Each Year, the flu leads to nearly 31.4 million outpatient visits to doctors offices around the country. If you are like most business owners, finding ways to avoid a flu epidemic in your workspace is a huge concern. Each year, businesses experience about $7 billion worth of lost productivity as a result of the flu. Luckily, there are a variety of tactics and supplies you can use to keep flu germs at bay in your workspace.

Handwashing is your first line of defense…

Your body’s T-zone, which consists of your eyes, nose, and mouth, is touched hundreds of times a day. One of the best ways to keep germs from entering your body via these areas is by washing your hands regularly. If you are trying to encourage employees to wash their hands, think about doing things like putting signs up around your workspace or investing in some good smelling soaps. The time and money that you invest in quality bathroom supplies will be well worth it in the long run.

Promote the use of immunity boosters

During flu season, you and your employees can benefit from using natural immunity boosters. Doing things like putting cinnamon in coffee, drinking black or green tea and consuming more dark chocolate is a great way to provide your immune system with a boost. Boosting levels of vitamin E is easy when ingesting a handful of almonds on a regular basis. The more vitamin E you have in your body, the easier you will find it to fight off flu germs. Providing healthy, immunity boosting snacks to your employees is a great idea. Encourage them to drink immune boosting tea instead of coffee and always have some EmergenC on hand. 

disinfecting wipes are a must

Are you looking for a way to reduce the number of harmful germs in your office? If so, investing in some quality disinfecting wipes is a great option. Wiping down areas around your office with these wipes can help you and your employees stay healthy all year long. Ensure that your employees wipe down everything on their desk before they leave every day. If you make it a routine, it will be an easy resolution for employees to stick to. 

Staying hydrated is key

If you and your employees are not consuming enough water on a daily basis, it can lead to a number of negative consequences. The lack of fluids in your body will dry out your mucous membrane and weaken your body’s natural defense against germs. Not only is water great for fighting off illnesses, it can also help to curb your appetite as well. This is great news for business owners and employees with a New Year’s resolution to lose weight. Make sure you have water bottles or a water cooler easily accessible so employees can continuously drink water throughout the day.

Stick to the Policies You Have in Place

Most businesses provide sick days for employees. If your employees see you ignoring this policy, it is only a matter of time before they do the same. Leading by example when it comes to this policy can help you avoid an outbreak of the flu. Encourage employees to stay home if they don’t feel well or feel as though they are getting sick. It will be worse if they come in with the flu or a cold than it would be if they just stay home and work on getting better. There is nothing wrong with taking a sick day here and there.

 

When in need of quality bathroom supplies, uniforms or floor mats, give American Wear a call. We can provide you with the materials you need for a reasonable price.