Keeping your keyboard and computer clean is an essential business service

When it comes to protecting your employees from the cold and flu season, there’s a lot more you can do than advising them to avoid the person sat next to them who’s coughing and sneezing.

When looking at the statistics which connect employee absenteeism to illness in the office, we want to share some quick tips on what you can do to limit this issue.

Millions of us spend our days slaving over a keyboard but lurking between the keys, hidden on the mouse and nestled in your phone lays more than 10 million bacteria – 400 times more than on the average toilet seat.

Here are our top tips on keeping your working environment as germ-free as possible:

Re-enforce the message that people should wash their hands after going to the toilet

The elephant in the room is the fact we all know, many people still go to the toilet and don’t wash their hands.  Germs are then spread from door handle to door handle, to desk, keyboard, cups and kitchen area.  Whilst no one will admit to it added signs around the toilet area will encourage people to think twice, before leaving without washing.

Free tissues and Flu Jabs in the winter

Ever seen colleagues sneeze when they don’t have a tissue to hand.  We all know its coming.  You get that sneezing sensation a few seconds before which gives plenty of time to reach for a tissue… unless you don’t have one.  What happens when employees don’t use a tissue – the germs from the sneeze instantly spread…to their desk, their keyboard, their phone and any items, or colleagues, which might be lingering nearby.  During the winter season, why not provide colleagues with desk tissues and free flu jabs to keep the germs at bay?

Free hand gel

We always tell children to wash their hands before and after eating, so why don’t we do as we say?  Providing your employees with hand gel, supported by other communications, will actively support the message that we should be cleaning our hands before and after handling food so that germs are not then transferred to other work areas.

Hot desking might be trendy but it’s also a great way to spread germs

We know that businesses like to be ‘current’ and promote a culture which is engaging and convenient for their people.  For many businesses, offering a hot desking option can do exactly that.  But it can also be the perfect transportation for spreading germs.  Within one week, a poorly colleague could sneeze at five different workstations, as well as in meeting rooms and kitchen areas.  It’s something to think about, isn’t it?

It’s not only businesses that are high-risk environments where germs and viruses are quickly spread – schools too are at risk.

What can we do to help?

In addition to standard commercial cleaning services, the Solutions SK’s commercial cleaning experts can offer deep cleans for office environments as well as an annual clean and antibacterial treatment can help reduce germs spreading.

For more information or to enquiry about a free quote or site survey click here