Did you know that the average American worker takes 4.3 sick days per year? That may not seem like a lot, but when you consider that there are nearly 157 million workers in the U.S., that means that 658 million days are lost to sickness each year. Of course, not all of those days are lost due to actual illness; some are due to mental health days, personal days, and vacations. But even if we conservatively estimate that 50% of those days are actually due to sickness, that’s still 329 million days per year. And all of those days come with a cost.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that each missed day costs an employer an average of $225, when you factor in lost productivity, replacement worker salaries, and other factors. That means that absenteeism due to sickness costs American businesses $73 billion dollars every single year. Fortunately, there’s a simple way to reduce the number of sick days taken by your employees: by making sure your office is clean.
How Cleaning Reduces Sick Days
There are two ways that regular cleaning can reduce the number of sick days taken by your employees: by preventing the spread of illness, and by reducing stress levels. Let’s take a closer look at how each of these works.
Preventing the Spread of Illness
One of the most important things you can do to prevent the spread of illness in your office is to make sure that high-touch surfaces are cleaned on a regular basis. These are surfaces that are touched frequently by multiple people, and as a result, they can become hotbeds for germs and bacteria. Some examples of high-touch surfaces include doorknobs, light switches, countertops, printers, keyboards, and computer mice.
While it’s important to clean all surfaces in your office regularly, it’s especially important to focus on high-touch surfaces. That’s because these surfaces can harbor infectious diseases like colds and flu—diseases that are easily spread from person to person. In fact, one study found that common colds can be transmitted simply by touching a door handle that has been contaminated with the virus.
Reducing Stress Levels
In addition to preventing the spread of illness, regular cleaning can also reduce stress levels—and when employees are less stressed, they’re less likely to get sick. In one study conducted by the University of Arizona School of Medicine, it was found that women who worked in clean offices were less likely to experience upper respiratory infections than women who worked in messy offices.
It makes sense when you think about it; after all, when your workplace is cluttered and chaotic, it can be difficult to find things and stay organized—and all of that added stress can take its toll on your immune system. A clean office, on the other hand, can help you feel more calm and relaxed—and when you’re feeling good mentally, you’re less likely to get sick physically.
If you’re looking for a simple way to reduce the number of sick days taken by your employees—and save yourself some money in the process—regular cleaning is a great place to start. By preventing the spread of illness and reducing stress levels, regular cleaning can help keep your office healthy and productive. If you do not have the time to keep your business clean, Done Rite Building Services can assist you with all of your Commercial Cleaning needs!