Day after day, millions of commuters in a number of countries are still squeezing themselves into crowded buses and trains, unable to respect the social distancing requirement of 1.5 metres. This makes it easy for the coronavirus to spread. This risk could be effectively reduced if more employees worked from home. In many European countries, working from home is already mandatory.
Working from home: different regulations all across Europe
In Germany, the call for an obligation to work from home is becoming louder and louder. The Federal Minister of Labour, Hubertus Heil, recently urged companies to allow and to force their employees to work from homewherever is possible. In Belgium and France, there has been a work-from-home mandate since October. Similar to Germany, this decision is not so much based on the acute risk of infection in the workplaces and companies itself, but it is more about avoiding overcrowded public transport. At least that is what the Belgian Minister of Health, Frank Vandenbroucke, emphasised.
Restarting the economy in spring
"We can only get a grip on the pandemic by leaving our homes as seldom as possible. This is certainly hard for many employees because they feel cut off from their colleagues, but we have to endure this," says Sven Jäschke, Country Manager Nordic, Central & Eastern Europe at GOJO Industries. However, Jäschke predicts that working from home will not become the permanent state of affairs.
"As soon as the vaccinations take effect and the weather improves, the virus will find it increasingly difficult to spread. Then the companies will gradually be able to restart on-site operations." He advises that "companies should be prepared for this restart. For example, it is important for employers to put in place optimal hygiene infrastructure now. We are likely to have to live with the virus from now on and companies have a duty to protect their employees."
Effective hygiene concepts in companies
Many companies have already taken hygiene measures and, for example, installed dispenser systems with hand sanitisers in entrance areas, offices and meeting rooms. "However, after the first lockdown, it was evident that it has not yet become the second nature to many building managers to routinely check the systems for their filling levels," Sven Jäschke sums up. "As a result dispensers were empty for days and employees did not have the opportunity to disinfect their hands regularly. This increases the risk of spreading infections. In the near future, companies urgently need to develop better hygiene routines to protect their employees more reliably."
This includes not only regular check of the filling levels of dispenser systems. Choosing the right product for hand disinfection is also essential. "Companies that use hand sanitisers in large quantities tend to buy refills from no-name manufacturers in big canisters. When buying them they do not necessarily check whether these products have been scientifically tested for their skin compatibility and efficacy against germs," says Jäschke.
This can have unpleasant consequences for employees:
- Skin reactions
- No reliable effectiveness against the coronavirus
- Outbreaks of illness in the workplace
- A poor user experience due to unpleasant odours or unpleasantly sticky consistencies
Choosing the right product for hand hygiene
However, if you choose hand sanitisers from established manufacturers such as PURELL®, you are safe ground as an employer. These products contain at least 60 to 80 percent alcohol, as recommended by the World Health Organisation. And they are proven to be effective against the most harmful pathogens - including Coronavirus.
They also contain skin care substances that help to keep the skin healthy. No drying out, no itching, no scratching, no sticking. All that remains after use is an absence of harmful bacteria, a neutral smell and a well-nourished feeling skin. It all comes down to the right formula.
How employers can effectively protect their employees
What else can employers do to protect their employees? The following aspects should be taken into account:
- Keeping a distance of at least 1.5 metres between people in offices and meeting zones.
- Reduce direct contacts to the necessary minimum.
- Employees should be instructed never to come to work if they are feeling ill.
- Consider making mask-wearing in the workplace mandatory
- Company protocols for suspected or confirmed cases of infection should be drafted.
- All measures must be actively communicated to employees.
- Skin-friendly liquid soaps and dispensers with disposable tissues should be provided for cleaning the hands in washrooms.
- The cleaning intervals of washrooms and common rooms should be increased.
- Regular cleaning of door handles and handrails with surface sanitisers also helps to prevent infections.
- Regularly airing rooms to reduce the number of pathogens present in workplaces.
"Companies that observe all these points will bewell prepared for the restart in a few weeks. These hygiene concepts should be implemented soon," Sven Jäschke sums up. "Then companies will be leaving nothing to chance when they return from the homeoffice."
