One thing we have learned from COVID-19 is that it’s better to be proactive than reactive. As many office workers continue to work from home, anxiety may begin to build thinking about going back to work. Of course, there are positive sides to returning to work, like maintaining a normal schedule and seeing your teammates, but there is some uncertainty there too. We share nearly everything with our teams, from the printer to the air we breathe, we might as well be family.
Even if just one surface becomes infected, it has the ability to spread throughout the entire office. That doesn’t factor in sneezes and coughs, which can travel and be suspended in air. This Inc. article describes the travel ability of coughs and sneezes:
An uncovered cough or sneeze creates a spray of up to 40,000 disease-ridden droplets that travel at up to 200 mph to a distance of up to 26 feet and stay suspended in the air for up to 10 minutes. These droplets can make you ill if you breathe them in or, if you avoid that, can stick to your clothes and skin to infect you later.
Below are 4 top tips from Activa for protecting your office after COVID-19.
1) Paint with Activa
Activa is a revolutionary product that uses the science of light energy, called photocatalysis, to destroy most microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, mold, fungi) and the substances they feed on. By painting your office space with Activa, you take one step towards protecting your team from germs. Air that passes by a surface painted with Activa will be cleaned and purified when light hits the surface. Activa also helps eliminate pollution from cars and factories, odors, and is self-cleaning.
Activa can give you a higher peace-of-mind, knowing that you are that much more protected from the spread of illnesses. Plus, it really helps your team members who suffer from allergies and asthma. Now is the perfect time to paint your offices with Activa while your team is working from home. Their work environment will be cleaner, safer, and ready for their return.
2) Don’t Have an Open Floor Plan
Open floor plans, the ones with absolutely no cubicle walls, have been trending for quite some time. However, they lend no real value to your team and have been found to actually decrease productivity and creativity. Not only do they compromise your team’s culture, but they provide absolutely no barriers between people. That means that when someone does cough or sneeze, those particles will just continue flying through the air, rather than being stopped by a cubicle wall.
3) Provide Hand Sanitizer & Sanitizing Wipes
While all offices provide soap in the restrooms, not all offices have hand sanitizer on everyone’s desk. Every employee should have a bottle of hand sanitizer on their desk. They should also have easy access to sanitizing wipes, sprays, or bleach water. In our office, we have a huge container of alcohol cleansing wipes that our team can take to sanitize their workspace prior to working. These can also be used to clean door handles, coffee makers, refrigerator handles, and just about any space you can think of. Having daily sanitation sessions can help ease anxiety.
4) Print & Post Proper Handwashing Techniques in all Restrooms
While “I Will Survive” will always be engrained in our minds, people have a tendency to be distracted at the office. By posting proper handwashing techniques in the restrooms, you give a reminder to everyone about how important handwashing is. While you’re at it, maybe posting “Don’t Touch Your Face” around the office will help too. Help your team remember that, even when they are working hard, they need to be mindful. Nobody wants to be sick or to get others sick. The best first step is prevention.
Conclusion
Viruses will spread; it’s what they do. But there are steps you can take to prevent or even eliminate their spread. COVID-19 has brought fear and uncertainty to offices around the world. Show your team you care about them by taking preventative measures to protect your and their health. The best step to prevention is proactive measures taken by leadership. Order Activa today to show your team how much you care.
