With this spring being the warmest and driest since records began, conditions have been perfect for pollen production and release. And because of this, experts are predicting that 2025 will be particularly bad for those who suffer from hay fever, and could yet be one of the worst in memory.
And while you might think hay fever only affects you on the weekends if you’re at the park or out in your garden, scientific studies suggest that hay fever can actually decrease productivity at work by up to 40%. What’s worse is that research from the Met Office revealed that workers are losing 29 million days each year due to hay fever.
So to help those struggling with their hay fever at work and their employees, Adam Bennett, Head of Marketing at Digital ID, has shared five tips to reduce the impact at your workplace.
1. Avoid putting a coat or jacket on the back of your chair
While it’s a common habit in many offices, placing your coat or jacket on the back of your chair could actually be making your hay fever much worse.
This is because your outerwear picks up pollen and allergens during your commute, as they cling to the fabric. Then, by leaving it hanging on the back of your chair, all the pollen is left right behind your head, within close proximity to your mouth and nose.
Breathing in more pollen at your desk will cause your symptoms to worsen throughout the day, leaving you sneezing, sniffling, and struggling to stay focused on your work.
If you can, try to leave any coats or jackets outside the room you’re working in, ideally on a designated coat rack. If this isn’t possible, try to place them in a cupboard with a closed door to keep the pollen from circulating around the room and spreading to others.
2. Utilise flexible working arrangements
Recent studies suggest that over 75% of UK firms now offer some form of flexible working arrangements, and if you do suffer from hay fever, you should try to take advantage of these to reduce the impact of your allergies.
Each type of pollen has a different time of day when it is at its worst, so it’s good to know which one triggers your hay fever, so you can plan to avoid it.
| Type of pollen | Peak season | Worst time of day |
| Tree pollen | March – May | Early morning (5am-10am) |
| Grass pollen | May – July | Late morning to early afternoon (10am-3pm) |
| Weed pollen | June – September | Midday to late afternoon (12pm-4pm) |
Try to avoid commuting when the pollen that triggers your symptoms is at its worst. Use your flexible working arrangements to make sure you’re not outdoors at these times, and also consider closing any windows and doors in your home and office during peak hours.
3. Use a HEPA filter in your aircon
Most office spaces now have air conditioning to keep the space cool throughout the summer, and while it’s good for keeping the temperature comfortable, without a HEPA filter, it could be the cause of employees struggling with hay fever symptoms.
This is because any pollen that is in the air will be circulated into the air conditioning system and then redistributed out, meaning there’s no escape for employees while they work.
A HEPA filter helps to capture any pollen, dust, or dander, which reduces the impact of any allergies. If your air conditioning system doesn’t have an integrated filter, it can be a good idea to invest in a standalone HEPA air purifier to make sure your office air isn’t full of allergens.
4. Encouraging employees to wash their hands regularly
While it might be commonplace for your office to provide hand sanitising stations, it’s important that employees are also washing their hands regularly, because although hand sanitiser is good for killing germs, it won’t actually wash off any pollen.
This means that when you are touching your desk and keyboard, you are transferring pollen from surface to surface and eventually from your hands to your face. Throughout the day, this will increase your exposure, worsen your symptoms and decrease work productivity.
Whereas, if you regularly wash your hands, you will reduce the amount of pollen transferred onto your workspace. You should also try to make sure you wash your hands whenever you come in from outside, both first thing in the morning and after you come in from your lunch.
5. Regularly water plants and remove topsoil to prevent mould growth
Many offices have a host of plants around the workspace, and while these may look nice, they could be a hotbed for allergens.
Mould spores are a common allergen and can develop on the topsoil of your plants if you aren’t watering them properly. Consistently replacing the topsoil helps to take away the area where mould spores would grow, preventing them from causing allergy-related issues.
Regularly maintaining your plants will also help to keep the air in your office cleaner, ultimately creating a more conducive environment to work for those with allergies.
The post Five tips to help employers reduce hay fever absence workdays first appeared on HR News.
