ENG

HOT DESKING MAY INCREASE ILLNESS

www.thisislocallondon.co.uk , 7th September 2007

BOSSES need to prepare themselves for a rise in sickness levels as hot-desking becomes more popular.

 Hot-desking is when a worker shares their workstation, sometimes including computer and phone with their co-workers. This way of working, it has been suggested in a new study, is likely to increase the number of germs being spread around the office.
The study conducted for Computer Cleaning Week, which runs from September 17 to September 22, found 80 per cent of respondents hot-desked and 71 per cent believe their dirty workplace is making them ill.
More than two thirds of workers feel they are exposed to all sorts of germs at work with 67 per cent having been off sick in the last year of which 36 per cent have been absent for more than four days.
TV cleanliness expert Kim Woodburn who is fronting this year's Computer Cleaning Week, said: "The survey revealed both men and women don't seem to care about sneezing or coughing without covering their mouths. Picking spots, wiping noses with hands, scratching heads and touching hair are other habits that spread germs.
"It's astounding the number of people who go the toilet and then don't wash their hands, or retrieve things from the bin - again without cleaning their hands."
She added: "If you're going to put your dirty hands on keyboards and sneeze while you're on the phone, there's no doubt that you'll expose your equipment to all sorts of unpleasant organisms."
The survey also revealed the computer keyboard is the biggest offender in the office for harbouring germs - only 17 per cent describe their keyboards as clean.
Stewart Anderson, vice-president of marketing at Durable UK, the company who commissioned the study said: "People should never underestimate the impact that microscopic germs can have on any workplace.

"Our research shows there is a real cause for concern about desktop hygiene and its damaging consequences."

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