Staying Healthy at Work During Cold and Flu Season
With the approach of cooler weather and holiday gatherings, it’s the time of year when colds, the flu and other seasonal illnesses peak. At work, where people spend long hours together in offices, warehouses or shared spaces, viruses can spread quickly.
The good news is that a few simple practices can make a big difference in protecting yourself and your coworkers. Below are practical ways to stay healthy from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the American Red Cross. They’re simple to remember and put into practice when everyone does their part.
Simple Steps to Protect Yourself and Others
Get doctor-recommended flu or COVID-19 vaccinations
Vaccination is still the best way to lower your chances of getting sick and to reduce symptoms if you do. Consider scheduling your shot early in the season to give your body time to build immunity before the holidays.
Wash your hands often
Use soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before eating or after coughing and sneezing. Hand sanitizer is a good backup when soap isn’t available.
Cover your coughs and sneezes
Use a tissue or your elbow—not your hands—and discard tissues right away. This small habit can stop germs from landing on shared surfaces. Also, avoid touching your nose, mouth and eyes.
Stay home if you’re sick
Don’t power through a fever, cough or body aches. Rest at home until you’ve been fever-free for at least 24 hours without medication. If remote work is an option, it can help you recover while keeping others safe.
Keep workspaces clean
Disinfect shared surfaces like keyboards, door handles and break room counters. Employers can support this by providing sanitizers, tissues and no-touch wastebaskets.
Try not to use a co-worker’s tools or equipment
When possible, it’s best not to use a coworker’s phone, desk, office, computer or other work tools and equipment. If you must, try to clean it first with a disinfectant. Also avoid shaking hands or coming into close contact with others who may be ill.
Take care of your body
Eat a balanced diet, drink water, get enough sleep and manage stress. A strong immune system helps you resist infection and recover more quickly.
Improve ventilation when possible
Open a window, use air purifiers or ensure HVAC systems are in good working order. Fresh air circulation is one of the simplest ways to limit the spread of illness indoors.
Seek advice from health experts
Speak with your doctor to see if you’re in a high risk category for seasonal flu (i.e., elderly, pregnant women, small children, persons with asthma, etc.). Participate in any training offered by your employer and make sure you understand how to stay healthy at work.
Employers also play a key role by keeping workplaces stocked with supplies and setting policies that allow sick workers to recover without pressure to return too soon. Clear communication about these policies builds trust and ensures employees feel supported.
Staying healthy during cold and flu season is all about teamwork. When each of us makes small choices—like covering a sneeze, staying home when ill or wiping down a shared desk—we’re not just protecting ourselves, we’re looking out for one another and creating a more supportive workplace for all.
Pacific Federal is a Zenith American company and subsidiary of Harbour Benefit Holdings, Inc.
