Every year, sick employees end up costing companies over $150 billion in production. With shocking numbers like that, it’s obviously really important to do your best to keep office illnesses at bay. Whether you are a small business owner, or in charge of human resources for a large company, there are lots of steps you should be taking to prevent employees from getting sick.

Here are a few tips on keeping the office illness free:

Add janitorial staff

To keep up with the added maintenance that will be necessary during winter months, consider adding some staff members to your janitorial arsenal. It helps to have the extra people to be able to tackle things like disinfecting surfaces and cleaning carpets.

Disinfect

By providing employees with easy access to hand sanitizers, you’ll be able to prevent a lot of germ spreading from happening right away. Have the nightly maintenance crew come in and disinfect all of the surfaces, including computers, keyboards, desks, and common areas. Make sure that the soaps in company bathrooms are antibacterial and capable of killing cold and flu viruses. Often the soaps that are purchased through suppliers are not actually antibacterial. Verify with your provider that the soaps you are using can prevent the spread of germs.

Change air filters

Viruses and germs will be flowing through heating vents and blowing out onto all of your employees. By changing air filters, you are giving the viruses less dust particles to cling to. Keep them cleaned and in good shape all winter long.

Encourage Flu Shots

Offer your employees incentives to get the flu shot. If your insurance provider doesn’t provide coverage, try to find a way to get some discounts on vaccines. As an HR manager, you can offer employees an extra half day off if they bring in proof that they got their flu shots. If that doesn’t appeal to you, look into similar incentives. In the long run, one half day per employee is nothing compared to the days they would miss if they were to come down with the flu virus and spread it around to other employees.

At BEK Medical, we carry a wide range of top-tier home medical supplies to help you and your employees stay healthy and be more comfortable this winter and all year-round. From personal care items to nutrition products and even chair cushions designed to provide lumbar support during those long hours at your desk, you can find everything you need at one of our Texas locations or our online shop.

Order everything you need to stay healthy this cold and flu season from BEK Medical today!