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Last Updated on February 14, 2023
While many people are experiencing burn-out when it comes to talking about sickness, germs, hand-washing, etc. businesses have no choice but to face the fact that illness is causing unprecedented staff shortages across all industries.
If you’re wondering if you can slow down the spread of sickness in your workplace to keep staff healthy and at work this cold and flu season, then this is the article for you.
By the end of this article you’ll learn:
- The impact staff illness can have on revenue
- How to prepare for this year’s cold and flu season
- How to minimize staffing shortages with washroom hygiene
Let’s get to it.
The impact of illness on business revenue
There’s no way around it – businesses have been seriously impacted by a rise in illnesses over the past few years.
Workplaces are reporting a 50% increase in staffing shortages due to illness.
Hospitals have had to shut down ERs because there are too few medical staff at work to serve the beds occupied by patients.
The resulting trickle effect of over-filled and under-staffed emergency departments causes delays to ambulance services for the larger community as well, as paramedics are required to stay with their transported patients in hospital hallways until patients are admitted into care.
Airlines are experiencing huge departure delays, horrific check-in times, and countless canceled flights due to staffing shortages – many of which are caused by staff contracting contagious illnesses like COVID-19.
Restaurants have also been hit hard: many restaurants have had to decrease hours and condense their menus in order to stay open in a time of inflation and staffing shortages.
Are you a restaurant owner looking for tips to stay in business? We wrote this blog for you.
Here’s a quick look at the impact of staffing shortages on small businesses across industries:
Impact on small businesses
- 50% of small businesses report significant – moderate lost sales opportunities
- Up to 31% of small businesses plan to increase employment to remedy staff shortages
- 43% of small businesses across all industries have job openings they can’t fill
Industries least impacted by staff shortages
- 77% of financial insurance and real estate businesses experienced no shortages at all
- 50% of wholesale businesses experienced no loss in sales opportunities due to staffing shortages
But what does this mean for your business?
It means it’s worth it to stay ahead of germs and protect your business with elevated hygiene standards.
Start by arming yourself with knowledge about the upcoming cold and flu season, and prepare your workplace to deal with it. We’ll tell you how, below.
Prepare for cold and flu season
Historically, influenza and other respiratory illnesses are treated most often during the fall and winter seasons, earning the cold months the nickname “cold and flu season,” which peaks through December to February.
The summer of 2022 might be well-remembered for years to come as the year we all got sick with colds, influenza or worse (like stomach bugs, COVID-19 and other viruses).
Does that mean we’ll see a reduction in illnesses during the fast-approaching cold and flu season?
According to experts the answer is: NO.
This cold and flu season is shaping up to be as bad as ever… or perhaps even a little worse than usual.
But don’t worry – there are ways that you can mitigate the shortages at your own business and help keep your staff healthy. Keep reading to find out how.
Check in here to monitor the CDC’s predictions for 2022-2023 cold and flu season as they develop.
How can businesses minimize staffing shortages?
At Citron Hygiene, we understand that it’s a difficult time right now for businesses. Inflation is at a record high right now at 7.7% in Canada and 9.1% in America – and according to economists, that percentage may increase.
How are businesses going to cope with rising costs as well as staffing shortages?
With the help of trusted professionals who will mitigate the risk of contagious illnesses spreading among workers.
Contagious illnesses meet their nemesis: hygienic, well-sanitized common areas
The surest way to stop the spread of contagious illnesses in the workplace is to remind everyone to follow personal hygiene practices – like thorough hand washing.
As a business owner, you can also help by ensuring there’s hand sanitizer in common areas and, most importantly, investing in top-notch sanitization, disinfection and waste removal services.
Simply cleaning a space with soap and water won’t actually kill germs, although you’ll reduce the number of germs you might pick up by wiping them off of spaces.
What you really need is to ensure your common areas, and in particular regularly touched surfaces like washroom taps and soap pumps – use the top hygiene technology including automatic soap dispensers, air and surface purifiers and touch-free hand dryers.
Can you ACTUALLY catch illnesses in public washrooms? We’ve got the details for you here!
Stop staff shortages and start your free trial today
Make sure you’re as prepared as possible to mitigate staffing shortages and keep your staff healthy.
Book your free consultation with Citron Hygiene today and we’ll get your washrooms ready to go – before cold and flu season. (Take that, germs!)
Bonus: we offer FREE trials on select services and products. Learn more about how we raise the standards of washroom hygiene and elevate the washroom experience for workplaces.
