During the last few months, many of us relaxed from the height of isolation and fear during the pandemic. However, we are now entering the season of colds, flu, and—yes—Covid. So, as an employee, what can you do to protect your health in the workplace?
- Follow the CDC guidelines when you are not at work, including avoiding large gatherings of people, especially those who may be unvaccinated or unmasked. The fewer germs you take into work, the fewer you and others will take home.
- Consider getting the appropriate vaccines and boosters, or speak to your primary care physician about your options. Visit websites of respected hospitals, such as the Mayo Clinic, for information. Some companies provide incentives to employees to encourage vaccination.
- Follow office guidelines. For example, many businesses mandate masks for workers, customers, and visitors. Also, many have liberal sick leave policies to prevent people from spreading illness at work. Find out what procedures are in place for dealing with people who ignore the guidelines and for protecting your health in the workplace.
- Find out how often your employer is cleaning and their cleaning protocols. You may feel more comfortable if you know that surfaces are cleaned regularly for germs.
If you feel unable to protect your health in your workplace, you may want to consider changing jobs. To help you decide, have a conversation with any prospective employer about how you each view your roles in workplace safety. Often you can find a job in the same industry with policies more to your liking; other times, you may have to consider a career change. Robin’s Resumes® is ready to help.