Spreading colds and flu

To: All Employees
From: HR Department
Re: Coming to work while sick

According to a 2005 survey, more than 80 percent of American workers go to work while sick. That translates to millions of cold- and flu-ridden employees sneezing, coughing, hacking and wheezing their way through the workday, spreading germs in their wake. If you have the unfortunate experience of coming into close contact with an ailing co-worker, or if you want to avoid contracting cold or flu germs, follow these guidelines:

• If you're sick, cover both your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and then throw the tissue away. If you don't have a tissue, use your upper arm or the crook of your elbow. If you wear an orthopedic brace to treat carpal tunnel syndrome, avoid using that hand to cover your mouth (otherwise the brace could get really nasty over time).
• Wash your hands frequently and vigorously for 15 to 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based wipe or hand sanitizer. Remember, mixing high-alcohol sanitizers with Red Bull for a "kick-ass cocktail" is strictly prohibited.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. To be absolutely safe, avoid touching any part of your body. Touching any part of anyone else's body is strictly prohibited.
• Avoid touching hard surfaces. Most cold and flu viruses are transmitted via hard surfaces. An active office worker can touch up to 30 surfaces in a minute — going from keyboard and telephone to PDA and copy machine. An infected worker will lay down a microbial minefield that can infect you. If you must touch a hard surface, use your knuckle or an object such as a fountain pen.