Half of Irish workers hit by infections this year

A survey of 1,000 people done by Yakult showed that half of Irish workers were absent this year due to cold or flu.

NEARLY half of Irish workers were absent this year because of colds and flu, new research shows.

And over a third of workers said they did not take time off when suffering from a cold because of the demands and pressures of their job.

The online survey of just over 1,000 people also found that more than half felt their work environment is unhealthy.

Four out of ten people said they believed that catching a cold was inevitable and did not bother taking any measures to protect themselves.

Nearly half who took part in the survey undertaken by Yakult, the probiotic milk drink, said they said they tried to fight the symptoms as best they could while carrying on with their daily routine.

Director of the Institute of Immunology at NUI Maynooth, Dr Bernard Mahon, said it was inevitable that many people would come into contact with germs during their working day with so many people going to work ill.

Dr Mahon believed there would be far fewer instances of colds and flu in the workplace if more employers took action to maintain the health of their workforce.

And, he said, with most of our immune system located in the gut, diet, exercise and a healthy lifestyle were all vital for stronger defences.

Many workplaces in Ireland are gradually recognising the importance of or are proactively contributing to employee health by offering free fruit, gym membership, relaxation areas, better office decor, yoga or social events.

And, in a bid, to encourage more employers to invest in and promote employee health, Yakult has just launched an awards scheme that recognises those making an outstanding effort in this area.

Winners of ‘Healthiest Workplace’ title will be rewarded with a trip to Japan, the birthplace of Yakult founder, Dr Shirota.

Here are some top tips for a healthier workplace:

1. Wash your hands regularly after sneezing and coughing and always use tissues, not hankies.

2. Keep pens and stationary out of your mouth — germs on these can make you sick

3. Use your lunch break to get some fresh air outdoors and have a brisk walk, if possible.

4. Try not to overreact to office problems — stress lowers resistance to infection.

Those wanting more information or to nominate an organisation visit www.healthyworkawards.ie.