A clean workspace is vital to occupant performance and health and an organization's bottom line, but challenges surrounding COVID-19 and the future of workplace cleanliness and hygiene remain.
The Value of a Clean Workspace
A clean workspace provides clear benefits to occupants and organizations, including:
- A direct correlation between workspace hygiene and occupant wellness.
- Reduced occupant sick days and associated healthcare expenses.
- Routine cleaning prevents wear and tear and protects facility assets, such as flooring, carpets, and office equipment.
- The presentation of a professional appearance, and;
- The elimination of pathogens and pathogenic bacteria transmission between occupants and surfaces.
A significant factor driving the push for improved workspace cleanliness is the amount of time occupants spend inside buildings and the overall health and quality of the air inside the facility, often referred to as Indoor Air (IAQ) or Indoor Environment Quality (IEQ).
Workplace hygiene and IAQ are so important to occupants that a recent (post-COVID) survey of more than 3,000 Canadian office workers across a wide range of industries and professions found that many were willing to accept lower pay or find a new job if the employer provided increased cleaning and improved indoor air quality.
According to the results of the survey:
- 60% of participants stated they would accept lower-paying employment if it had a healthier working environment than their current job.
- 35% stated they already found a new job with better health and hygiene practices, and;
- 70% said they would be more likely to ask future employers about their health and hygiene policies and implementation before accepting future jobs.
When asked what they considered to be the most important features of future workplaces, participants responded with:
- 62% said clean, pure, and healthy air.
- 54% cited efficient air circulation.
- 52% want regular disinfecting, and;
- 50% desired natural lighting.
When asked about issues that would lead to increased stress and anxiety in the workplace, participants responded:
- 47% said stale and stuffy working rooms.
- 42% had issues with unpleasant odors, and;
- 42% cited poor ventilation.
A Clean Workspace Impacts Business Bottom Lines
A clean workspace has a clear impact on occupant feelings of wellness, safety, and calm, contributing to increases in productivity and creativity--ultimately resulting in higher profits.
High-performance cleaning and disinfection services also demonstrate to a workforce who has loudly voiced their concerns over workplace hygiene and safety that their employer cares about their personal health and wellbeing, which correlates strongly to measurable increases in workforce morale.
On the other side of the equation--enhanced cleaning and infection prevention and control measures decrease absences due to illness--an issue resulting in more than 1.4B missed workdays, costing U.S. businesses more than $500B annually.
Post-COVID Cleaning Concerns and Solutions
Many people who were forced to work from home are, for good reason, concerned about returning to the workplace, especially where questionable cleaning practices and facility hygiene are an issue.
Steps organizations can take to alleviate occupant concerns and protect public health include:
- Clean the facility every day it is occupied.
- Wipe down commonly touched surfaces with a disinfectant wipe multiple times per day.
- Work with occupants to facilitate decluttering and cleaning of their workspace, and;
- Use electrostatic disinfection as opposed to pump-sprayers to avoid aerosolizing COVID and other airborne pathogens.
For occupants looking to do their part, protect their personal health, and promote teamwork and facility hygiene:
- Request cleaning and sanitation supplies for your workspace and clean and disinfect your mouse, keyboard, monitor, and phone daily.
- Remove all clutter from your desk to ensure housekeeping teams can clean it, and;
- Empty your trash bin in a central container to reduce the amount of time required to service your workspace.
References & Resources
- Advantages To Maintaining A Clean Workplace
- Clean Workspace, IAQ Preferred Over High Pay
- How A Clean Environment Impacts Bottom-Line Business
- Q&A Part II: Cleaning Workspaces During And After COVID-19
Takeaway
Maintaining a clean and healthy workspace has a clear advantage for businesses concerned with their profits, skilled workforce retention, and professional appearance.
Outsourcing your custodial services to an experienced vendor allows your organization to cost-effectively benefit from years of training and experience for a fraction of the cost of maintaining a similar service in-house.
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!
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
In Palmdale, CA or Lancaster, CA, call (661) 371-4756
