7 workplace habits that are making you sick

For the sake of your health, avoid these horrible habits at work.

By: Sandhya Raghavan | | Published: November 7, 2017 6:04 pm

Is your office making you sick? Most likely, it is. If you happen to work in an environment where over a hundred people are crammed in a small space, using the same toilets and sharing the same circulated air, it is possible that you may end up catching an infection or two. Plus, some of your careless workplace habits are making you more vulnerable to health problems than the others. Here are some of the ways in which you must be sabotaging your own health at the workplace.

1 Eating at the desk: Yes, it saves you a lot of time and the hassle of having to walk all the way to the pantry. Many companies have a strict rule against eating at the desk because employees end up spilling bits and crumbs of their food. This can invite the local ant, cockroach and rodent population to party at your desk. Roaches and rats are a reservoir for a wide variety of bacteria like salmonella, staphylococcus and streptococcus and can easily spread infection by nibbling at the food kept on your desk.

2 Not washing your mugs and cups thoroughly: Leaving your cups and mugs unwashed after drinking from it may be a bad idea. The aforementioned rats and roaches may be roaming inside your mugs the night before. So every day, before you fill up your mug with coffee, wash it thoroughly with hot water or with soap. Wash it before and after every use.

3 Storing food inside the desk drawer: The stash of potato chips, biscuits and chaklis you have squirreled away inside your desk drawer is possibly being relished by …you are right… the roaches and rats at night! If you must keep food inside your drawer, at least store them in airtight containers.

4 Not wiping the toilet seat: Ladies, there is no bigger horror story than having to squat on a wet toilet seat. Toilet seats can be a hotbed of pathogens like the e coli bacteria that can cause diarrhoea or stomach cramps. So unless you have a death wish, don’t let your bum come in direct contact with a dirty seat. Wipe it down with a wad of tissue or sanitise it with a hand sanitiser. Be courteous and repeat the procedure after you are done.

5 Going to work when you are sick: Every workplace has a martyr who pays no heed to his health problems and turns up at work without fail. Don’t be that person. Your colleagues will feel obligated to show up at work when they fall sick because you have set an unhealthy precedent for them. And more importantly, you will end up spreading your germs to your co-workers when in reality you should be at home locked and quarantined.

6 Sharing cutlery and food: If your work mate is unwell, give him all the tender love and care he deserves, but for god’s sake, stop sharing his food or using his mug. A sick work mate is already a liability and we know that some diseases can be spread through the saliva. So don’t invite more trouble by eating from the same plate or sipping from the same glass as your sick buddy.

7 Using the same chapstick or sharing cigarette : Air conditioning in most office temperatures can turn the air bone dry. This can cause your lips to crack and peel. Be wise and carry your own chapstick instead your borrowing it from your coworker. You could catch embarrassing infections like cold sores and herpes if you are not careful. During smoke breaks, resist the temptation to share the same cigarette and use your own.

Also read how you can deal with stress at workplace with your colleagues.

Published: November 7, 2017 6:04 pm

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