NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — When it comes to the flu in the workplace, workers aren’t helping keep their coworkers from getting sick, according to Staples.
Staples interviewed 1,500 U.S. office workers for the Staples sixth annual Flu Survey and had some surprising responses.
Some of their main findings include that 44 percent of workers reported catching the flu last year, and nearly half of those infected blame a coworker. 53 percent of workers say they do not typically get the flu shot.
Of those who got the flu, the average number of sick days used to fight the flu was 2.7 days, even though you can still get others sick up to a week after you first get this contagious viral infection.
53 percent of workers who had the flu said they went back to work before they felt better, which could lead to infecting others.
Employees listed their top reasons for going to work while sick as the influence of upcoming deadlines, pressure from colleagues, and not wanting to use sick days.
24 percent of respondents said their boss expects them to come to work even if they have the flu.
Flu can impact business in a number of ways, including leading to less productivity, lower staff morale, and poor workflow.
Of the 1,500 respondents, more than half believe that the flu negatively impacts the workplace more than being without email or Internet.
When it comes to where you’re most likely to get the flu germs: Office break rooms have the most bacteria, and offices are more contagious than hospitals.
The most sanitized thing at work is computer keyboards and desks, but only 9 percent of people typically sanitize their mobile phones, even though mobile phones carry 10 times more bacteria than most toilet seats and are used constantly throughout the day.
Staples suggests that people stay home if they get sick, encourage others to stay home if they get sick, that you wash your hands more often and eat well, and that you sanitize your workplace, including your cell phone in order to avoid this illness.
