office germs infographic

The Attack of Office Germs [Infographic]

Feb. 8, 2013
Employees showing up for work while sick, vending machines coated in germs and coworkers skipping the soap after using the restroom: These are just a few of the germ concerns that surface in the workplace.

One in three office workers have witnessed coworkers leaving the restroom without washing their hands. Nearly three-quarters of Americans typically go to work when they’re sick. And the average person is exposed to 840,000 germs every day. If those bits of trivia make you squirm, take a look at the infographic below for tips on staying sanitary and healthy at work.

The “Office Germs: Safe for Work?” infographic from Best Choice Reviews reveals why keeping clean and healthy in the workplace may be harder than you think.

Some of the infographic's findings, particularly in the "Just how dirty is my office?" section, are courtesy of Kimberly-Clark Professional's March 2012 study, which collected nearly 5,000 swabs from office buildings.

View the infographic below to learn more about office germs; how many employees feel guilty about calling off sick; how many workers decline meetings where sick coworkers will be in attendance; and more:

About the Author

Laura Walter

Laura Walter was formerly senior editor of EHS Today. She is a subject matter expert in EHS compliance and government issues and has covered a variety of topics relating to occupational safety and health. Her writing has earned awards from the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE), the Trade Association Business Publications International (TABPI) and APEX Awards for Publication Excellence. Her debut novel, Body of Stars (Dutton) was published in 2021.

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