Ever since the Covid-19 pandemic hit the U.S., businesses have been forced to adapt to “the new normal.” Understandably, employers and employees alike are concerned about the virus spreading in their workplace. Respiratory illnesses typically spread through coughing or sneezing, touching objects with unwashed hands, and touching your face after touching contaminated surfaces, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Although some businesses can work from home, others may not be able to. If your employees have returned to the office or are going back in a few weeks, here are a few tips we recommend to keep your workspace safe.
Transitioning Back to the Office in the Era of Covid-19
Some companies may not be able to let their employees telecommute because they work with proprietary systems or with sensitive materials that require employees to stay on-premise. As advocates of a healthy work environment, we want to help your team stay COVID-free while sharing a workspace.
We hope the three following tips will provide your team with a peace of mind as we navigate this public health issue.
1. Back to the Basics: Wash Your Hands
According to the CDC, keeping your hands clean is the most effective way to avoid germs spread. The agency advises everyone to wash their hands for a minimum of 20 seconds. We recommend you plaster your office with CDC fact sheets that serve as a friendly reminder to your employees to wash their hands as follows:
- After using the bathroom
- Before and after food preparation
- Before eating
- After blowing their nose, coughing, or sneezing
- After handling pets or their food
- After caring for someone who’s sick
- After changing a child’s diaper
- After taking out the trash
Furthermore, the CDC states that employees should use alcohol-based hand sanitizer throughout the day.
2. Use Sneezing and Coughing Etiquette
Even outside of a pandemic, no one likes getting sneezed or coughed on! Based on how similar viruses have spread, the CDC believes that people infected with Covid-19 may be spreading it through respiratory secretions when they sneeze or cough. To minimize the spread of germs, we recommend the following:
- Avoid coughing or sneezing into your hands
- Dispose of used tissue into a trashcan
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or upper sleeve when you cough or sneeze
3. Maintain Your Workspace
Encourage your employees to clean their keyboards, remote controls, desks, and doorknobs before going home. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there are currently no cleaning products that have a label promising to kill the virus. They recommend using cleaning agents that you use to clean your home’s surfaces. Employers should provide cleaning wipes so that workers can wipe down surfaces at the end of the workday.
Town & Country Office Cleaning is Here to Keep Your Team Safe
It’s crucial to practice social distancing, wash your hands, and wear a mask when possible during this unprecedented time. Town & Country Office Cleaning believes that a clean office is a productive one.
Our team specializes in cleaning entry glass, dusting, scrubbing tile floors, taking care of furniture and carpets, and much more! Because we tailor our cleaning services to meet your building’s specific demands, you’ll never pay for services you don’t need.
We service the Salt Lake County area. Fill out our quick quote form.
