How to Encourage Your Employees to Keep the Workplace Clean

Besides your home, your workplace is probably where you and your employees spend most of the time. Maintaining cleanliness in this space is of great importance as it creates a healthier environment. The current global pandemic we’re still facing makes it that much more critical. Cleanliness influences productivity, morale, and efficiency. Therefore, you should try to encourage your employees to keep the workplace clean.

In-House Cleaning Vs. Hiring a Commercial Cleaning Company

When it comes to keeping your workplace clean, there are two ways you can approach it – hiring a commercial cleaning company or in-house cleaning. There are many advantages to both choices, which sometimes makes this a difficult decision.

The main advantage of in-house cleaning is that it reduces cost. This way, you will have dedicated workers in charge of hygiene. For example, you can hire a janitor who will keep the workplace clean and handle minor repairs. However, you are at risk of poor cleaning quality as you are most likely to find and hire a person that is not properly trained for this. Most trained cleaners who for commercial cleaning companies.

By hiring professionals to maintain the cleanliness of your workplace, your staff will be able to focus on their everyday work without having to worry if they are working in a healthy environment. Commercial cleaning companies invest in training and preparing their employees so you can rest assured your office is sparkling clean and free of germs. The only downside could be that hiring professional cleaners is an additional cost if you are not ready to bear the expenses.

Whatever you decide, have in mind that it is imperative to listen to your staff’s feedback. After all, they are the ones spending most of the time in the office. For instance, if they feel that the cleaners you’ve hired are not performing up to the expected standard, maybe it’s time to switch to a new commercial cleaning company.

Importance of Cleanliness in the Workplace

Keeping the workplace clean promotes a healthy working environment, and it is beneficial for many reasons. When your employees understand how important clean workspace is and how much it can influence their health and happiness, it will be much easier for you to enforce cleaning policies.

Here are some of the reasons why a clean workspace is crucial:

• Well-being – A messy workplace can lead to a very unhealthy environment. For example, dirty dishes can attract mold, which is a health hazard. Or think about how many germs you could be inhaling in an unclean office. Also, many people feel anxious and uncomfortable around dirt and mess.
• Budget – If your employees are making efforts to keep the place clean, you can save money. When the employees keep the office tidy, professional cleaners will have less work to do.
• Productivity – Clean environment increases productivity and boosts morale.
• Making a Good Impression – Imagine your clients or guests coming to a meeting and seeing a messy office. That wouldn’t make a good impression. Cleanliness affects perception in many ways, which is yet another reason you should strive to keep it as neat and clean as possible.

Create a Culture of Cleaning and Keeping the Workspace Neat

Even if you decide to hire a commercial cleaning company, your employees should be as tidy as possible. Having professional cleaners doesn’t make it ok to leave an empty coffee mug on the desk and go home. Your employees have to be involved in maintaining the cleanliness culture around the office. Otherwise, even with cleaners, your office can look messy.

A way to encourage your employees to keep the workplace clean is to keep them involved in all your business operations. They are a vital part of your organization, and they should feel like that. So, although cleaning isn’t a glamorous task, they should know their duties and how their efforts to maintain their work environment impact the business. Once again, we cannot underline the importance of including your employees in all important business events.

For example, if you are preparing for an office move, make sure your staff is involved. There is a lot they can do to help, just like they can do their part in keeping the office clean. So, be sure to include them in the relocation process. Create dedicated teams that will assist with packing and cleaning the old office. Another team should help make the new office ready. This way, you will not only save money but also better the teamwork.

Below you can find ways you can encourage your employees to keep the workplace clean.

Enforce a Written Cleaning and Disinfection Policy

First of all, you need to set the cleaning standard and make it clear to everyone. By sending an official email, you will turn unwritten rules into policies that your employees are more likely to follow. One of the policies can be that he team that had a meeting should clean and disinfect the conference room after they are done. Another one would be that everyone should leave a clean desk after they have finished work.

We are all different and have different points of view on what should be the cleaning standard. What is clean and neat for someone, someone else sees as a complete mess. Also, some people do not clean after themselves as they are not aware they are supposed to. Therefore, having written rules makes it that much easier to keep the workspace clean and tidy at all times.

Verbal or Visual Reminders in Problem Areas

Another great way to enforce a cleaning culture in the office is to leave verbal reminders. There probably are specific parts of the office that your employees usually leave messy. It would be best to remind them with a witty note that that is not the standard that you expect.

If you tried using verbal reminders and were unsuccessful, maybe you should try using visual ones. It’s a known fact that people remember images more easily than words. Same as verbal reminders, leave them in problem areas. Try using humor instead of generic instructions; your employees will surely appreciate it.

Stressing the Importance of a Clean Office

As we have already mentioned, a clean office is a healthy office. It might surprise you, but it’s said that one average office desk contains 400 times more germs than a toilet seat. This fact alone will probably be enough to encourage your employees to keep the workplace clean. Make sure you stress the importance of a clean office. Make your staff understand that their health is a priority and that keeping your workplace clean will benefit everyone.

Written by Guest Blogger, Betty White