In the UK, temperatures immediately begin to drop as soon as autumn rolls in. Meanwhile, the chillier weather sends many of us an instant signal to hastefully fetch the winter coats and knits to fend off those pesky winter bugs.
In 2022, the Office for National Statistics reported that 29.3% of the UK’s workplace absences were down to minor illnesses such as coughs, colds, and flu – this figure has been continually rising over the past decade.
Approximately 27.5 million working days in the UK were lost to minor illnesses, equating to 529,000 lost days per week. As a staggering contrast, The Telegraph found that 1,043,965 working days were lost in just one week in November 2022.
The rise in sick days
On the topic of work days lost in the UK, employees took an average of 3.7 sick days in 2018 which increased to 6.7 days in 2022. The rising sickness rates cause an unavoidable ripple effect across workplaces, affecting staffing, productivity and output – but why is this happening?
Many suggest that this is the remnants of the COVID-19 pandemic leaving a lasting impact as social distancing and stay-at-home orders not only slowed the spread of the disease, but also the spread of seasonal colds and flu.
With these findings at hand, the rise in sick days is understandable and highlights the importance in keeping hygiene at the forefront of workplace best practices.
Tackle germs and bacteria with ease
No matter where you work, there’s prime opportunities for germs to harbour on surfaces and spread around the workplace. To paint a picture of the germs present in a typical office environment, here are some findings:
- The average office desk has around 10 million bacterial bodies present at any time
- Computer keyboards and mice are among the most contaminated surfaces, often harbouring bacteria like Staphylococcus
- Mobile phones have been found to be up to six times dirtier than a toilet seat
- The spread of viruses is quick, taking two to four hours to spread across 40-60% of office surfaces
From communal rooms and canteens, to washrooms and workstations, our Midi-Wipe Hand & Surface wipes are the perfect cleaning solution for a multitude of environments. Developed with durability in mind, these cleaning wipes won’t tear or fall apart during use and can be used across multiple surfaces to kill 99.999% of germs and bacteria.
Thanks to the expert formulation of the Midi-Wipe Hand & Surface wipes (and the wider Uniwipe range), the harmful spread of bacteria can be significantly reduced. Our wipes are dual-purpose for use on both hands and surfaces, making them an ideal fast-acting solution to take on viruses and bacteria.
Essential steps for effective workplace cleaning
Consistency is key in improving workplace cleanliness – we recommend tackling these five pain-free steps frequently with our wide range of wipes to keep your staff and visitors safe:
- Step one: Clear the workspace
Remove any items like papers, personal items and equipment from the desk or countertop to allow full cleaning coverage
- Step two: Wipe down high-touch surfaces
Wipe down high-touchpoint surfaces like desks, keyboards, mice and monitor buttons (make sure to get into any crevices, especially on the keyboard, where germs can accumulate), as well as any personal items like pens and staplers.
- Step three: Disinfect shared equipment and areas
Clean shared items such as phones, headsets and remote controls. Remember any surfaces or equipment in communal kitchen areas and meeting rooms.
- Step four: Dispose and sanitise hands
Dispose of the used wipes in the appropriate waste bin and use another wipe to sanitise your hands to remove any remaining germs, maintaining a clean and safe workspace for everyone.
- Step five: Remember home office workspaces
Encourage colleagues to wipe down the above steps at home to help limit the transmission of viruses and germs.
With those steps in mind, having Uniwipe’s Midi-Wipe Hand & Surface wipes readily available in your workplace makes the cleaning process simple and hassle free.
Tested to the highest EN standards (including EN14476, EN1276, EN13727, EN16615 and EN14561), our wipes have a proven track record of helping customers achieve safer working environments.
Our dedicated team of experts are on hand to discuss your cleaning challenges. They’ll help you with bulk and bespoke orders, along with multi-location deliveries and phased deliveries to fit around the needs of your workplace. To discuss your options, and to discover the value that Uniwipe can deliver to businesses, please get in touch with our team.
