It’s that time of year again; the season where a sudden sniffle or cough can mean more than just a minor cold. If you work in a corporate office building or in high-traffic facilities like universities, retail buildings, or in hospitality, you know that the flu has the power to spread through a confined area like wildfire. And since more and more employees are choosing to come to work even when they are feeling sick, you may unfortunately have even experienced the speed (and all the miserable symptoms along with it) yourself. The flu this year has been fierce, and is touted as being one of the nation’s worst influenza outbreaks in recent history. Thankfully there are a few key things you can do this season to keep the flu from spreading, your employees healthy, and your business running smoothly. And no, we’re not talking about extra helpings of your grandma’s cure-all, chicken noodle soup (or a shot of tequila, depending on which grandma you ask.) We mean actionable items that you can do today to keep your facility clean, sanitized, and the flu virus at bay. Read on for the top tips to keep your commercial facility clean and your employees healthy during flu season!
- Identify the hotspotsThe common areas of your workplace will vary depending on the type of commercial facility. The break room for instance, is a serious hotspot for viruses considering the amount of foot traffic this area experiences, and the multitude of surfaces that are touched throughout the workday.Regularly wipe down surfaces such as:- Tables
– Counters
– Door handles
– Fridge and microwave handles
– Sink area
– Coffee pot and water cooler touch-pointsDuring flu season, experts recommend wiping surfaces in these types of common areas three times a day at minimum! Try using disposable options like disinfectant wipes or paper towels with a multi-purpose disinfectant spray rather than sponges, which could harbor bacteria.
- Remember that proper prevention is keyDust, allergens, and bacteria that collect throughout a workday can weaken immune systems and leave your employees vulnerable to the flu. Make sure hand sanitizer is available throughout your commercial building, and encourage your employees to do their part to keep surfaces and personal areas like their desks clean and sanitized. And don’t wait until flu season is at its peak to start evaluating your commercial building’s janitorial program. Keep your workplace clean, dust-free, and properly sanitized regularly for your clients, guests, and employees by making sure you have a nightly janitorial team that you trust to clean and maintain every aspect of your commercial facility.
- Remind your employees to take care of themselvesProvide your employees with a friendly reminder that if they’ve come down with a fever, it’s best to take a sick day rather than come to work with an active, contagious illness. A sick employee striving to have a productive day at work will only put your other employees, guests, clients and anyone visiting your commercial facility at risk of catching the flu. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recommend the flu shot as the most important defense against flu viruses. Remind your employees to take action to prevent the flu, and if they do come down with a flu-like virus, to know when to take the day to rest, rather than risk infecting and contaminating the facility.
- Consider day porter servicesIf you work in a large commercial facility that experiences public foot traffic such as a hotel, medical, financial, hospitality, or entertainment facility, the flu could spread at an exponentially higher rate. To keep your building clean throughout business hours, your facility may benefit from day porter services. As an extension of your team, a day porter will keep common areas like lobbies, front desk areas, and other high traffic sections of your building clean, sanitized, and litter-free. It’s important to keep high contact, touch-point areas constantly sanitized, but especially during flu season. A day porter will make sure your commercial facility looks clean, tidy, and professional, and will sanitize lobby surfaces, waiting areas, and elevator buttons to stop the potential spread of flu viruses. To read more about why day porter services may be a good fit for your commercial building, regardless of flu season, click here.
This article was brought to you by Calico Building Services. We strive to ensure the health and safety of your commercial building and employees by offering commercial janitorial, maintenance, and construction solutions to keep every aspect of your building clean and professional. We service an array of properties that include office buildings and financial facilities, retail and hospitality centers, multi-unit properties, and educational and religious institutions. Don’t wait until flu season is at its peak to reevaluate your commercial facility’s janitorial plan. Request a proposal from Calico today to begin creating an individualized janitorial schedule or day porter services that will keep your employees, guests, and clients healthy for years to come.
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About Calico Building Services
Calico Building Services, Inc. is a privately held company founded in 1986 by husband and wife, Ron and Kathy Strand. By developing a reputation for quality workmanship and superior customer service, the company has grown organically to become a leading provider of building, facility and property services in the Western and Central U.S. with reach and capabilities nationwide. Today, the company employs more than 650 team members and works with hundreds of strategic partners throughout the U.S.
Our core service areas delivered through the company’s three divisions include janitorial, repairs and maintenance as well as construction. With our relentless customer-centric commitment to quality and service, we serve: national retailers, banks, building owners, universities, medical facilities, government municipalities and facilities managers. Our numerous customers range from regional success stories to Fortune 500 companies.
We are proud to offer one of the most comprehensive and unique portfolio of services in the industry. From day one, personalization and offering mission-critical solutions to our valued customers has been our top priority. Depending on our customers’ needs and requirements, we can deliver our services as a self-performing company or we can deploy a network of Calico certified vendors and suppliers through effective project management. Whether they are fellow team members or certified vendors, we only hire the best and most qualified service personnel and technicians. Each of our divisions are managed and staffed by highly trained and experienced professionals in their respective fields.
There are many reasons why so many companies nationwide rely on Calico Building Services, Inc. for all their building, facility and property services. At the core, and the key differentiator, are our people and their constant commitment to excellence and unparalleled service.
