We talked about reducing office illness in a recent blog post, but coughs, scratchy throats and even the flu can pop up at any time of year, and with the coronavirus a key topic in the international news, we feel it’s just as important as ever to talk about infection control and cleaning strategies for the workplace.

To keep staff healthy and productive, it’s essential to take note of the following points.

Have ill employees stay at home

Keeping sick workers who could possibly spread infection in the workplace is probably the most effective way to control infection. A large percentage of workers go to work for one reason or another when they feel under the weather. For example, for staff who do not receive sick pay, it can be a noticeable cut in their pay when they stay away from work, so they choose to come in anyway, even if they are carrying germs.

In addition to this, some people also don’t want to fall behind or miss an important part of a particular project. So, instead of staying at home, they make the decision to come in to work to ensure that deadlines are met, or that a project stays on task.

One way to help prevent the spread of infection would be to provide the opportunity for staff members to work from home if they feel up to it. If team members are likely to spread illness in the office, but are capable of working, then flexible working could benefit employees and the business as a whole.

Encourage staff to use hand sanitiser

One way to encourage members of staff to keep their hands clean would be to provide desk hand sanitiser that they can use throughout the day, without even leaving their workspace.

Put a used tissue protocol in place

Encourage staff to use a tissue when sneezing or coughing, to prevent germs from becoming airborne.

During cold and flu season, people throughout the office may be blowing their noses into disposable tissues. In many cases, people put a tissue in their pocket to use again later or throw it into the bin and neglect to wash their hands. Used tissues can be a major cause of infection in a workplace, so making a clear protocol for staff to dispose of tissues and wash their hands could play a key role in preventing the spread of illness.

Empty refuse bins on a daily basis

As well as encouraging staff to dispose of used tissues immediately, it’s just as important to remove them from the office on a daily basis, as collecting germs in an office bin could potentially encourage the spread of infection if left there.

Encourage clean workspaces

As well as taking pride in the appearance of their desk or workspace, it’s important to encourage staff to wipe down the surfaces of their working area on a daily basis to keep it clean and germ free.

For extra help in keeping your office clean and maintaining good infection control, you can hire a professional office cleaning company. For more information, call MCS on 0800 612 0437.