Here we go again on the subject of germs. Cooties. Nastiness. Smears. Petri dish level gross-out-ness.
From Yahoo!Finance today:
How germ-ridden is your office? If you’re a man, your workspace is more likely to be full of bacteria than that of your female coworker’s, a new study suggests.
Researchers looked at bacteria levels on chairs, phones, desktops, computer mice and keyboards from 90 randomly selected offices in New York City, San Francisco and Tucson. Through swab tests, the researchers identified 549 different kinds of bacteria in these offices, most of which came from human skin from the nose, mouth or intestinal cavities.
“We also found a surprising number of bacterial genera associated with the human digestive tract,” the researchers, led by Dr. Scott T. Kelley, an associate professor of biology at San Diego State University, wrote in the study.
Oy.
The most contaminated surfaces were chairs and phones. Which is why I CRINGE when someone/anyone uses my telephone at any workplace.
“Men are known to wash their hands and brush their teeth less frequently than women, and are commonly perceived to have a more slovenly nature,” the researchers wrote.
Now that’s hilarious.
I love that word: slovenly.
Even though the workplace germs research was partially funded by Clorox, me believes it’s true, true, true.
Coworkers are cooties factories.
I used to work with a guy who was my second-in-line bossman and the men’s bathroom was nearby since we had such a small admin office. This guy would leave the bathroom while the toilet was still flushing. So naturally we knew that it was impossible that he’d even had time to wash his hands, even rinse them. And then there he’d be touching stuff all over our desks, handing us files, etc. while we nearly DIED. To make matters worse he had the nerve to bring in home baked “goodies.” Actually they were home baked cooties. I refused to partake. Refused. Even when I’d forgotten my lunch and my stomach was growling like a bear.
Careful out there. Especially if you have a weakened immune system. If you’re a nail biter like me, wait til you get home and then really go at ’em.