Coronavirus and the Workplace

With the recent spread of the disease known as the coronavirus, fears of infection are at an all-time high. Before we slam the panic button on this situation, locking ourselves in our homes or jumping off of high rises, it’s important to gather facts and be informed on the specifics of this disease. Inform yourself on the facts about coronavirus and stopping the spread of disease in the workplace.

Facts About Coronavirus and the Workplace

While Coronavirus is serious and something that we need to devote medical attention to, compared to the common flu it all comes into perspective.

As of March 10th, the coronavirus has killed over 4,000 people. However, each year the flu is responsible for as many as 600,000 deaths each year. When viewed this way, worry about the coronavirus seems somewhat overblown. However, covid-19, as it is also known, is still a dangerous illness and one that deserves the full attention of medical professionals.

Symptoms of Coronavirus include:

• Fever

• Cough

• Body aches

• Fatigue

• Vomiting and diarrhea

As reports of cases continue to pop up all over the globe. It is more important than ever for people to understand what steps to take in order to protect themselves and their family, friends, and coworkers. In the face of a pandemic of such a scale, not some typical flu season, it is more essential than ever that you practice proper hygiene and sanitary practices. There is no cure for such viral infections but proper precautions can help prevent the spread of the disease.

Stopping the Spread of Disease in the Workplace

When you are feeling sick it is your responsibility to take care of yourself as well as your coworkers. Going to work while you are contagious unnecessarily exposes others to your illness. In many cases, people fear the repercussions of calling out of work sick. As an employer, it is important to make sure that your employees feel comfortable calling out sick. While this may seem like a loss of productivity and efficiency, this is only compounded if they come to work and infect multiple other people.

Together, employers with flexible sick day policies and employees who abide by them can easily keep the office a healthy and happy place to work.

Steps to Take as an Employer

As stated, offering a flexible and trusting sick day policy is one of the most important things to do. This ensures your employees will not fear any consequences simply for taking a sick day.
Consider only requiring doctor’s notes for extended periods of missed time. Most sick employees will stay at home, resting and recovering. This is the best thing for them to do when dealing with most common illnesses. Requiring a doctor’s note for a one or two day illness can cause them to lose hours of time they could have been resting. On top of this, there is little a doctor can do for things like the common cold.

Consider allowing employees to work from home. Everyone deals with illness differently. A flu that knocks someone else out could feel like a minor inconvenience to some. If an employee feels under the weather but is able to perform their job duties, allowing them to work from home can be a beneficial solution. Provided their job can be done remotely, this solution can minimize loss in production and reduce the spread of infection.

Steps to Take as an Employee

As an employee, if you are feeling sick then stay home. Many office jobs today can be effectively done remotely and Coronavirus and the workplace do not mix. If your workplace offers this option then take full advantage. Even if you are feeling better you may still be contagious. When it comes to stopping the spread of illness in the office, it starts with individual employees. Listen to your body’s signs and take care of yourself and your coworkers.

Avoiding Coronavirus and Other Infectious Diseases

The fears of coronavirus, the flu, and other illnesses are common and for a good reason. However, stopping the spread of diseases in the workplace is easier than you might think. Simply taking a few common sense steps can greatly reduce your risk of getting sick. Learn more about reducing the spread of infectious diseases with Training & eTracking Solutions online training courses.