During winter, employees are especially susceptible to cold and flu bugs. When temperatures start to drop, smart business owners should do all they can to keep their workforces healthy. Illness-related absenteeism has negative impacts on both productivity and team morale. If you own a company and want to support good health in your workplace this winter, there are a few practical things you can do to make a difference.
Keep The Office Warm On Cold Days
Employees must feel comfortable to stay healthy, so be sure to keep the office temperature between 70 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit during winter. When staff members feel warm, they’ll have the level of physical comfort that they want and need. They won’t come in from the cold and be unable to warm up.
Chilly office temperatures may cause team members to experience muscle tenseness, feelings of isolation, and concentration problems. Employees who feel sufficiently warm enjoy greater well-being and also tend to be more productive, according to Fox Business. Workplaces with optimal temperatures have positive impacts on keying speeds and overall productivity.
Offer Free Flu Vaccinations To Staff
Most business owners try to trim the cost of operations, but certain purchases are cost-effective in the long run, like offering free flu vaccinations to employees during wintertime. Many people who get the flu are sick for a week to 10 days, according to Very Well Health. The flu is contagious even before symptoms are apparent, so people who don’t know that they’ve got the flu may unwittingly transmit it to co-workers. When free flu shots are administered via an in-office flu vaccination clinic, the odds of vaccinated team members getting the flu will be reduced by 60%, according to Web MD.
Make Workplace Cleanliness A Priority
We’ve all heard of spring cleaning, but keeping spaces fresh and spotless during the winter is equally important, particularly where employee health is concerned. Paying for office maintenance will help to reduce sick days and save you money on the cost of hiring temps. Some offices store cleaning supplies that contain VOCs (volatile organic compounds). If these supplies aren’t sealed properly, they may emit toxic fumes that trigger troublesome symptoms, including dizziness and headaches.
Since windows aren’t usually opened during the winter, and proper ventilation is one of the keys to avoiding health issues related to volatile organic compounds, it’s important to ensure that products that do feature VOCs are airtight and leak-free. Some business owners battle VOCs by investing in energy recovery ventilators which exchange stale air for fresh air, as these ventilators promote superior air quality.
When you follow these tips, your team members will have a much higher chance of staying healthy during the winter. A healthy workforce means that your business will have a better chance of thriving, as you will avoid the typical illness-related absences. These tips will benefit everyone at the office, as well as demonstrate to your workforce that you care about their physical wellbeing.
