Help employees stay healthy, safe this holiday season
From steering through holiday feasts to washing hands frequently, we’ve gathered some suggestions for a healthy and safe holiday season that you can share with employees.
Along the way, remember that Physicians Quality Care OCCMed offers many programs to help employers have a healthy workforce.
Suggestions
- Wash hands often and for at least 20 seconds to help prevent the spread of germs. Not only is it flu season, we also need to lessen the spread of COVID-19.
- Manage stress. Give yourself and employees a break from routine when they feel stressed out, overwhelmed, and out of control. Encourage people to get plenty of sleep.
- Don’t drink and drive or let others drink and drive.
- Maintain a smoke-free workplace. Even second-hand smoke has health risks.
- Offer flu vaccines for your employees. Everyone six months and older should get a flu vaccine each year.
Food
- Prepare food safely. Remember these simple steps: Wash hands and surfaces often, avoid cross-contamination, cook foods to proper temperatures and refrigerate foods promptly. Don’t let foods sit out in employee breakrooms.
- Check out food options before picking up a plate or serving spoon.
- Select the smallest size plate available or leave “white space” on a larger plate.
- Start by filling your plate with vegetables and salad before going to the entrees and desserts.
- Eat small portions.
- Eat slowly and savor every bite.
- Before you go back for seconds, wait 10 minutes to see if you really still are hungry.
- Limit portion sizes and foods high in fat, salt and sugar.
- Keep moving. Regularly plan physical activity; be active at least 2.5 hours a week.
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
