Maintaining good hygiene practices throughout winter
With many illnesses currently circulating in our communities, it is critical that if you feel sick - go home, stay home and seek medical advice.
Please only return to the office one whole day after your symptoms have subsided. Even if your symptoms are mild, 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, with a minimum of 24 hours after major symptoms have subsided before you to return to the workplace.
While you may think you are ok, where there is visible symptoms such as continuous coughing, runny nose, etc., it is important to recognise that these are signs that you are unwell, and can be concerning for those working around you who do not want to get sick.
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, please ensure you follow good hygiene practices. These small steps can reduce the chance of germs spreading throughout the workplace:
- Washing 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 may 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.
Another good habit is to take your laptop home each day, which will allow you to continue working if you’re unable to come to the office.
If you have any questions, get in touch with a Safety, Health and Wellbeing Advisor here