Clean hands are healthy hands.

And dirty hands spread germs — lots of them.

One study found the typical work desk has more than 10 million bacteria covering it. That’s 400 times more germs than the average toilet seat.

Yuck.

Last week was National Handwashing Awareness Week, and while it may be over, flu season is not. Flu season peaks between December and February, which is why this important preventative measure should be discussed in all workplaces.

Even if it seems a little patronizing to tell adults in your office to “wash their hands,” consider it more of a public health announcement. Even a little PSA via a bathroom stall door flier can reduce the amount of germs spread around your office.

Here are the dirty details of why handwashing should be a hot topic in your office this time of year:

Health insurance options can be confusing.

In the upcoming weeks, your employees will have to make final decisions on their healthcare enrollment options.

Given that 65% of employees made benefit changes during the last open enrollment period, it’s smart to ensure all your employees fully understand what’s offered before the season closes.

The healthcare open enrollment period is only for a short time, but the benefits and impact it has on your workers lasts for a full year. Making sure they fully understand and use their benefits is essential for a healthy workforce in 2020.

It’s also a perfect time to use open enrollment as a means of building your wellness program and supporting employee health in the upcoming year.

Read on to discover how to help your employees get the most out of their healthcare benefits in 2020.

Knowing how to live a healthy lifestyle doesn’t have to be a mystery.

In fact, with so many resources out there, there are plenty of ways to access information to live a healthier, more fulfilling life.

If you don’t feel like wading through the latest scientific research, that’s okay, too. We’ve done it for you in this recent health studies roundup post.

Below, you’ll learn why upping your garlic intake is a good idea, how age really is just a number, and the best snack to grab when you’re hungry.

Ready to start living a healthier life?

Here’s a look at seven health studies to improve your choices each day:

Mental health isn’t an easy topic to talk about.

Not discussing it at all in the workplace can be harmful, though.

For one, employees lose out on valuable resources that could potentially improve or save their lives. On the other hand, employers miss the chance to break the stigma that surrounds mental illness discussions.

Considering serious mental illness causes $193.2 billion in lost earnings each year, it’s a topic too big to be ignored by companies.

This month, consider starting a mental health dialogue with employees. October’s three mental health observances offer perfect conversation starters:

• Mental Illness Awareness Week 2019
• World Mental Health Day 2019
• National Depression Screening Day

There’s no better time to start the conversations than now. Below, we share just how to build mental health awareness and empathy in the workplace.

One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in her life.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an ideal time for employers to share resources and facts about this devastating cancer. As the second most common type of cancer for women, it’s imperative to share life-saving information this month to educate employees.

 In 2019 alone, 268,600 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed.

Of those cases, it’s estimated over 40,000 women will die.

It’s not just female employees who need to know about breast cancer, either. Male employees may have a wife, sister, or female friends they could educate.

And while rare, men do get breast cancer, too.

Since early detection can greatly reduce the chance of death, it’s critical for women (and men) to know the signs and symptoms of breast cancer.

Learn more below about important resources and breast cancer awareness facts you can share with your employees during Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2019.

The flu season is back again.

Nobody wants the flu, and public health officials are already warning this season is likely to be moderate to severe. Since the flu viruses can cause mild to severe illness, it’s important to be as prepared as possible by understanding the facts about the flu and how the body responds.

The most common flu signs and symptoms include:

• Sore throat
• Cough
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Fever (not everyone gets one)
• Muscle or body aches
• Headaches
• Fatigue

Want to know more about this year’s flu season? Here’s a look at some of the facts about the 2019 flu season and what to expect:

 You may have noticed things look a little different around the TotalWellness website these days.

 On August 15, we launched our brand-new website redesign.

 While our navigation is new, our mission is still the same: to help people live healthier lives. To keep you updated, we’re sharing the details of what’s new and exciting around these parts of the web.

 Read on to learn about what’s changed and where your favorite content now lives.

7,000 dogs.

On average, that’s the number of furry coworkers sharing work space with Amazon employees at the famous Seattle headquarters during the work week.

Dogs “working” on the Amazon campus can expect treats from receptionists. If they need a break, they can romp around the doggie deck where there’s space to run and even sniff a fake fire hydrant.

While your office may not have quite as much room, it’s not a bad idea to consider the development of a pets in the office policy. A recent news story revealed that big companies across the U.S. recognize the benefits of having pets around and have adjusted company culture accordingly.

It’s widely recognized how pets help people with mental and health issues, but there are also big benefits for workplaces to include pets on the unofficial employee roster. Studies and work places cite benefits like higher levels of work satisfaction and recruitment competitiveness.

Curious about what your office would look like with pet coworkers? Here’s what we found about the major benefits of pets in the office:

Want to help new dads in your office adjust parenthood?

Give them time off to spend with their other half and newborn.

More states are adopting laws that requires employers to offer paid time off for new parents. The Oregon legislature recently passed a Paid Family and Medical Leave Law that requires employers to allow workers to take up to 12 weeks of paid time off, including after the birth of a child.

It’s good business, too, as it benefits employees in big ways.

Studies show new moms recover more quickly from delivery and transition easier into motherhood when the father is on leave, too. Additionally, a new dad’s well-being and the couple’s relationship improves as a result of the early bonding time together.

Interested in setting up a solid parental leave policy, especially for fathers?

Here’s a look at how and why to let employees take advantage of this benefit that helpsthe entire family.

There’s no denying the workforce is changing.

Hiring remote employees is becoming more commonplace as technology advances and lifestyle demands require more remote availability.

In fact, 16% of global companies are fully remote, according to the most recent Global State of Remote Work report. That means no headquarters, no offices. Internationally, 40% of global companies use a hybrid model.

With the new trend comes challenges, of course.

While most remote employees would not return to an office job, many express feelings of disconnect from their team due to working outside the office. As an employer managing a virtual team, it’s important to address these issues head on to keep employees engaged.

This post will explore how to keep remote employees engaged with their teammates while also increasing satisfaction and productivity.