As winter approaches, more and more people start to feel
like they’re coming down with “something.” You can always tell when cold and
flu season has arrived at our offices because when our team gets together for a
meeting, it’s like watching children playing a game of musical chairs. Everyone is vying to find a seat farthest
away from the “sick” person and best of all it’s the “older” colleagues that
seem to freak out the most....I suppose that could be due to their declining
immune systems. Today there were three
of us “sickies” and without intending we did a darn good job of spreading out
and making it virtually impossible for our colleagues to find a spot where they
weren’t in some way going to come in contact with us.
In some latest polling information it has been reported
that nearly 80 percent of office workers come to work even when they know they
are sick. For those that stay home, more
than two-thirds return to work when they are still contagious, putting
coworkers' health and business productivity at risk. In a typical year, approximately 70 million
missed workdays can be attributed to having the flu which can be translated to
an estimated $10 billion in lost office productivity.
that nearly 80 percent of office workers come to work even when they know they
are sick. For those that stay home, more
than two-thirds return to work when they are still contagious, putting
coworkers' health and business productivity at risk. In a typical year, approximately 70 million
missed workdays can be attributed to having the flu which can be translated to
an estimated $10 billion in lost office productivity.
So how do you know if you have the flu or the common cold? Both have similar symptoms, so it can be hard
to tell the difference. In general, the
flu is worse than the common cold. Symptoms such as fever, body aches,
tiredness, and cough are more common and intense with the flu. People with colds are more likely to have a
runny or stuffy nose.
to tell the difference. In general, the
flu is worse than the common cold. Symptoms such as fever, body aches,
tiredness, and cough are more common and intense with the flu. People with colds are more likely to have a
runny or stuffy nose.
Unless you have young children where you basically just
have to come to terms that if they’re sick, you’re going to be sick, the tricks
to avoid catching the flu or cold are pretty simple.
have to come to terms that if they’re sick, you’re going to be sick, the tricks
to avoid catching the flu or cold are pretty simple.
1. Wash your hands!
Wash after you shake hands, after you go to the “facilities” and by gosh
WASH BEFORE YOU EAT!
Wash after you shake hands, after you go to the “facilities” and by gosh
WASH BEFORE YOU EAT!
2. Clean and disinfect your workspace! (when was the last
time YOU actually wiped down your desk, phone, keyboard or mouse with a
disinfectant wipe?)
time YOU actually wiped down your desk, phone, keyboard or mouse with a
disinfectant wipe?)
3. Stay Away!
Coughs and sneezes spread diseases!
Keep your distance from people displaying symptoms – respiratory
droplets from coughs and sneezes can spread for up to 6 feet!
Coughs and sneezes spread diseases!
Keep your distance from people displaying symptoms – respiratory
droplets from coughs and sneezes can spread for up to 6 feet!
4. Get your Flu Shot! (and no, the flu shot will not give
you the flu...)
you the flu...)
Let’s do a case study:
One of my colleagues and I were at a conference this week
from Sunday to Tuesday. As luck would
have it, this also happens to correspond to the first 3 days my cold came
on. With the cold viruses, the first 3
days tend to be when you are most infectious and colds generally have an
incubation period of 2 – 5 days. To my
defense, I covered my mouth when I sneezed or coughed, sat at the end of the
rows to try and keep my distance from others and washed my hands or used hand
sanitizer CONSTANTLY! Melissa who I was
travelling with has started showing signs of a cold (she sat beside me on the
plane, at the conference – definitely not 6 feet away from my respiratory
droplets regardless of how well I tried to contain them). She’s coming to work. She’s definitely infectious.
from Sunday to Tuesday. As luck would
have it, this also happens to correspond to the first 3 days my cold came
on. With the cold viruses, the first 3
days tend to be when you are most infectious and colds generally have an
incubation period of 2 – 5 days. To my
defense, I covered my mouth when I sneezed or coughed, sat at the end of the
rows to try and keep my distance from others and washed my hands or used hand
sanitizer CONSTANTLY! Melissa who I was
travelling with has started showing signs of a cold (she sat beside me on the
plane, at the conference – definitely not 6 feet away from my respiratory
droplets regardless of how well I tried to contain them). She’s coming to work. She’s definitely infectious.
Assuming by Monday, several more team members are showing
symptoms of a cold, am I to blame? I
didn’t come to work while sick – I was away!
It’s Melissa’s fault right?
symptoms of a cold, am I to blame? I
didn’t come to work while sick – I was away!
It’s Melissa’s fault right?
Bugging Off!
Nicole
PS – sorry to anyone who attended #SocialintelATL if
you’re coming down with a cold.....
you’re coming down with a cold.....
