HANDWASHING: A CORPORATE ACTIVITY

Handwashing is an easy, inexpensive, and effective way to prevent 
the spread of germs and keep employees healthy. 

Handwashing gives people the opportunity to take an active role in 
their own health. Most handwashing studies have focused on child care 
or health care settings. The few that have looked at corporate settings 
show that promoting clean hands results in fewer employee sick days. 

Improving Health 

Germs can spread quickly. A healthier community means healthier 
employees. Handwashing education in the community: 
• Reduces the number of people who get sick with diarrhea by 31% 
• Reduces diarrheal illness in people with weakened immune systems 
by 58% 
• Reduces respiratory illnesses, like colds, in the general population 
by 21% 

Saving Time and Money 

Handwashing is one of the best ways to avoid getting sick and 
spreading illness to others. 
Sick employees are less productive even when they come to work. They 
may also spread illness to others at work. One recent study promoting 
clean hands in corporate environments showed: 
• Fewer employee illnesses 
• Less use of sick days 

Helping Families and Workforces Thrive 

Employees with healthy children spend less time away from work taking 
care of sick children, are more productive at work when not dealing with 

family illness, and get sick less often themselves.

Employers should promote employee handwashing and encourage 
them to also:
• Teach their children good handwashing technique
• Remind children to wash their hands
• Wash hands with their children

Despite widespread knowledge of the importance of handwashing, there is 
still room for improvement. A recent study showed that only 31% of men and 

65% of women washed their hands after using a public restroom.