How to Stay Germ Free at Work

Whether it is flu season or not the office is the perfect breeding grounds for germs. In order to stay germ free at work, there are a number of things you must do, both precautionary and actively, to increase your chances of not getting sick.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Wash your hands as often as possible. Believe it or not, many people do not wash their hands even after using the restroom. Those people touch all kinds of things in the office. If you touch them, you are at risk of getting sick. Washing your hands often will remove those germs and keep you germ free at work.

2. Don’t touch anyone. Handshakes and friendly hugs are common workplace practices, but they are not necessarily sanitary. If you really want to stay germ free at work, it is best to not do this. Some cold and flu strains can be contagious up to seventy two hours or more before symptoms arise so you never really know if they person you are touching has something contagious.

3. Get a keyboard cover. These look silly, but are actually a really useful thing if you want to keep yourself germ free at work. Keep the cover clean along with anything else you tough on a regular basis; mouse, stapler, etc. You can clean them with any antimicrobial agent, like ones you use in the kitchen. The ones in wipe form are really handy for the office.

4. Use hand sanitizer. This is one of modern times’ greatest inventions…well maybe not, but it is great for keeping yourself germ free at work. Use it often.

5. Get management involved in keeping you and your coworkers germ free at work. It is in their best interest to keep you healthy so you will not call out sick. Ask them to provide hand sanitizer outside all food areas and outside the bathrooms. They may even be willing to provide bottles to keep at your desk. They should also be keeping the workplace clean and germ free. In addition to these things, they can increase their awareness of illness in order to keep the sick people at home so that others do not become sick as well.

Tips & Warnings

• Many “germ free at work” tactics can leave your skin dry or even irritated. Choose a non-scented moisturizer to use throughout the day to counteract it. Scents can bother your coworkers.
• If you go with the no-hug/no-handshake method, it may be necessary to explain yourself in order to not offend. Share this article with them and encourage them to also be germ free at work.

[deepthinkin]

on 11/15/2008 Thanks for writing this. I like all your ideas here but disagree with #4. Overuse of antibacterials have led to the staph strain MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)which is resistant to broad spectrum antibiotics. Thorough washing with soap and water for two minutes is recommended. Save the hand sanitizers for occasional use. :)

[sharishops]

on 11/12/2008 Great tips, and skip that hugging at work!