I have a pump-bottle of germX sitting on my desk, for reasons that are now validated... As reported by the BUSINESS WIRE out of Atlanta… “In a recent survey of American adults conducted by Booth Research, one in four respondents (25%) pointed to their office as “the germiest place” they are exposed to on a regular basis. Shedding more light on how Americans view the office; the top “germiest” response was selected more frequently than public restrooms and schools (19% and 17% respectively)”.
If you really want a walk on the wild side… take your kids into school, stop off at the restroom before you leave, and then go to the office during the height of flu season. That paints quite a picture (my throat is getting scratchy just reading it), although I am not really suggesting you do that, I am saying sometimes we don’t have control over our exposure to germs and bugs. Take for example the case of the co-worker who is the parent of a child entering Kindergarten, or any of the early years of elementary school for that matter. Much to their chagrin, they end up getting a lot of what is going around in the adolescent population and bringing it to work.
Riverside County takes a pretty pragmatic approach to employee health. We just had our annual enrollment period where you were able switch plans or make changes to you healthcare coverage. Related to this we had benefits fairs at various worksites throughout the County, attending were all of the medical plan providers, there to answer questions. The County Human Resources Department took this opportunity to give everyone who wanted one a free flu shot. (Everyone's employer does this now days, right?)
Not to brag, but there was also a nutritionist and wellness educator answering questions and giving advice on diet and lifestyle improvement.
The benefit fairs (I hit 2 of them) also gave me an opportunity to load up on free ballpoint pens, key chains, tooth brushes, Band-Aid dispensers, Chap Stick, refrigerator magnets, mouse pads, eye glass frame screw driver, etc, etc.
Speaking of free ballpoint pens, I have to chuckle when I think back to the time when my two boys were younger. I would buy several boxes of pens at the office supply to keep them in my roll top desk, just so I would have at least have one when I needed it. Inevitably, all the pens were gone when I went looking for one. My wife as it turned out had a novel solution to at least having one pen available.
Our doctor used to put extra pens he got from the drug company’s sales representatives in a cup by the sign in sheet with a label on it which read “Take One.” This was a good deal by all accounts as you got a free pen and did not have to use the germy pen of the person who signed in before you. Well, my wife returned from the doctor’s office one day with a big grin on her face. She said that she had a pen for me that she guaranteed the boys wouldn’t take. With a flourish of presentation she handed me the pen which in large bold lettering read, VIAGRA.
Over this weekend I happened to be looking in the little pull out drawer of the roll top where I keep pens and there it was still laying there… guess she was right.