Beware of germs at the workplace

It's the most wonderful time of the year for catching germs from your co-workers.

Viruses and bacteria can spread like wildfire at the office with help from the keyboards, doorknobs, refrigerator doors, telephones and handshakes that most workers are exposed to on a daily basis.

Just because you come in contact with these infected surfaces, though, doesn't mean you have to get sick.

Some simple tips can get you through the holidays and winter season illness-free.

"The biggest mode of transmission is people touching their face, then touching something else, and then somebody else doing the same thing," said Dr. Adam Kaplan, a primary care physician with Jersey Shore University Medical Center.

Kaplan noted frequent hand-washing can lessen the threat of picking up a harmful pathogen, and that washing should be more than just a quick rinse.

He's also a big believer in hand sanitizers and disinfectant wipes.

"Other than that, you want to try to limit your exposure to people that may be sick, or that are constantly sneezing or wiping their nose," Kaplan added. "If you do have to sneeze, you want to sneeze into your arm or tissue."

The best prevention tool could be avoiding the office altogether. Many workers struggle to keep themselves home, worried to "waste" a sick day or miss a day of productivity.

However, Kaplan said he's seen more companies become conscious of the germ issue. In fact, an increasing number of bosses have been requesting "healthy" notes from employees before they return.

If you're ever mulling over a sick day, Kaplan said, act as your own parent - if your children felt the way you do, would you send them to school?