A More Hygienic Office Space

An open plan office space presents an optimum environment for the spread of illness caused by microbes; hot desking, shared facilities, common contact surfaces, circulated air and extended interactions at close proximity. Each employee’s own unique microbiome contributes and interferes with the microbiome of the office environment. It is when one person’s microbiome interacts with another’s directly, through person to person contact, or indirectly through contact with shared surfaces or products that cross contamination can occur. This presents ideal circumstances for illness causing and sometimes antibiotic resistant microbes to pass from employee to employee. With these factors in mind, it is apparent how the modern office environment can present a challenge when trying to maintain a healthy and productive space.