The Bottom Line Boost: How Improved Hygiene Can Tackle Absenteeism

As we shift back into the workplace, the hand washing habits created during Covid are slowly slipping away. With occupancy rates climbing and hand hygiene habits dying, germs are thriving and absenteeism is rising.

Absenteeism on avergae costs employers $1235 per employee annually. This is a significant increase from 2020, with the average employee taking 5.5 sick days compared to 4.7 in 2020.

The post Covid19 landscape has intrenched the notion of employees staying home, costing the New Zealand economy $2.86 billion in 2022. Because 75% of employees will miss work if they have flu-like symptoms, mitigating the spread of viruses and illness will reduce absenteeism, boost productivity and improve the bottom-line.

So how can hygiene help combat absenteeism? You may think your workplace currently has adequate hygiene measures, however, coworkers can spread viruses on up to 50% of workplace surfaces within 4 hours of being at work.

The typical office desk can harvest 10 million bacteria, 400x more germs than are on a toilet seat. With employees going from their desk to high traffic sites like the breakroom, elevators and washrooms, cross contamination easily occurs. Providing employees with easier access to hand hygiene measures establishes a strong culture and can significantly reduce germs while increasing hygiene habits by 40%.

Several studies have shown how increasing the number of hand sanitisers throughout the workplace encourages regular use and reduces upto 40% of absences due to illness. Employees working in a sanitised environment, leads to fewer disruptions and increased focus on tasks at hand. The direct correlation between productivity and profits is undeniable – a healthy, engaged workforce contributes directly to the bottom line.

For companies already implementing basic hygiene measures, the journey doesn't end there. Upgrading to touch-free equipment, increasing easy access to hand sanitiser and continuous communication to staff on the importance of workplace hygiene, all fosters a healthier environment and can reduce absenteeism. If you are stuck, talk to one of our Hygiene consultants. They are here to help you see the gaps and can tailor our solutions to meet the needs of your specific concerns.