Lysol Pro Solutions polled approximately 1,000 full-time U.S. employees who work on-site at least one day per week and found a strong psychological link between odor, perceived cleanliness, and willingness to use shared spaces.

More than 70 percent of respondents said they had avoided areas like meeting rooms because of bad smells or stale air, and about 60 percent reported refusing to use a workplace restroom when unpleasant odors made them feel germs were present.

Roughly one-third said they often notice bad odors at work; more than 25 percent had left meetings because of air that smelled bad or felt unclean, and more than half expressed a desire to "spray away" a sick coworker's cough, underscoring how odor and visible symptoms drive anxiety about airborne illness.

Despite this reliance on smell as a proxy for cleanliness, the survey also found that workers remain highly concerned about actual infection risks from viruses and bacteria in the air.

Nearly eight in ten respondents said they worry about airborne viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19 in their workplaces, and about 80 percent indicated they would feel more comfortable coming into the office if they knew the air was being actively sanitized rather than just deodorized.

Source: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/scent-cant-sanitize-survey-finds-130000577.html

So, the question for our readers is: Is Air Hygiene A Priority?

Here are some opinions of some of the McCalmon editorial staff:

Jack McCalmon, Esq.

The pandemic provided many lessons for employers and employees, including lessons on hygiene. Many employees still refuse to come back to the office in part because of air quality and air hygiene concerns. Smart employers will work to improve air quality and hygiene and promote it as a value of their work environment. 

Leslie Zieren, Esq.
 

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