Cutting cleaning costs can lead to increased risks, decreased productivity, and lost customers.
Business Challenges When Cutting Cleaning Costs
There are several documented issues with cutting cleaning costs for businesses, including:
- Increased risk of accidents - When cleaning standards are not met, there is an increased risk of accidents, such as slips and falls, chemical spills, and injuries from cleaning equipment.
- Reduced employee productivity - Unsanitary facilities can create a hostile work environment, leading to absenteeism, turnover, and decreased productivity.
- Property damage - Dirty facilities can damage property, such as carpets, furniture, and equipment.
- Increased liability risk - Businesses not meeting cleaning standards may be liable for injuries or damage caused by unclean facilities.
- Loss of customers - Customers are increasingly less likely to do business with a company with unhygienic facilities.
In addition to these risks, cutting cleaning costs can also lead to several other problems, such as:
- Inconsistency in cleaning standards - Reduced cleaning frequency and available resources will lead to inconsistent hygiene standards, culminating in poor facility health and safety.
- Increased customer complaints and service issues - Customers and office workers are more likely to complain to management if the workplace or establishment is not visibly cleaned regularly.
- Increased stress for employees - An increase in the likelihood of disease transmission and a decrease in clutter removal will increase occupant stress.
- Increased environmental impact - While using fewer cleaning products can benefit the environment, an unsanitary facility presents a clear challenge to public health and safety when dangerous waste is improperly sanitized and disposed of.
Recommended Cost-Cutting Approach
Cutting cleaning costs can have numerous negative consequences for businesses, underscoring the importance of carefully considering the risks and benefits before moving forward.
Here are some tips for businesses that are considering cutting cleaning costs:
- Research - There are several ways to cut cleaning costs without sacrificing quality. Researching and finding a method that works for your business is essential.
- Get employee input - Employees are often the ones who know the most about the cleaning needs of a facility. Getting their input before making any changes to the cleaning schedule or procedures is essential.
- Monitor the results - Once changes have been made to the cleaning schedule or procedures, it is crucial to monitor the results to ensure they are effective. If the results are not satisfactory, further adjustments are likely necessary.
- Outsource - Outsourcing cleaning services can reduce costs commonly associated with direct hire and management requirements without sacrificing cleaning outcomes and occupant safety.
References
- When Cutting Cleaning Costs Doesn’t Pay. (n.d.). CleanLink. Retrieved June 8, 2023, from https://www.cleanlink.com/news/article/When-Cutting-Cleaning-Costs-Doesnt-Pay--29802
- Risky Business: How relying on in-house FM services increases costs, raises liability, and opens the opportunity for a future reduction in force - OpenWorks. (n.d.). Www.openworksweb.com. Retrieved June 8, 2023, from https://www.openworksweb.com/blog/risky-business-how-relying-on-in-house-fm-services-increases-costs-raises-liability-and-open-the-opportunity-for-a-future-reduction-in-force
Takeaway
Cost-cutting custodial and facilities maintenance services, while potentially appealing on paper, typically fails to manifest desired benefits and commonly result in:
- Increasingly poor facility hygiene.
- A sharp uptick in worker absences due to illness.
- Decreased worker productivity, motivation, morale, and cognitive functions, and;
- Reduced profits.
Saving money may seem like the logical solution, but in some cases, cutting costs can become a costly mistake.
For many companies, facility services represent a relatively small 2-5 percent budget line-item cost.
This deceptively small expense is one that many companies believe can be trimmed – often by bringing the responsibilities in house.
The challenge is that behind this seemingly prudent budget-cutting decision lurks a multi-million-dollar operational risk that financial, operational and facility leaders may not recognize when they choose to in-source commercial cleaning. [1]
Outsourcing is a proven method for onboarding highly in-demand cleaning and disinfection services and experience for a fraction of the price 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 on-site assessment of your facility's custodial needs, contact us today for a free quote!
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