Common Colds in the Workplace

Winter is here and with the colder weather outside, we spend more time inside, where cold and flu germs are waiting.

I read an article once that said it takes only about 4 hours for those heavily touched area's like the office refrigerator door, coffee pot handle, and copy machine buttons to show traces of infectious germs that can make you sick.

The average person gets two to three colds a year, that can last up to nine days.

If you feel a cold coming on, drink plenty of water, keeping yourself hydrated with reduce the symptoms of a sore throat and stuffy nose, if also helps to gargle with salt water, as the salt will draw out the inflammation which causes mucous and other irritants in your throat.

Keeping your nose clear will also help fight off a cold, so taking a hot shower or using a saline will clear your nasal passages.

If you feel the need experts recommend having some allergy meds that contain decongestants to help clear your sinuses, and a pain reliever for aches.

Many heath experts believe honey is the best remedy for cough and scratchy throat, just on or two teaspoons in some hot tea or straight from the jar.

A recent survey of various workplaces found that over 60% of people think that it is unprofessional to go to work with a cold, and around the same amount of people feel guilty about getting a co-worker sick.

If your company does not have sick days, we risk a days pay if we call in sick, so it's difficult to stay at home when we're battling a cold.

If you have to come to work, be considerate, steer clear of co-workers as best you can, the first few days of a cold is when you’re most contagious. To keep from sharing your germs, wash your hands regularly or use an alcohol-based disinfectant gel.

We all know there is no cure for the common cold, but these tips will help you.

Get well soon..Gesundheit