Banks and financial institutions rely on extraordinarily professional and reliable janitorial services vendors to provide their facilities, staff, and customers with safe, cost-effective cleaning.
Outsourced Janitorial Services for Banks & Financial Institutions
The need for an immaculate appearance is an obvious requirement for any bank or financial institution that wishes to retain the respect and ongoing business of their customers.
Everything from the parking lot, walkways, and ATM's, to the glass doors, lobby floors, and service counters should be in pristine condition every day, to uphold the organization's high-profile and professional appearance.
Additional services are required for back and front office administration, such as break rooms, restrooms, and computer equipment.
While cleaning for appearance is always essential, cleaning for health, especially in a high-demand environment, such as finance, cleaning for health, as it relates to productivity, is often ignored.
That practice and mentality are unfortunate, as banks are subject to some of the most prevalent germ hotspots, due, in large part, to the routine handling of physical currency.
How Dirty is Money?
The U.S. Dollar is comprised of a 75% to 25% cotton and linen makeup, respectively.
This composition makes our bills much more susceptible to retaining dangerous germs, infectious bacteria, as well as traces of several other undesirable compounds, including:
- Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) - A deadly strain of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
- Escherichia coli (E.coli) - A common cause of nausea, diarrhea, liver and kidney failure, as well as death.
- Pseudomonas Aeruginosin - Causes urinary tract and respiratory infections.
U.S. notes have also been found to contain trace amounts of:
- Yeast.
- Fungi.
- Cocaine.
- Heroin, and;
- White Rhino DNA.
In 2002, a study conducted by the U.S. Airforce discovered;
94 percent of 68 tested dollar notes—were harboring bacteria, including some which could cause pneumonia or other serious infections.
Another study conducted by researchers in Australia found that;
[sic]...a U.S. note contains 10 such microbes per square centimeter.
Source:
Cleaning for Health is More Profitable
While cleaning for appearance may be pleasing to the eyes, cleaning for health and performance is better for the bottom line.
Given the high volume of contaminated notes, cards, pens, and surfaces the average bank or financial employee is likely to come into contact with on a daily basis, chances are high that their performance, and your organization's profits, are not reaching their fullest potential, and tellers aren't the only ones at risk.
According to Dr. Charles Gerba;
[sic]...bankers and accountants tended to be right behind teachers when it came to workplace germs, and the desks could be even dirtier.
Overexposure to germs, combined with commercial cleaning chemicals, in a confined space, has led to a phenomenon known as sick building syndrome, which can lead to:
- Excessive employee absenteeism.
- Poor performance.
- Reduced cognitive functions.
- Increased instances of employee presenteeism, and;
- Employee job dissatisfaction and high employee turnover.
See Also:
Switching to outsourced green janitorial services, combined with other 'green' sustainable business practices, have been shown to cost-effectively improve upon, or eliminate many of the issues that lead to the problems associated with a chronically-germ-infested office.
A recent study conducted by Professor Magali Delmas, an environmental economist at UCLA's Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, and Sanja Pekovic from France's University Paris, Dauphine;
[sic]...discovered a difference of one standard deviation, which corresponded to 16 percent higher-than-average labor productivity, in firms that voluntarily adopted environmental standards.
The study went on to conclude;
Adopting green practices isn't just good for the environment.
It's good for your employees and it's good for your bottom line.
Employees in such green firms are more motivated, receive more training, and benefit from better interpersonal relationships.
The employees at green companies are therefore more productive than employees in more conventional firms.
Employees at 'green' companies are significantly more productive, study finds
Green Cleaning Tips
- Place bottles of non-alcoholic hand sanitizer at each desk, teller station, and check signing table.
- Clean the carpets and flooring regularly, and install walkway mats to trap dirt and other microbes.
- Wash windows routinely to avoid unsightly pitting and staining, as well as negatively impacting natural sunlight.
- Use green-certified cleaning chemicals to clean and sanitize all surfaces throughout the lobby, and front and back office, on a nightly basis, to avoid releasing harmful toxic chemicals into the air.
- Sanitize furniture weekly, preferably with an electrostatic cleaning system.
- Encourage employees, especially tellers who are in regular contact with customers, to stay home when they are ill.
References & Resources
- Dirty Money: A Microbial Jungle Thrives In Your Wallet
- Down and Dirty: Ten Most Germy Jobs
- 6 Everyday Habits That Have More Germs Than You Thought
Takeaway
Ensuring the cleanliness and professional appearance of your bank or financial institution is relatively easy.
Our goal is to also ensure the safe and healthy occupancy use of the staff and customers, allowing for proven increases in worker performance and customer satisfaction, resulting in increased profits and reduced expenses.
If you would like to learn more about the advantages of outsourced janitorial services or commercial green cleaning, contact us today for a free quote!
In Bakersfield CA, call (661) 437-3253
In Fresno CA, call (559) 206-1059
In Valencia CA, or Santa Clarita CA, call (661) 437-3253
