The sixth annual Staples Flu Survey uncovered several misconceptions when it comes to flu and illness prevention in the workplace.

1. Staples Sixth Annual Flu Survey
1
Debunking
Myths

2. Staples Sixth Annual Flu Survey
2
Staples just completed its sixth
annual Flu Survey. Here is
what it revealed:

3. Staples survey reveals
3
The U.S. workforce knows
a thing or two about the
flu.

4. Staples survey reveals
4
90% know they can protect
themselves from the flu by
eating right and washing
hands regularly.

5. Staples survey reveals
5
More than half know that
flu viruses can live up to
three days on a surface.

6. Staples survey reveals
6
And yet, misconceptions
still prevail.

7. Debunking Flu Season Myths
7
The latest Staples Flu
Survey debunks the
following six myths:

8. MYTH #1
8
Nearly a third of
respondents believe
restrooms are the least
clean rooms in an office
building…

9. FACT
9
…but office breakrooms
actually have the most
bacteria.

10. MYTH #2
10
41% think door knobs and
elevator buttons are the
least clean items in the
office…

11. FACT
11
…yet no office items are
less clean than desktops
and tables in common
areas.

12. MYTH #3
12
Only 16% believe the most
contagious place during
flu season is the office,
behind daycare, public
transit and hospitals…

13. FACT
13
…but offices are more
contagious than hospitals.

14. Debunking Flu Season Myths
14
And once in the office,
U.S. workers don’t keep
germs at bay.

15. MYTH #4
15
Respondents most
typically sanitize their
computer keyboards and
their desks, and only 9%
typically sanitize their
mobile phones…

16. FACT
16
…even though mobile
phones carry 10 times
more bacteria than most
toilet seats.

17. Debunking Flu Season Myths
17
And worse still – the
higher up the chain you
go, the larger the issue it
becomes.

18. MYTH #5
18
Over three-quarters of
respondents don’t think
their boss would expect
them to go into work once
they caught the flu…

19. FACT
19
…yet only a quarter of
business decision makers
(BDMs) send their
employees home every
time they go to work sick.

20. MYTH #6
20
46% of respondents
believe that entry-level
employees are the ones
most likely to go into the
office when sick.

21. FACT
21
However, more BDMs than
office workers go into the
office with the flu because
of pressure to be at work
(54% to 45%).

22. 22
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.