Germs & viruses are very common in the work place this time of year.

As the temperature drops, the risk of catching those annoying bugs rises. Cold and flu season is just around the corner, and with it comes the challenge of keeping your workplace healthy and productive.

But here's a surprising fact: every year, around 200 million workdays are lost in the U.S. due to cold and flu. That's like hitting the pause button on productivity across the nation!

When one person catches a bug, it often spreads like wildfire through the office. Just picture it — a chorus of coughs and sneezes echoing through the halls. Not exactly the soundtrack you want for your workday, right?

With 1 billion colds happening in the U.S. each year, it's no wonder that adults can expect to catch two to four colds annually. Some might even face more than their fair share.

When someone says, “It’s just a cold,” it’s easy to brush it off. But during cold and flu season, these illnesses can spread like wildfire, affecting not just one person but entire teams. Preventing the spread of infectious disease is more important than ever, especially with the lessons we’ve learned from the pandemic. We’ve seen firsthand how quickly illness can impact our daily lives, and the workplace is no exception.

A healthy work environment is key to keeping both physical and mental well-being in check. When employees feel safe and healthy at work, they’re not just physically better — they’re happier and more motivated, too. Taking simple preventive measures, like encouraging regular handwashing or getting a flu shot, can make a big difference in keeping everyone well. And when people are healthy, morale goes up, and sick leave goes down.

But it’s not just about feeling good — there are real economic impacts, too. Cold and flu season can take a serious toll on businesses. When employees are out sick, it leads to lost productivity, delayed projects, and sometimes, increased stress on those who are covering for absent coworkers. In fact, influenza alone costs employers a staggering $10.4 billion annually. This doesn’t even account for the billions more lost in productivity each year due to illness-related absenteeism. This is why healthcare cleaning is so important. Janitorial Services Directory