Staying healthy during cold and flu season is a community effort. By keeping your work area clean and practicing good hygiene, you're not only protecting yourself, but you're also helping your coworkers. If you own a company, working with your benefits department and scheduling janitorial services year-round can also minimize sick days and improve workplace productivity in the following ways.

How to Improve Employee Health

1. Support Sick Days

The best way to prevent sickness from spreading is to encourage people to take sick days as needed. When your staff knows they're supported in their decision to stay home, they'll be less likely to come in and infect other employees. If possible, also allow people to work off-site if they're well enough to do their job but still are contagious.

2. Encourage Eating Away From the Desk

Today, people often eat at their desks to keep up with their work demands. Unfortunately, phones and keyboards are two of the germiest places in most offices. Therefore, employees who eat at their desks are more likely to be exposed to bacteria while eating.

Encourage staff members to enjoy their meals in the breakroom or off-sight to avoid this issue. Additionally, make sure your janitorial services team is regularly wiping down all desk surfaces to remove contaminants.

3. Clean High-Traffic Areas

All companies should work with their janitorial services crew to assess what areas of the building need daily cleaning. Door handles, phones, the breakroom, and bathrooms all require sanitization every day to mitigate germs and viruses that can cause coughing, sneezing, and other cold symptoms.

4. Sanitize Your Sponges

The kitchen sponge can be a significant source of bacteria. To prevent mold and bacteria growth—and potential contamination—consider microwaving the sponge for a minute every day to sanitize it.

If you’re looking for janitorial services that’ll keep your business clean, contact Dependable Cleaning Service in Bunker Hill, CT. Their highly trained team has been in the industry for over 40 years, offering sanitation and cleaning services around Waterbury. Visit their website to learn more about their services, or call (203) 574-2046 for a free estimate.