The advent of autumn brings the beginning of cold and flu season. And, with work deadlines constantly looming, few workers want to have to take time off to recover from a cold or the flu.

According to a national survey conducted earlier this year by Monster.com, 71% of American workers admit they go to work when they are ill because they fear losing their jobs or are too busy to take a break. Of those who go to work sick, “33% fear losing their job if they take a sick day, while 38% admit their workload is too busy to take a day off from work even when they are ill,” said Norma Gaffin, director of career content at Monster.com. http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS165997+20-May-2009+BW20090520

Only 19% of respondents say they stay home from work when sick in order to rest up and get well. The remaining 10% who avoid the workplace when sick actually work from home, despite being ill.

Given statistics like these, it is important to take precautions to avoid catching a virus while at the office this cold and flu season. Below are some tips to keep in mind.

• Wash hands often. This means after each restroom break, before eating, after you sneeze or cough or any time your hands feel dirty. Keep a bottle of hand sanitizer at your desk for when you can’t make it to the sink. And do not touch your nose, mouth or eyes.
• Eat balanced meals. Many people are tempted to skip breakfast, however it has been shown that those who eat breakfast are healthier than those who do not. Moreover, try to include a decent amount of vitamin C in your diet to give your immune system a boost. 
• Keep workspace clean. Clean your phone, computer keyboard and anything else that you use frequently. Even if you are the only user, germs can live on these objects and you can reinfect yourself.
• Drink 8 glasses of water daily. Keep a water bottle close by throughout the day. Coffee and soda may keep you awake, but they can also dehydrate you, lowering your immune defenses.
• Avoid sick coworkers. As indicated by the poll above, most of your sick coworkers will be working right along side you at the office. Try to, nicely, avoid direct contact with them.
• Use vacation days. Although it may feel like its never a good time to be away from the office, people who take vacations are less likely to get sick. Vacations often relieve stress, which has been proven to contribute to illness.

To learn more about workplace safety and health issues, please visit: www.cdc.gov/workplace.