• Published on: Jan 29, 2022
  • 2 minute read
  • By: Second Medic Expert

Understanding Quarantine

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What Is Quarantine?

Quarantine is the segregation of people who are infected or suspected of being infected with a particular disease.

It is also the isolation of patients with communicable diseases to prevent their spread. The purpose of quarantine is to protect the public from exposure to potentially deadly diseases. Quarantine is for people who don’t have symptoms but who might have been exposed to the coronavirus. The idea is to keep you from unknowingly infecting others.

Who Needs to Quarantine?

You probably don't need to quarantine yourself, but if you are close contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus or just got back from a country where this deadly virus is spreading then it's best that we keep our distance until things calm down.

The reason for this is twofold. First, it's important to prevent the spread of the virus. Secondly, it's important to give those who are an infected time to recover without exposing others to the virus.

There are also a few other groups of people who may need to consider quarantining themselves, such as healthcare workers and those who work with livestock. Anyone who’s been in close contact with a person who has COVID-19 should self-quarantine, even if you’ve had the virus before.

“Close contact” means you did one or more of these things:

  • Were within 6 feet of the person for at least 15 minutes
  • Cared for the person at home
  • Touched, hugged, or kissed them
  • Shared eating or drinking utensils with them
  • Got droplets on you when they sneezed or coughed

According to the CDC, you’ll need to quarantine:

  • If You’re 18 or older and have completed the primary series of the recommended vaccines. But you have not received a recommended booster shot after you became eligible.
  • If You received the vaccine over 2 months ago but haven’t received the recommended booster shot.
  • If You’re not vaccinated or haven’t yet completed your first full round of vaccines.

You don’t need to quarantine:

  • If You’re 18 or older and have received all recommended vaccine doses, including boosters and additional shots recommended for immunocompromised people.
  • If You’re 5-17 years old and completed the primary series of COVID-19 vaccines.
  • You had COVID-19 within the last 90 days. This should have been confirmed using a viral test.

However, if you were exposed to someone who tested positive, wear a well-fitting mask around others for 10 days after exposure.

How to Quarantine at Home

There are a few simple steps you can take to quarantine at home:

1.Sanitize your environment - Make sure to clean all surfaces and objects in your home that may have meet the disease. You can use a disinfectant or bleach solution to do this.

2.Isolate yourself - You should isolate yourself from other people in your home and avoid contact with anyone who may be infected.

3.Monitor your symptoms - Be on the lookout for any symptoms of the disease and report them immediately to your doctor.

4.Stay hydrated - Make sure to drink plenty of fluids to help keep your body healthy and fight off any potential infections.

How Long Does Quarantine Last?

Stay home for at least 5 days after your last contact with a person who has COVID-19. Wear masks when around others so that you do not pass on the infection to them!

For 10 days after your last close contact with someone with COVID-19, watch for fever (100.4 F or higher), cough, shortness of breath, or other COVID-19 symptoms.

If you develop symptoms, get tested immediately and isolate until you receive your results. If you test positive, follow isolation recommendations below.

If you don't develop symptoms, get tested at least 5 days after your last exposure. Positive tests allow for limited movement in and out of homes but continue wearing protective gear around others until 10 more are complete."

If you test positive for COVID-19, isolation is necessary. The recommended period of time without contact should be at least 5 days from the date that your symptoms began and may also need to extend beyond 10 if they continue after this length time has passed; however, it’s important not make assumptions about how long an individual will remain infected before developing others signs/symptoms because everyone's situation varies!

When you get the new coronavirus, your quarantine lasts five days because that’s how long it takes to know if you have symptoms. If there are no signs of illness after this time period has passed then treatments for virus should be considered over with just one quick visit from our doctors!

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Employee Wall

Employee Wall of Fame: Celebrating Uniqueness to Build a Positive Workplace Culture

In today’s evolving workplaces, employee engagement is no longer driven solely by compensation or job titles. People seek recognition, inclusion and a sense of belonging. One of the most effective yet simple ways to achieve this is through an Employee Wall of Fame. By celebrating individuality and contribution, organisations can create a culture where employees feel seen, valued and motivated.

Recognition is not a luxury. It is a fundamental driver of organisational wellbeing and performance.

 

Why Recognition Matters in the Workplace

Recognition fulfills a basic human need: appreciation.

When employees feel recognised:

  • morale improves

  • motivation increases

  • loyalty strengthens

  • burnout reduces

According to global workplace studies, lack of recognition is one of the top reasons for employee disengagement.

 

What Is an Employee Wall of Fame?

An Employee Wall of Fame is a physical or digital space dedicated to highlighting employees for their achievements, values, creativity or unique strengths.

It may showcase:

  • professional accomplishments

  • teamwork contributions

  • innovation and problem-solving

  • leadership qualities

  • personal milestones

The focus is not competition, but appreciation.

 

Celebrating Uniqueness, Not Just Performance

Traditional recognition often focuses only on targets or numbers.

A Wall of Fame expands recognition to include:

  • collaboration

  • consistency

  • empathy

  • creativity

  • positive attitude

This approach ensures diverse strengths are valued.

 

Psychological Impact of Workplace Recognition

Recognition positively affects mental health.

Benefits include:

  • improved self-esteem

  • reduced stress

  • increased sense of purpose

  • stronger emotional connection to work

WHO recognises psychosocial wellbeing as a key component of healthy workplaces.

 

Inclusion and Belonging Through Recognition

Celebrating uniqueness supports inclusion.

It helps:

  • recognise diverse backgrounds

  • reduce bias

  • promote equal visibility

When employees see people like themselves being appreciated, trust and belonging grow.

 

Employee Wall of Fame as a Culture-Building Tool

Culture is shaped by what organisations choose to celebrate.

A visible Wall of Fame:

  • reinforces company values

  • sets behavioural standards

  • inspires others

It becomes a living reflection of organisational culture.

 

Types of Recognition on a Wall of Fame

Achievement-Based Recognition

For milestones, project success or innovation.

Value-Based Recognition

For demonstrating company values such as integrity or teamwork.

Peer Recognition

Employees nominate colleagues, increasing engagement.

Personal Growth Recognition

Celebrating learning, upskilling or personal achievements.

 

How an Employee Wall of Fame Improves Engagement

Engaged employees:

  • perform better

  • collaborate more

  • stay longer

EY-FICCI workplace studies show recognition-driven programs significantly improve engagement scores.

 

Impact on Productivity and Performance

Recognition creates positive reinforcement.

Employees who feel valued:

  • take ownership of work

  • show initiative

  • maintain consistency

Appreciation fuels sustained performance.

 

Supporting Mental Wellbeing at Work

Recognition reduces workplace stress by:

  • validating effort

  • reducing feelings of invisibility

  • encouraging positive feedback loops

Mental wellbeing improves when employees feel respected and acknowledged.

 

How to Design an Effective Employee Wall of Fame

Key principles include:

  • inclusivity

  • transparency

  • fairness

  • consistency

Clear criteria prevent bias and ensure credibility.

 

Physical vs Digital Wall of Fame

Physical Wall

Creates visual impact in office spaces.

Digital Wall

Ideal for remote or hybrid teams.

Both formats can coexist for maximum reach.

 

Frequency of Updates Matters

Stale recognition loses impact.

Best practices include:

  • monthly highlights

  • quarterly rotations

  • special occasion features

Fresh content sustains enthusiasm.

 

Role of Leadership in Recognition

Leadership participation strengthens impact.

When leaders:

  • nominate employees

  • share appreciation publicly

recognition becomes part of organisational identity.

 

Employee Participation and Ownership

Encouraging peer nominations:

  • increases engagement

  • reduces hierarchy

  • builds mutual respect

Recognition becomes a shared responsibility.

 

Measuring the Impact of Recognition Initiatives

Impact can be assessed through:

  • engagement surveys

  • retention metrics

  • feedback forms

  • participation rates

Data-driven insights help refine programs.

 

Long-Term Benefits of Celebrating Uniqueness

Over time, organisations experience:

  • stronger culture

  • higher retention

  • improved employer branding

  • healthier workplace relationships

Recognition is a long-term investment, not a one-time activity.

 

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid:

  • recognising only top performers

  • favouritism

  • lack of transparency

  • irregular updates

Consistency and fairness are essential.

 

Employee Wall of Fame as Part of Holistic Wellness

Recognition complements:

  • mental health initiatives

  • team-building programs

  • wellness activities

A supportive culture enhances overall wellbeing.

 

Conclusion

An Employee Wall of Fame is more than a display—it is a statement of values. By celebrating uniqueness and recognising diverse contributions, organisations create workplaces where people feel valued, motivated and connected. In an era where employee wellbeing and engagement define success, recognition-driven initiatives like a Wall of Fame play a vital role in building resilient, inclusive and high-performing teams. Celebrating people is not just good culture—it is good leadership.

 

References

  • World Health Organization (WHO) – Workplace Mental Health and Wellbeing
  • EY-FICCI – Employee Engagement and Workplace Culture Reports
  • NITI Aayog – Future of Work and Organisational Wellbeing Studies
  • Lancet – Psychosocial Work Environment Research
  • Statista – Global Employee Engagement and Recognition Trends

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