Flu Season’s Winding Down. Is Your Building Ready for the Next Outbreak?

As flu season nears its end, it's crucial to maintain vigilance against the lingering threats of respiratory illnesses. Most of us know friends or family members who struggled with flu systems in January, February and into March. Flu season can extend at least until May.

All of us remember the threats of the so-called 2022 tripledemic and managing persistent challenges of Covid-19, influenza viruses, and the resurgence of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).

For businesses, especially those lacking adequate cleaning and disinfection protocols, these threats pose significant annual risks to both employee well-being and financial stability. The flu alone inflicts an estimated $7 billion annually on employers through increased sick days, diminished productivity, and higher medical expenses.

Is your workplace equipped to combat these viruses and safeguard the health of your workforce? Here are six essential strategies to fortify your defenses and thwart the spread of illness before it gains a foothold:

Do a deep clean. Consider spring cleaning the perfect time to up your cleaning game. Have your janitorial service disinfect high-touch areas such as computer keyboards, printers, telephones, light switches, doorknobs, elevator buttons and faucets, microwaves, and refrigerators.

Cleaning removes germs from surfaces. Disinfecting kills them. The best plans include regularly scheduled cleaning and disinfecting.

Encourage vaccinations or make them part of your annual wellness programs. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), vaccination is the most effective way to prevent the spread of influenza. It’s not a guarantee that you won’t get sick, but flu and Covid vaccines are proven to protect against the most severe outcomes and complications.

Encourage employees to stay home. Let employees know that not only is it okay—it’s mandatory—to stay home if they are sick. Consider more flexibility in your company’s work-from-home schedule, allowing those with milder symptoms to continue working without depleting PTO.

Make sure your restrooms are well stocked. Easy access to soap and hand sanitizers is key to preventing the spread of germs. Post pandemic, we’ve all learned the lesson: Hand washing is one of the easiest, most effective ways to stay healthy.

Stock the break room with healthy foods. Encourage employees to enjoy fresh fruits and veggies packed with immune-boosting vitamins and minerals.

Encourage exercise. Regular exercise helps boost the immune system and decrease stress levels. WebMD states, “People who exercise regularly tend to get fewer colds. They may also recover faster than people who do not exercise regularly.”

Keep your building employees, occupants, and guests happy and healthy. At 4M, we can help you maintain a visually and clinically clean space, all year round. We deliver the best, most innovative, safe, and sustainable cleaning, and service solutions for your business.