Maintaining good hygiene practices throughout winter

With many illnesses currently circulating in our communities, it is essential that if you feel sick at work - go home, stay home and, if necessary, seek medical advice.

Please only return to the office once your symptoms have subsided. 

Even if your symptoms are mild – for example your throat is a bit sore, and you feel well enough to work, please work from home until your symptoms have passed, rather than coming back into the office before you are completely well. Speak to your manager about working from home in this situation, but please prioritise your health and wellbeing by giving yourself time to rest and recover from feeling unwell, rather than working when you are ill. 

When you are in the office, you must follow good hygiene practices. These small steps can reduce the chance of germs spreading throughout the workplace:  

• Wash hands thoroughly 
• Cough/sneeze into your elbow
• Use hand sanitiser
• Clean your workspace regularly 
• Clean tables and meeting rooms after use 
• Put your dirty glasses, cups, plates, cutlery straight into the dishwasher
• Use clean spoons for coffee/Milo etc, and place in dishwasher after use 

It's also important to remember that we work alongside people with autoimmune or other underlying health conditions which leave them more vulnerable to common colds and other bugs. We must help provide them (and ourselves) with a safe working environment. We're all in this together.  

It is always a good idea to take your laptop home each day, which will allow you to continue working if you’re unable to come to the office.