GOJO Blog

With the potential of an early start to this year’s flu season, and respiratory virus cases filling up U.S. pediatric hospitals, it’s time to act now to keep your businesses and workplaces healthy this flu and winter respiratory virus season. Places like retail shops, office and medical buildings, school campuses, restaurants, grocery stores, and leisure facilities, with their shared spaces and many people coming and going throughout the day, are prime incubators for respiratory viruses like the flu, RSV, and viruses that cause the common cold.

What impact does flu have?

A flu outbreak can have a major impact on business operations. According to a published study, it's estimated that U.S. employees miss up to 111 million days of work each year due to the flu.¹ The impact of these missed days is a staggering $10-20 billion or more in lost earnings, every year.^2,3 According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in the decade prior to 2020, the flu resulted in between 9-41 million illnesses annually in the United States and infected up to 11% of its population.^4,5

When is flu season?

The flu (or influenza) is a highly contagious respiratory illness that is caused by viruses – such as influenza A or B viruses – that infect the nose, throat, or even lungs. Luckily, unlike many other illnesses, flu outbreaks are typically predictable and follow a pattern. While influenza viruses spread year-round, flu outbreaks typically occur between December and February, although activity can last as late as May (this year cases extended into June for the first time ever) and can start in the early autumn – as indicated by this year’s trends in the southern hemisphere.

When do RSV and other colds typically occur – and what impact do they have?

Typically, viruses that cause cold-like illnesses remain fairly mild and last a week or two, but this year, we’re already seeing children severely impacted by these viruses, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) – and pediatric hospitals are strained. Anyone can get RSV – while it typically causes mild illness, it can be serious for infants, young children, and older adults. Typically, RSV peaks in December through February.⁶ Many viruses can cause the common cold, but most are caused by rhinoviruses. Typically, people get the common cold in the winter and spring, but it’s possible to get a cold any time of year. While they typically cause mild symptoms, common colds are the main reason children miss school and adults miss work, according to the CDC.

How does the flu and other respiratory viruses spread?

Experts believe that many respiratory viruses like the flu virus spreads through droplets in the air that result from coughing and sneezing – and even talking. These droplets can travel as far as six feet, where they land in the nose or mouth or are inhaled into the lungs of healthy people.⁷ The flu virus can also live on objects or surfaces, so it’s possible to spread the flu by touching contaminated surfaces. If a sick person coughs into their hand and then touches a door handle, handrail, touch screen, other highly touched, shared surface, anyone who touches that same surface afterward could become infected.

In fact, scientists have shown that both influenza A and B viruses can survive for up to 24-48 hours on hard, nonporous surfaces such as stainless steel and plastic!⁸ According to the CDC, RSV can survive for many hours on hard surfaces such as tables and crib rails. With people touching hundreds of objects per day and touching their faces up to 34 times every hour⁹ – that’s more than enough opportunity to spread germs like the flu and RSV.

Respiratory viruses do not discriminate, and the flu in particular can have a significant health (and economic) impact on both small and large businesses. And, as you know, it’s unfortunately not the only illness going around that can negatively affect your business operations and profits. Luckily, having a pandemic hygiene response plan can ensure continuity of service during outbreaks of flu and other illnesses that can be spread by contaminated surfaces – such as colds, gastrointestinal or foodborne illnesses, and even COVID-19.

How can I help prevent the spread of the flu and other respiratory viruses at my business or workplace?

According to the CDC, maintaining a clean environment and providing easy access to hygiene products and supplies is one easy way to help prevent the spread of illnesses like the flu in businesses.¹⁰ Here is a list of steps that business owners/operators, managers, and employees can take to help minimize the spread of germs in the workplace this upcoming winter germ season.

Step 1 – Review your cleaning procedures and inventory of hygiene supplies. The CDC provides updated guidance on preventing flu outbreaks in businesses.¹⁰ Ensure all maintenance staff (or any employees participating in surface hygiene) are aware and trained on day-to-day cleaning and disinfecting procedures and what to do in the event of a flu outbreak. Products should be stocked, appropriate for use, and in-date (not expired). Surface disinfectants should be EPA-registered, and the product label should state it's effective against the influenza A (flu) virus, respiratory syncytial virus, and rhinovirus. All disinfectants are different, so the label instructions should be followed to make sure it’s being used correctly to kill the influenza virus.

Step 2 – Focus frequent disinfection on high-touch surfaces. Surfaces that are touched by more hands are more likely to be contaminated with the influenza virus. These include handrails, doorknobs or handles, light switches, touch screens, keyboards, elevator buttons, shopping carts, countertops or tables, and chairs. Don’t miss shared high-touch surfaces in places where food or drink is consumed, such as coffee or beverage stations, shared condiment displays, water coolers/fountains, trays, or refrigerators and microwaves in breakrooms and cafeterias. Encourage frequent disinfection of employees’ personal items such as mobile phones and computer keyboards/mice.

Step 3 – Ensure proper product placement. Hygiene products should be placed conveniently to promote their use by more than just maintenance staff. Consider placing disinfectant sprays or wipes in areas where employees can help to keep shared (and even their own) surfaces clean between professional cleanings. Consider providing additional supplies to promote good personal hygiene such as disposable tissues, soap, and hand sanitizer.

Step 4 – Educate staff and set hygiene expectations. A recent study showed that providing educational reminders like posters and how-to guides to staff and users of a facility led to a 95 percent reduction of germs on surfaces.¹¹ Emphasize and reinforce the importance of hygiene to all employees and what actions they can take to help prevent the spread of germs in the workplace.

Finally, illness prevention starts in the community. Preventing the spread of flu and other respiratory viruses in businesses also helps to prevent the spread of them at home and in your community – and vice versa. Practicing good hygiene in the home and when you are out and about in all the places you go will also help to keep you, your family, and your community healthy this flu season. Subscribe to the GOJO blog for an upcoming post on tips to help prepare your home for winter germ season.

Reliable hygiene solutions are available

Thanks to significant investments in our manufacturing, distribution, and supply chain capabilities, GOJO is in a strong position to support our customers’ needs today and into the future. Over the past two years, GOJO activated an additional 2.5 million square feet of manufacturing space, added three new manufacturing and distribution facilities, and expanded its U.S.-based supply chain capabilities, including securing a captive source of high-grade ethanol through a strategic sourcing partnership.

Subscribe to be notified of our upcoming blog posts

This is the fourth post in a blog series that GOJO scientists and clinicians are doing to help you and your business prepare for germs that will be circulating this winter. Please subscribe to the GOJO blog to be notified when a new blog posts so you don’t miss upcoming posts. If you missed them, please read:

• "Are Viruses Behaving Strangely, or Are We?"
• "5 Tips to Avoid Back-to-School Illness Outbreaks This Fall"
• “Flu Severity This Winter – Be Prepared”

This post was updated Oct. 28, 2022 to include other respiratory viruses.

1. Molinari NA, Ortega-Sanchez IR, Messonnier ML, Thompson WW, Wortley PM, Weintraub E, Bridges CB. The annual impact of seasonal influenza in the US: measuring disease burden and costs. Vaccine. 2007 Jun 28;25(27):5086-96.
2. The Society for Human Resource Management. “The Economic Effect of Influenza on Businesses.”  https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/risk-management/pages/economic-effect-influenza-businesses.aspx Accessed July 5, 2022.
3. Challenger, Grey & Christmas Inc. “Update 2: Flu Season to Cost Employers $21B.” https://www.challengergray.com/blog/update-2-flu-season-cost-employers-21b/ Accessed July 5, 2022.
4. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Frequently Asked Questions about Estimated Flu Burden.”https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/faq.htm#:~:text=CDC%20estimates%20that%20from%202010,annually%20in%20the%20United%20States Accessed July 5, 2022.
5. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  “Key Facts About Influenza (Flu).” https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/keyfacts.htm Accessed July 5, 2022.
6. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “RSV Trends and Surveillance.” https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/research/us-surveillance.html Accessed Oct. 27, 222.
7. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  “How Flu Spreads.” https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/spread.htm Accessed July 5, 2022.
8. Bean B, Moore BM, Sterner B, Peterson LR, Gerding DN, Balfour HH Jr. Survival of influenza viruses on environmental surfaces. J Infect Dis. 1982 Jul;146(1):47-51.
9. Zhang N, Jia W, Wang P, King MF, Chan PT, Li Y. Most self-touches are with the nondominant hand. Sci Rep. 2020 Jun 26;10(1):10457.
10. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Flu Resources for Business.” https://www.cdc.gov/flu/business/index.htm Accessed July 5, 2022.
11. National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics. "Crucial Hygiene Practices in Athletic Facilities: For the Pandemic and Beyond." Athletics Administration. March 2021 issue.