The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a fundamental shift in the way workers in a wide range of professions value their personal health and how their workplace environment impacts their safety and wellbeing.
Workplace Air Quality and Hygiene Take Precedence Over More Money
The COVID-19 pandemic forced office workers to take a serious look at their workplace and how it impacts their mental and physical health.
The assessment led many workers to make decisions that, just a few years ago, trended on the edges of fringe perks and workplace requirements, typically reserved for tech workers in large corporations.
Prior to the outbreak, concepts like indoor air quality and cleaning for health were not commonly discussed topics.
Now, IAQ and facility hygiene is so important, many workers have stated they would accept lower pay in exchange.
A recent survey conducted by Ambius of three thousand adult workers in the U.S. and Canada reported that when asked if workers would take a lower-paying job for improved IAQ, better workplace hygiene, and more hygiene-aware coworkers:
- 35% stated they already had done so.
- 25% said they would but had not yet.
- 15% said they were unsure, and;
- Only 24% said no.
When questioned about whether or not they would ask potential employers about their workplace IAQ and hygiene programs prior to accepting a position:
- 20% said they were less likely to do so, or they were unsure, but;
- 80% said the conversation was more than likely to come up.
When asked what their most critical concerns regarding workplace health and hygiene were:
- 62% said clean and healthy air.
- 54% cited efficient air circulation.
- 50% want natural lighting, and;
- 50% said hygiene stations.
One aspect of the workplace that has been thrust to the forefront, especially in the wake of early returns to the office, is workplace stress and how it impacts occupant mental health.
Top occupant concerns were reported as:
- 47% - stale or stuffy workspaces.
- 43% - poor lighting in the workplace.
- 42% - bad smells.
- 33% - an absence of touchless entrances, and;
- 33% - poor hand hygiene.
Addressing Occupant Concerns
Addressing occupant concerns will require the following:
- Implementing clean air policies that focus on the reduction of volatile organic compounds, increased air circulation, air cleaning, and advanced disinfection systems.
- Cleaning procedures that focus on occupant health first, leverage advanced cleaning and disinfection technologies, focus on targeted touchpoint disinfection, and an increase in cleaning frequencies, with a strong focus on cross-contamination prevention.
- Self-service surface hygiene stations and products that allow occupants to sanitize workspaces, desktops, and electronic equipment throughout the day.
- Clean desk policies that facilitate thorough cleaning protocols while reducing clutter that has been shown to increase occupant stress in the workplace.
- Improved hand sanitation stations that focus on touchless technologies for soap, paper towels, and water faucets, and;
- Signage throughout the facility that communicates cleaning procedures, policies, and potential risks to facility occupants.
Known Benefits of Improved Workplace Wellness Programs
Workplace wellness programs have produced positive outcomes for both organizations and employees.
Among the most commonly cited benefits are:
- Improved morale.
- Increased occupant productivity.
- Improved talent retention and acquisition, and;
- Decreased healthcare costs.
References & Resources
- Workplace well-being: returning to work
- Clean Workspace, IAQ Preferred Over High Pay
- The Impact of Healthy Employees in the Workplace
Takeaway
Office workers, from white-collar tech workers to front-line blue-collar employees and essential healthcare staff, have shifted their focus from increased benefits and pay to drastically improved facility hygiene and indoor air quality.
Organizations that wish to remain competitive in the coming months and years would do well to pay attention to these trends and make serious strides early on to adjust their business focus and practices to ensure maximum occupant health and safety or risk losing a skilled workforce to competitors who are more in tune with modern employee requirements.
Doing so has led to demonstrable and measurable positive outcomes for the organization on multiple levels.
Outsourcing your organization's facility hygiene and IAQ requirements to an experienced provider is a proven method for quickly onboarding in-demand services.
If you would like more information regarding the effectiveness of high-performance infection prevention and control measures, or if you would like to schedule a free, no-obligation onsite assessment of your facility's custodial needs, contact us today for a free quote!
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