Hygiene is of utmost importance in any business. A clean workplace has positive mental and physical effects on employees. Employees’ morale and happiness improve if their workplace is tidy and this means improved productivity. A hygienic facility also means employees are less likely to fall sick and this means less number of sick days. Image wise, a hygienic facility creates a strong positive first impression for clients and visitors.
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of clean spaces in the workplace and while many businesses prioritized hygiene during the pandemic, many are already slacking off since the pandemic cooled down. But a clean and safe workplace should be the priority of the decision-makers in any organization, big or small.
A clean workplace can’t be achieved without conscious efforts by the management. Decision makers need to come up with a cleaning strategy, evaluate options available to them, and periodically find out if there are more effective cleaning solutions; they are not taking solutions they aren’t taking advantage of.
Best Practices to Maintain Workplace Clean and Hygiene
Below, we’ll discuss some of the best practices management should endeavor to follow when it comes to achieving a clean and safe workplace. Here we go.
1. Understand The High Cost Of Unclean
Many businesses do not understand the clean-business connection and the high cost that comes with unsanitary working spaces. The competency of an organization is linked to its cleanliness. Sometimes, this correlation is obvious, as in the case of a health facility. How clean a health facility is can determine whether patients get better, are sicker, or even die.
In many organizations, the relationship between competency and cleanliness isn’t obvious and this may make managers underrate the importance of cleanliness. Unhygienic office spaces mean workers are more likely to get sick, which will decrease productivity and increase the number of sick days to be given to unwell employees.
2. Have Cleaning Objectives
It may sound absurd to some people, but the truth is that businesses need to have cleaning objectives. Cleaning shouldn’t just be done for the sake of it. The extent and quality of cleaning needs to align with the cleaning goals of the organization.
Take hospitals or health facilities, for example. The cleaning approach in a hospital will be different from that of a real estate business. The former needs to hire dedicated medical office cleaning companies if it is to outsource its cleaning.
Other things to do include making a checklist of places that have to be cleaned, how each area is to be cleaned, and disinfectants to be used. It doesn’t matter whether the cleaning is to be outsourced or not. Keeping track of this data can help an organization evaluate the success or shortcomings of their cleaning efforts.
3. Decide If There Is A Need To Adopt Technology
Traditional cleaning methods are usually enough to make a space sparkling clean. But depending on the size of an organization, there may be a need to adopt technology for more effective and efficient cleaning.
One of the cleaning technologies that rose to popularity during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic is Electrostatic spraying systems (ESS) which many companies are using to complement commercial office cleaning.
ESS has proven to be effective (easily killing almost 100% of germs on surfaces it’s applied to), fast (can easily cover large surfaces with ease), and reach places that are difficult to access with traditional cleaning. Also, ESS is cost-effective and may remain active for days following deployment.
Robotic/autonomous cleaning machines and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection technology are other technologies that leaders may consider looking into.
4. Don’t Cut Budget On A Whim
Cleaning costs can sometimes be significant depending on the scope of the cleaning done. Businesses with budget issues may decide to cut cleaning budgets in order to save money. But management shouldn’t cut cleaning budgets on a whim.
Sometimes, leaders need to think of the long-term benefits of cleaning. An office with expensive new furniture and flooring needs regular and proper cleaning to maintain these investments and prevent unbudgeted repairs or replacements.
If management has decided that the budget must be reduced, it’s advisable they have a chat with their cleaning provider to discuss how to cut costs with minimal impact on the overall cleanliness of the organization.
5. Show Employees The Way
Office hygiene requires the combined efforts of everyone in the workplace, and leaders can be the flagbearers for cleanliness by leading by example. Employees have their roles to play in keeping the office clean by taking care of their working/personal spaces and cleaning or disinfecting these areas.
Some employees may not be on board or show the right attitude. Ultimately, most workers model their behavior based on the examples set by those in leadership positions, and leading by example is the best way to get everyone onboard.
