Each year, when cold and flu season comes around, we find ourselves thinking about health, hygiene, and germs at work. Preventing illness in the workplace is always part of good workplace etiquette. This year, with the outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) that was first reported in Wuhan, China in December 2019, staying informed about health and hygiene in the workplace is especially important.
How Can I Protect Myself and Others From Getting Coronavirus?
So far, the evidence suggests that COVID-19 is transmitted through person to person contact, especially coughing and sneezing, and possibly from surfaces that have been contaminated from a person carrying the virus. This is similar to other respiratory viruses as well as seasonal influenza strains and the steps you should take to stay healthy are similar. Both the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) provide guidance on how to manage your personal risk for coronavirus, flu, and other illnesses.
Here is advice from the CDC to help you to protect yourself and prevent the spread of flu and other diseases in your workplace to create a safe, healthy, and respectful workplace culture.
Stay Home if you are sick.
Be a considerate co-worker and don’t come to the office if you have flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, or sore throat. You should stay home for at least 24 hours after your symptoms have resolved. Taking a sick day is the best way to ensure that you are not passing the illness to your colleagues.
Tell your boss or supervisor that you are sick.
Communicating to your employer that you are sick is important. You can work together to make accommodations like working from home and calling into meetings that will allow you to stay on top of your work without needing direct contact with others.
Keep physical boundaries at work.
According to the CDC, COVID-19 can be spread person to person at a distance of up to 6 feet. If you have any symptoms, like coughing or sneezing, try to maintain space between yourself and others.
Practice proper cough and sneeze etiquette.
Be sure you cover your nose and mouth with a tissue (or your upper arm) and always wash your hands afterward. This will help prevent spreading the virus through the air or contaminating surfaces in the office.
Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly and use hand sanitizer.
Whether you are sick or trying to stay healthy, regular handwashing is an important way to help reduce the spread of illness in the office. The CDC and WHO offer guidance on proper handwashing techniques (See CDC handwashing advice here, and WHO handwashing advice here). When you can’t wash your hands with soap and water, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Check the label to make sure it contains at least 60% alcohol. Carrying a small bottle of hand sanitizer is a good idea.
Keep Surfaces clean.
A flu virus can live on a surface for up to 48 hours and there are studies that suggest the coronavirus (including COVID-19) can survive on some surfaces up to 9 days. Surfaces or items like phones, railings, and doorknobs that you or others touch frequently can be a source of contamination. Cleaning these frequently with soap or cleaning agents can help prevent the spread of infection in the office.
Reconsider your business travel.
This is one preventative measure that is unique to the coronavirus right now because of infection rates in other countries. If you frequently travel internationally for your job, especially to countries that have serious outbreaks of COVID-19, hopefully, your company has already made alternative arrangements. Make sure you are communicating with your boss about alternative arrangements.
What Else Can I Do to Prepare for Coronavirus?
Keep yourself informed.
Make sure you know your company policy for taking sick leave and be familiar with state and local laws about sick leave and paid time off. There are no federal requirements for sick leave.
Talk to your boss to find out if your company has contingency plans if the outbreak becomes more serious. The CDC is recommending businesses be prepared to implement social distancing measures and other precautions. Find out if your employer has plans in place, such as expanding telework options.
Prepare your household.
The American Red Cross and the Department of Homeland Security provide guidance on how to make sure you and your family are prepared.
Though we don’t yet know the effect coronavirus on the job market, it is likely that healthcare and other industries will have new job opportunities related to coronavirus response.
