Dealing With Germs In The Office
People normally don’t think of offices as dirty places. Most offices are kept as tidy and as well-organized as a professional workspace should be.
Chances are that there is even a cleaning staff that comes in after hours to make sure that desks are wiped down, wastebaskets are emptied, and carpets are vacuumed.
However, appearances can be deceiving. Despite their professional, organized appearance, offices are often teeming with germs. People are constantly moving about, eating food in the break room, and making trips to the bathroom.
On any given workday, offices become lived-in spaces, and just like any other lived-in space they can get messy.
In fact, recent studies have revealed that the office break room is the dirtiest space in any office; it’s even worse than the bathrooms in some cases.
Offices are indeed full of germs, and anybody who has an office job should keep that in mind. They should also be taking steps to deal with the worst of the germs they may encounter.
Fortunately, that’s not all that difficult to do. Here are just a few things you can do to protect yourself from office germs.
Keep Hand Sanitizer On Hand
Hand sanitizer not only kills germs without using soap and water, but it does so efficiently.
Keep some of it at your desk or in your personal area and use it several times a day, especially if you regularly handle money or paperwork that gets passed around.
Be generous with your hand sanitizer as well; don’t hesitate to share it with your coworkers if they ask. More clean hands is always a good thing!
Wipe Down Your Desk
In addition to hand sanitizer, it’s wise to keep anti-bacterial wipes at your desk and use them to wipe down your desk every day.
Even if you’re the only one who uses your desk, you can still cut down on the number of germs in the office with this simple step.
You can also use these wipes on door handles, copy machines, coffee pot handles and anything else that you and your coworkers use or handle regularly.
Use Your Own Utensils and Supplies
If you have a position that requires you to interact with clients, keep some “community” pens and other utensils on hand that you can give out and let others use.
When you have to do your own writing or other work, use a personal stash of pens. This also goes for things you use on your break.
Use your own coffee mug and eating utensils if possible, and if it isn’t never assume that someone else has washed the dishes.
Wash Your Hands Several Times a Day
You should be washing your hands several times a day, especially when you go to the bathroom or eat lunch in the staff break room.
Use plenty of soap, and wash your hands for at least 20 seconds under hot water.
Stay Home If You’re Sick
As much as your coworkers and supervisors might not like it, you should never hesitate to call in sick if you’re feeling ill.
You don’t want to infect anybody else in the office with the flu or whatever it is that is making you sick, and it will give your body the chance to recuperate and get over your illness sooner.
A few simple steps can help you–and your coworkers–from the next nasty office virus.
