Office workers taking handwashing seriously in light of virus variants: survey

Menomonee Falls, WI — Around 70% of office workers say they’re washing their hands more often because of new strains of the virus that causes COVID-19, while about half avoid shaking hands with others, results of a recent survey show.

For its annual Healthy Handwashing Survey, Bradley Corp., a manufacturer of plumbing fixtures, restroom accessories and emergency equipment, surveyed more than 1,000 U.S. adults between Aug. 3-10. A subset of more than 500 respondents who work in offices were identified and asked questions on relevant topics.

Among the office workers, 73% indicated that they’re concerned about contracting COVID-19 at work and 86% said they bring a face covering or mask with them to the office. Two-thirds of the workers have their own hand sanitizer at work and 73% reported that they’re fully vaccinated.

“Office workers are returning to the workplace cautiously – particularly now with the prevalence of the delta variant — and are personally taking steps to avoid germs and the virus,” Jon Dommisse, vice president of marketing and corporate communication for Bradley, said in a press release. “The coronavirus has notched up the need for cleaner workspaces, limited contact and increased handwashing.”