The Impact of the 'Tridemic' on American Jobs

The winter season is a difficult time of year for many businesses, as the 'tridemic' of RSV, flu, and the new COVID-19 variant XBB take hold. For janitorial companies, it is more important than ever to ensure that their customer’s facilities are clean and sanitized. This is not only to protect the health of employees and customers alike, but also to reduce the risk of costly downtime due to illness.

Have you become immune to recent headlines and news about pandemics? This blog gives you the most up to date news, charts and graphs covering our region. 

While RSV cases are declining, Covid-19 cases are increasing due to the highly contagious strain XBB.1.5, known as “Kraken”. Several counties monitor wastewater in order to gain a more accurate picture of the number of positive cases. The impact of student illnesses on our workforce is significant. Due to the lack of childcare solutions, parents are forced to stay home, caring for sick children. The shortage of workers has hit the childcare industry hard. As a result, employee engagement rates and business performance are directly impacted.
A reduction in productivity and labor hours occurs when millions of workers are absent from work. Costs rise as businesses are disrupted.

HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE CALLING IN SICK?

In the past month, 1.5 million people missed work due to illness, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It was 1.6 million the month before. October saw 1.3 million, September saw 1.2 million. Less than a million Americans missed work in November 2019. About 7.8 million workers missed work in January 2022 because they had an illness, injury, or medical problem or appointment, up from 3.7 million in a year earlier. About 4.2 million who usually work full time jobs, downgraded to part time work because of an illness, injury, or medical problem or appointment, up from 1.8 million in a year prior. How will this winter season in New England be?

COVID-19 IS ON THE RISE. HOW DO WE KNOW FOR SURE?

Many positive cases go unreported due to the widespread use of at-home Covid-19 tests. The chart below shows the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 virus in wastewater samples collected across Massachusetts. As a leading indicator, viral levels in wastewater precede changes in clinical case counts or hospitalizations.

The neighboring states of Rhode Island and Connecticut are also seeing similar wastewater data patterns.

WILL XBB.1.5 'KRAKEN' CAUSE MORE OFFICE ABSENTEEISM?

This new variant is rapidly spreading in New England states, which will most likely lead to workers calling in sick for their own illness or to care for an elderly family member or child. Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5—unofficially called “Kraken” by some online scientists—has been attracting the attention of virologists in recent weeks due to its speed of spread. Each person who has the strain will infect 1.6 people. This is a turbocharged transmission rate.  As of last week, XBB.1.5 was responsible for an estimated 75% of cases in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s regions 1 and 2, which include Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, according to the federal health agency. Nowhere is XBB.1.5 more prevalent than in the northeastern United States, according to the CDC -- and rolling hospitalization and death rates, along with cases, are climbing accordingly. 

WHAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE? RETAINING YOUR EXISTING WORKERS IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER

As a result of a mass disabling event and other factors, the nation is facing a shortage of workers. There is no simple solution. The next big question is: How can businesses retain their workers?

2021 was the year of the Great Resignation. According to Statista, it is not over yet. November 2022 saw 4.2 million Americans leave their jobs, bringing the total to 46.6 million for 2022. It is estimated that 40% of employees who feel miserable at work are considering quitting their jobs in the next 3 to 6 months.

Companies save money and time by retaining talent. It costs an average of $4,683 to recruit a new employee, according to the Society of Human Resource Management. From “The Great Resignation” to “The Great Realignment”  and now “The Great Retainment”, knowing how to keep your workforce from jumping ship is crucial.

HR Cloud, a leading HR solutions provider, shares their strategies at improving workplace culture and retention in 2023:

1. Encourage personal development opportunities
2. Promote work-life balance
3. Give your employees the right tools
4. Have strong values, vision and strategy
5. Create a culture of recognition
6. Offer flexible work arrangements
7. Provide more positive feedback constantly

KEEP A CLEAN WORK ENVIRONMENT TO MINIMIZE DOWNTIME

There is no doubt that proper cleaning and disinfection can help to reduce the spread of these viruses. As stated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), routine cleaning and disinfection can help remove dirt and impurities from surfaces, while disinfection specifically targets germs. When respiratory viruses such as RSV and influenza are more prevalent during flu season, this is especially crucial.

The CDC also reports that the new COVID-19 variant XBB.1.5 is highly contagious, and prompt sanitization is key to preventing its spread. The CDC recommends that areas frequented by large numbers of people, such as schools, workplaces, and public transportation, be regularly and thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. 

The importance of janitorial companies during this time of the year cannot be overstated. Not only do they play an important role in keeping facilities clean and sanitized, they also help to reduce the risk of costly downtime due to illness. By ensuring that high-touch surfaces are regularly and thoroughly cleaned and sanitized, janitorial companies can help to reduce the spread of RSV, flu, and the new COVID-19 variant XBB.1.5. 

Wondering about increased cleaning for your workplace?  Here’s a comprehensive study  that shows exactly what workers are saying about cleanliness.

Lacking janitorial staffing?

Concerned about a staffing shortage and whether you are using the right cleaning service for your workplace? It's not too late to find the perfect janitorial team that will keep your workplace clean and safe. Look for solid custodian referrals and consult with System4 IPS. 

Which custodian or janitorial team is best for you? System4 IPS specializes in creating customized janitorial programs that meet the unique need of businesses like yours!



If your workplace experiences a singular COVID-19 positive case or outbreak, call System4 IPS and schedule your disinfection service today. Our professional team listens to your needs, requirements, and timing. See our many satisfied customer testimonials and public Google ratings.