How To Reduce Sickness In The Workplace
Increased sickness in the workplace is something that business owners around the globe have been contending with for a couple of years now thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s more than just frustrating; it can also lead to an employee shortage which affects output and productivity. It has left many business owners now wondering what they can do to reduce sickness in the workplace and help to keep their employees healthier.
Here’s a look at some of the tips you may want to use that can decrease the amount of employee sickness currently happening.
Make Sure the Company Sick Leave Policy Is Clear
The first tip is to make sure the company's sick leave policy is clear and visible at all times. Employees shouldn't be wondering what they qualify for, and it helps you as the employer to make the standards and rules clear-cut. While the policy is important, there does need to be some flexibility, as emergencies and unexpected issues can arise.
Don't Encourage Employees To Come To Work Sick
Sometimes a business can fall victim to what's called "presenteeism". It is the thought that employees need to be there in person and doing their job, no matter what. The problem is that employees may not be healthy enough to do their job efficiently and productively, and if they are sick, you run the risk of them spreading it to others. Suddenly, instead of one employee who is away with sickness, you will have multiple in the same boat.
Now imagine if instead of encouraging presenteeism no matter their health, you encouraged employees to put their health and well-being first, stay home, rest and recover and come back to the workplace in fine form and without exposing others to germs.
Set Up Hand Sanitisation Stations In The Office
A great way to encourage employees to stop the spread of germs is to set up hand sanitisation stations throughout the office. Hand-washing stations must also be well-stocked at all times.
Schedule Regular Cleaning Of The Entire Workplace
This tip probably goes without saying, but there must be regularly scheduled cleaning of the entire workplace. You may even want to increase the cleaning during the traditional cold and flu season of winter and early spring.
Look Into High-Tech Disinfection Tools
Sure, you may have a cleaning company that disinfects all high-touch surfaces and you encourage employees to do the same in their workspace but how about taking things a step further? There are high-tech and innovative solutions that can do a very effective and thorough job of disinfecting everything from viruses to bacteria, pathogens and germs.
UVC light is being used for this exact purpose. A portable UVC light unit can kill up to 99.99% of the bacteria on surfaces that the light is exposed. That's much higher than traditional cleaning methods that often miss spots and full areas of the office. You can contact a company like VIOA to learn more about the technology.
Reducing sickness in the workplace can feel like an uphill battle right now, and it’s something so many companies are struggling with. These tips will start to provide a positive benefit, encouraging you to keep up your efforts.
