The importance of valuing cleaning staff
Cleaning and hygiene rose the top of the agenda during the Covid-19 pandemic. Cleaning operatives were seen as vital to protect the health and wellbeing of others during this time. Their visibility gave confidence to returning office workers that their workspace was safe and hygienic. With this changing attitude to a previously invisible workforce, this blog looks at the importance of valuing cleaning staff.
Cleaning Industry background
Traditionally in the commercial cleaning industry it was common knowledge that low pay and low expectations of staff was widespread. If you then add poor training and ineffective equipment, the results are poor productivity and at best, second-rate daily office cleaning. In spite of this, low investment in staff is rife, with contractors locked into the low wage and low expectation business model.
Fair Pay – Good Productivity – Great Service
The direct opposite of this business model for commercial office cleaning services begins with fair pay for staff, which naturally leads to high expectations. The Living Wage is a great way to demonstrate fair pay to staff, and to recognise their important contribution.
The Living Wage Foundation rate is based on the cost of living and reviewed annually. It is currently £9.90 and the London Living Wage rate is £11.05. This compares with the national living wage, set by the government, which stands at £9.50.
Then add in a professional training regime and give staff the latest equipment to work with. The result is exactly as commercial cleaning services clients would wish - good productivity and great service. It is clearly in everybody’s interest that this approach is adopted.
Labour shortages
In today’s post Brexit, post lockdown employment climate, valuing cleaning staff has become even more important. Some European staff went home during lockdown. They have not returned and seem unlikely to do so in the future. In addition, many people have understandably re-evaluated their lives after being locked down, and this is clearly including many office cleaning staff. When they look around they find that they have more job alternatives open to them than before the lockdown. As a result it is only those who are happy in their work who are staying in the industry.
Employer of choice
A daily office cleaning provider needs to be an Employer of Choice to ensure it can recruit the staff its clients need. It needs to earn a reputation for paying a fair wage and showing genuine concern for staff wellbeing. Then to keep existing staff they need to be encouraged to develop through training and incentives. They also need to be provided with the latest equipment which will help them do the job of office cleaning faster and more effectively.
High expectations
An ethos that encourages staff to deliver the very best service, giving them the most modern equipment and the best consumables will give your commercial cleaning services contractor a high quality attitude that will penetrate every corner of their operation. The result for clients is of course excellent productivity and the best possible service.
Training
Recruiting and retaining the best clean staff is not only about pay. It’s also about providing training to safely deliver the highest standards of service using the best equipment available. Staff increasingly want to feel secure, valued and see a potential to advance their career.
The result for managers will be a highly motivated staff of professional cleaners who really care about their work. People who can be flexible when it is required. People who are responsive and resourceful.
TemcoUK – an Employer Of Choice
Our employees are the backbone of our business. We always offer clients a Living Wage cost option, as we believe it is the right thing to do. And we invest in people, technology and processes to ensure that our cleaning regimes reflect client requirements and building needs. This enables us to recruit and retain staff who care about their work and go above and beyond, after all they often become a part of the wider client FM team.
The benefits for clients is clear: great service, a well-trained and supported professional cleaning team who consistently deliver the highest standards of workplace cleaning and hygiene.
Please contact us if you would like to discuss your cleaning contract hello@temco-services.co.uk or call 01895 520370
5 Benefits of a clean and hygienic office
Research shows that a clean and hygienic office boosts workplace wellbeing, enhances productivity and reduces absenteeism. It also has a key role to play in keeping staff healthy and creating the right impression of businesses and brands. Many companies employ a professional service contractor to manage their daily office cleaning, and in this blog we look at the 5 benefits of a clean and hygienic office.
-
Confidence of returning employees
Since the COVID-19 restrictions were lifted in July, people have been encouraged to return to the office. For some, this will be the first time in over 18 months that they have been back - understandably there may be some concern. So the focus for employers is to instill confidence through a range of measures including effective and regular cleaning.
Regular and effective cleaning
Using professional products including proven anti-viral cleaners will ensure the levels of germs and pathogenic viruses including Influenza A (H1N1 and Swine Flu) are significantly reduced. Staff can assist the process by ensuring their desk is clear of any items so the cleaning teams can fully sanitize areas every evening, as cleaning staff typically have been instructed not to touch or move these.
High frequency touchpoint sanitisation
High frequency touchpoints in the workplace include door handles, door push plates and operating buttons on appliances such as coffee machines and printers. Regular sanitisation of these identified areas will reduce the risk of cross contamination and infection.
Trained cleaning staff
Cleaning staff need to know how to clean and sanitise effectively and implement this in their day to day routines. Training will cover aspects such as chemical contact time and which cloth to use for maximum effect.
-
Prevent illness
It’s not just COVID-19, but other germs, bacteria and diseases have the opportunity to spread more in an unclean environment. Absenteeism through, for example, catching colds and flu is not only an inconvenience to individuals, but it also costs business many thousands of pounds each year and has a detrimental effect on the bottom line.
By maintaining effective cleaning and hygiene routines, germs levels reduce and prevented from spreading. Pathogens can live on hard surfaces such as desks for long periods of time so regular cleaning and sanitizing is essential to reduce the risk.
-
Employee wellbeing
Staff spend a large amount of time in the office and need to feel happy and comfortable in that environment to perform at their best. Working in a clean and hygienic office enhances their feeling of wellbeing and demonstrates that their employer has invested in providing them with the highest quality work environment.
-
Increases productivity and motivation
Let’s face it, dirt and mess can be very distracting! Cleaning removes these distractions, helping employees to better focus and concentrate on their tasks. A part of workplace productivity is employee motivation, and a clean workplace signals to staff that they are valued and respected. There are also additional benefits such as improving staff morale and of course employee retention.
-
Creates a good impression
First impressions count! A clean, tidy and hygienic workplace instills confidence and projects a positive image which is good for business. An office should be an enjoyable place in which to spend time, welcoming visitors and showing an attention to detail. Nothing says unprofessional more than dirty floors, messy reception desks or overflowing bins in the workplace. A well-kept workplace implies efficiency and quality.
TemcoUK Facility Services – experts in daily office cleaning
Temco is a professional and experienced contract cleaning company specializing in the provision of daily office cleaning services.
We are agile with a focus on consistent service excellence. In these challenging times we understand that a clean and hygienic office is more important than ever and plays a significant role in providing confidence for staff returning to the office. Our fully trained cleaning teams will work to agreed schedules and safe ways of working so that you have total confidence that your workplace is clean and hygienic.
Temco has an excellent record of professionally managing contracts to ensure that the right staff, at the right time clean using the right chemicals and follow the right processes. If you would like to find out more or to discuss your office cleaning provision please download our brochure here, call on 01895 520370 or email hello@temco-services.co.uk.