sickness to the Curb: Strategies for a Healthier Office Space

Understanding How Sickness Affects the Work Environment

Sick of Office-Wide Illness? It’s Time to Promote Health in the Workplace

How Office Cleaning Services Help Create a Healthier Workspace

The Value of Professional Office-Cleaning Services

Absolute Janitorial: Your Trusted Choice for Office-Cleaning Services in Arkansas

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