The Winter Hygiene Blindspot: Why Workplace Germs Spike in July

The Winter Download: Can you prevent absenteeism in your business?

Every winter, businesses across Melbourne see the same pattern. Sick staff, scrambling rosters, and a spike in absenteeism. But how much of that is preventable?

Seasonal illnesses like colds, flu, and stomach bugs become more common in winter resulting in lower productivity, operational disruption, and added pressure on healthy staff to fill gaps.

Winter absenteeism is inevitable, but one of the most effective ways to reduce its impact is the simplest: improve business hygiene.

Woman holding coffee

What causes staff winter absenteeism in Melbourne businesses?

Cold weather doesn’t cause illness but it does create conditions that allow easy virus spread, such as:

  • During winter people spend more time indoors with limited ventilation
  • Surfaces in shared areas such as staff kitchens, dining areas and bathrooms become high-risk transmission points
  • Immune systems can be more vulnerable due to lower vitamin D levels from less sunlight

Viruses such as influenza and norovirus are very easily transmitted through contact with contaminated surfaces or unwashed hands. In offices and shared workspaces, people spend more time indoors meaning the chances of viruses spreading are several times a day.

 

The evidence behind winter hygiene and absence

There’s proof in research consistently linking poor business hygiene with higher rates of sick leave.

The World Health Organisation identifies hand hygiene as one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of infection. In fact, up to 30% of workplace infections could be avoided with proper hand hygiene and Viruses can survive on surfaces like desks, handrails, or taps for 24 – 48 hours.

Our winter presents unique challenges. Cooler indoor environments, sealed office spaces, and heavier use of heating systems can lead to reduced ventilation creating ideal conditions for viruses to circulate. Local health data consistently shows seasonal spikes in influenza, RSV, and norovirus between June and August, putting pressure on businesses to take preventive action with their Melbourne hygiene solutions.

Victoria’s Department of Health also reinforces the importance of hand hygiene in shared workplaces, especially during colder months when respiratory infections are at their peak. For Melbourne based businesses, maintaining strong hygiene practices during winter isn’t just a precautionary, it’s a necessary strategy to keep your team healthy and business moving.

These solutions aren’t just a health benefit but a business benefit.

Practical actions that make a measurable difference

Here are five proven ways to reduce absenteeism through better hygiene:

    Maintain hand hygiene supplies

    Ensure all bathrooms, kitchens, and high-traffic areas are stocked with antibacterial soap, paper towels, and hand sanitisers. Providing staff touch-free dispensers reduce cross-contamination and increase usage.

    Increase cleaning of shared surfaces

    Door handles, shared keyboards, light switches, lift buttons, fridge doors are all hotspots. Daily disinfection, during a Melbourne winter is essential.

    Encourage unwell staff to stay home

    Presenteeism – showing up to work unwell, increases the risk of spreading illness. Support staff to recover fully before returning to work.

    ecohygiene’s good hygiene reminders

    We offer visual reminders about handwashing and hygiene to keep behaviours consistent. These are available as part of the ecohygiene service, and can be positioned in key areas like washrooms and lunchrooms.

    Let us review your winter hygiene standards

    ecohygiene can review your business hygiene setup and identify gaps. Things like, Are your dispensers working? Are products refilled consistently? Small oversights can lead to bigger issues, we can take care of that.

    Encourage unwell staff to stay home

    Presenteeism – showing up to work unwell, increases the risk of spreading illness. Support staff to recover fully before returning to work.

    Beyond COVID-19: Setting a new workplace standard

    During the pandemic, businesses were forced to raise hygiene standards. As a precaution many Melbourne businesses installed hand sanitising stations, improved ventilation, and implemented cleaning protocols. These measures led to a drop in other seasonal illnesses, not just COVID-19.

    Moving forward, maintaining those standards through winter isn’t just smart, it’s expected. Employees now notice when hygiene isn’t prioritised. A well-maintained environment supports confidence, wellbeing, and performance.

    How ecohygiene can help

    ecohygiene help Melbourne businesses take control of their winter hygiene practices. Our tailored solutions include everything to cover your winter hygiene solution:

    • Supply and ongoing maintenance of hand hygiene products
    • Touch-free dispensers and refilling systems
    • A workplace assessments to identify hygiene risks and customise a hygiene solution fit for your business

    We focus on keeping hygiene simple, effective, and consistent, especially when illness risks are at their highest.

    A clean environment is a healthy business

    Reducing winter absenteeism doesn’t require a major overhaul but it does require consistency. Hygiene is not seasonal; it’s a daily discipline that pays off in healthier teams, fewer sick days, and more resilient operations.

    Get in touch to build a healthier workplace this winter.