2015 flu myths study

Staples Sixth Annual Flu Survey

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Debunking

Myths

Staples Sixth Annual Flu Survey

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Staples just completed its sixth

annual Flu Survey. Here is

what it revealed:

Staples survey reveals

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The U.S. workforce knows

a thing or two about the

flu.

Staples survey reveals

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90% know they can protect

themselves from the flu by

eating right and washing

hands regularly.

Staples survey reveals

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More than half know that

flu viruses can live up to

three days on a surface.

Staples survey reveals

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And yet, misconceptions

still prevail.

Debunking Flu Season Myths

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The latest Staples Flu

Survey debunks the

following six myths:

MYTH #1

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Nearly a third of

respondents believe

restrooms are the least

clean rooms in an office

building…

FACT

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…but office breakrooms

actually have the most

bacteria.

MYTH #2

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41% think door knobs and

elevator buttons are the

least clean items in the

office…

FACT

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…yet no office items are

less clean than desktops

and tables in common

areas.

MYTH #3

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Only 16% believe the most

contagious place during

flu season is the office,

behind daycare, public

transit and hospitals…

FACT

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…but offices are more

contagious than hospitals.

Debunking Flu Season Myths

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And once in the office,

U.S. workers don’t keep

germs at bay.

MYTH #4

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Respondents most

typically sanitize their

computer keyboards and

their desks, and only 9%

typically sanitize their

mobile phones…

FACT

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…even though mobile

phones carry 10 times

more bacteria than most

toilet seats.

Debunking Flu Season Myths

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And worse still – the

higher up the chain you

go, the larger the issue it

becomes.

MYTH #5

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Over three-quarters of

respondents don’t think

their boss would expect

them to go into work once

they caught the flu…

FACT

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…yet only a quarter of

business decision makers

(BDMs) send their

employees home every

time they go to work sick.

MYTH #6

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46% of respondents

believe that entry-level

employees are the ones

most likely to go into the

office when sick.

FACT

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However, more BDMs than

office workers go into the

office with the flu because

of pressure to be at work

(54% to 45%).

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Don’t be a statistic. No matter where you

work, or what your position is, stay

protected during the flu season. Visit

www.staplesadvantage.com/healthandwell

ness or staples.com/fluprevention for

more information.