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We hear a lot about protecting ourselves from the flu during the fall and winter seasons, but influenza is not the only common culprit of sickness that can lurk around your commercial businesses. Every year in the U.S., norovirus also infects millions of people and leads to an average of 56,000 to 71,000 hospitalizations and 570 to 800 deaths. Without the proper safety and cleaning precautions in place, norovirus can easily spread through your workplace and cause serious financial repercussions from loss of productivity and medical costs.
What is norovirus?
Norovirus is the leading cause of gastroenteritis, which is more commonly referred to as the stomach flu. Despite the name, it is not related to the flu. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and stomach pain, and even though the initial symptoms subside within a few days, you can remain contagious for 2 weeks or more after you feel better. While you have norovirus, you shed billions of contagious particles, which can contaminate any surfaces or objects you touch. All it takes is for a few particles to make someone else sick, so the last thing you want is for someone to come to work infected.
Protecting your business
So, what can you do to protect your business and employees from becoming ground zero for an outbreak?
Educate your employees about norovirus - Many people do not realize that you can remain contagious even after feeling better and return to work too soon. People also assume that norovirus is strictly a foodborne illness, so taking steps to educate your employees can help minimize the spread of infection.
Reassess your sick leave policy - One of the biggest reasons for the spread of sickness at work is workers not having many paid sick days, which leads to workers coming in when they are feeling ill and rushing back to work after the worst symptoms are over. With a very contagious virus like norovirus, the last thing you want is for employees coming to work while sick and shedding the virus everywhere they go, so reassessing your business' sick leave policy is an important consideration.
Minimize food handling - Touching and sharing food is a common way for people to get sick, so encouraging workers to avoid finger foods and having strict food policies at your workplace can help minimize sickness.
Increase hand cleaning - Provide opportunities for workers to clean and disinfect their hands frequently during the winter season. Setting up extra hand sanitizer dispensers around the office and putting up posters can be helpful reminders for improving their hygiene.
Hire a commercial cleaning company - An experienced commercial cleaning company like New England Cleaning Services, Inc. understands the importance of proper disinfection and cleaning protocols for a healthy workplace. We create customized cleaning plans for your workplace to deliver a safe and clean environment. By targeting germ hot spots and using advanced cleaning techniques to reach difficult-to-reach areas and disinfecting large areas, we are able to do our work quickly and efficiently.
Let us help!