Workplace hygiene is an extremely critical topic that many companies overlook. Even if you’re not in the food service industry, maintaining a high level of workplace hygiene is important for the health and safety of your employees and customers. This is because workplace hygiene can help prevent many minor illnesses that result in missed work and decreased productivity.
How to keep a sanitary workplace
Maintaining a sanitary workplace is a crucial step toward lowering sick leave rates in a company. Here are some simple ways to make your workplace more sanitary:
Keep work areas tidy
When it comes to preventing minor illnesses and lowering absence rates, hiring a thorough cleaner and/or having a clear office hygiene policy can go a long way. Keep your keyboards, computer mice, phones, desktops, and doorknobs clean—and cleaning supplies close at hand.
Make sure your employees are aware of the health implications of dirty workstations and crumb-riddled keyboards; if they aren’t aware of the dangers, they are less likely to keep their workspace clean.
Pay attention to shared areas
Is the cleanliness of the shared areas up to par? What is the state of the office refrigerator? The kitchen is a high-risk area for cross-contamination, which can lead to the spread of hazardous microorganisms.
Make sure employees are tossing out-of-date food, cleaning up accidents, and not storing dangerous raw foods next to ready-to-eat meals in the office fridge.
Encourage people to maintain a high level of personal hygiene
Personal hygiene encompasses both what we do and how we portray ourselves. For example, how often do employees clean their work cups and glasses? Is everyone using antibacterial soap and cleaning their hands as much as they should?
Is everyone aware of how to avoid the spread of a cough or cold? Personal cleanliness is important not only for keeping everyone presentable for the benefit of colleagues and clients, but also for preventing the spread of infections and illness.
Hand sanitizers and antibacterial soaps should available
Make antibacterial solutions readily available so that employees can wash and antibac their hands before using office equipment or common areas on a regular basis. This can assist in preventing the spread of pathogens, especially when employees are hotdesking and sharing equipment.
Get personalized mugs for your employees
Encourage employees to use a certain mug for work, whether it’s a company mug with their name on it or another obvious identifier, or one they bring in. This helps prevent cross-contamination from people sharing mugs that haven’t been completely cleaned. Encourage employees to wash their work mugs, as well as water bottles and glasses, every day.
Office hygiene methods can play a big role in your absence management strategy. Consider implementing an online absence management system in your organization to better track absences and detect patterns or frequent reasons for absence.