Benefits January 19, 2011

Coworkers Bring Germs in the Workplace

January 19, 2011 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - A new CareerBuilder survey finds that nearly three-quarters (72%) of workers typically go to work when they are sick.
Reported by

More than half (55%) of workers said they feel guilty if they call in sick.  

According to a press release, 53% of respondents reported they have gotten sick from a co-worker who came to the office sick, and 12% said they picked up a bug from someone who was sick on public transportation going to or from work.   

For more stories like this, sign up for the PLANSPONSOR NEWSDash daily newsletter.

The survey found workers do make an attempt to avoid and not spread germs:  

  • 78% said they wash their hands often; 
  • 32% carry hand sanitizer with them and use it often; 
  • 30% indicated they regularly clean their keyboards, phones, desks, etc.; 
  • 15% avoid shaking hands with people; and 
  • 3% reported they skip meetings where they know people are sick. 

 

Nearly one-in-five (19%) respondents said their companies provided flu shots at their office. Nearly two-in-five workers (38%) said they got a flu shot this year.  

The CareerBuilder survey was conducted nationwide from November 15 to December 2, 2010, among more than 3,700 workers. 

«