Office Dirt: It's Catching and It's Expensive
According to a recent study, there are many surfaces in office buildings that are "officially dirty," with the most contaminated being faucets, microwaves, computer keyboards, and refrigerator doors. In open-plan offices, workers have a 62 percent higher incidence of sick days than those in private or shared offices. This is important given a 2016 study from The Integrated Benefits Institute that reveals that absenteeism and "presenteeism," when employees come to work sick, cost the U.S. economy $225 billion annually in lost productivity. However, researchers found that a cleaner office resulted in 12.5 percent fewer sick days and increased productivity, and workplace hygiene programs that include education and the use of hand sanitizers have reduced hygiene-related healthcare claims by more than 20 percent.