As a business, you can’t correctly run if your staff is well taken care of. The cleanliness of your workspace might be a personal preference, or perhaps it is a legal requirement. Either way, having a clean workspace is part and parcel of running a successful business. From offices to warehouses, here are some reasons you should strive to have the cleanest possible space.
Happier Employees
The number of time people spend in their work environment can significantly be more than they spend at home. Keeping their work-environment clean will allow your employees to be effective, happy, and as productive as possible.
If your staff need to go from outside to inside often, and you have trouble keeping the dirt and muck out, then you should consider tacky mats at the entrances.
All of your employees represent your brand and business directly. Most companies make use of their employees outside of the workspace and have a whole mobile marketing channel. Workers will talk to their friends and family about the work environment, the space, and the owners.
And unhappy employees are very vocal. And aside from that, unhappy employees are much less likely to perform their duties to the best of their abilities, and their productivity will be significantly lower than if they were happy.
Higher Air Quality
Clean air is vital for health. At home, opening a window or running a high-quality aircon/HVAC unit may be enough. At work, however, you need a proper, commercial-grade HEPA air scrubber. These will deal with a wide range of pollutants, including common ones like mold and dust particles.
Keeping your air clean helps to keep both employees and customers healthier and happier. This helps a lot with recruitment, retention, and general performance. It’s also very reassuring for visitors and customers. Post-COVID19 people are becoming much more aware of the issues caused by dirty air in buildings.
Better First Impressions
If you have clients or potential working partners come to your establishment, only to find it dusty and dirty, they probably won’t want to continue business talks with you for long. First impressions make a much more significant impact than people think. Even if you work in what might be considered an industry where dirt is common, there are limits.
When a workspace is clean and well maintained, it gives the impression that you care about what you do, and you have a certain standard that you like to have met. Strong attention to detail, efficiency, and consideration are great traits to show potential business partners and clients.
Reduced Time Off
If the office is messy and dusty or dirty, then people won’t hold any respect for the company. They will be more likely to take sick days or take advantage of any flexible working that is in the contract. However, with more inferior air quality and unclean space, it is more likely that there will be germs. Employees will pass illness around much quicker when things are cleaned regularly.
Improved Brand Image
Everything your brand does should speak to what you do, who you are, and lean into the trustworthiness of the business. High-quality products, services, and a superior company to work for should be what you are aiming for.
If you have a front of house, where people are greeted, and where meetings, etc. take place, then while that should be clean, it shouldn’t be seen as a separate part of the business. As in, the front of house and back of house should be of the same high standard.
If you have a cleaner and encourage your staff to keep their workspace clean, then you aren’t promoting bacteria and germs to spread around. The number of absences from sickness and lack of respect and care will be lower.
Better Concentration
If you are surrounded by a mess, it is harder to concentrate. The environment directly around people has an impact.
Consider these two office environments:
Bright white walls, the brand logo on the wall, green plants, and a lot of natural light. Clean, well-maintained carpets, dust-free window ledges.
Bright white walls, logo beyond it’s prime, dying plants that haven’t been cared for, strip lighting. Dust on all surfaces, coffee stains on the window ledge, and a carpet that smells.
Which one do you think will have the most productive and happy staff?
A clean and tidy workspace takes time and care. You need to have a cleaning routine and provide resources like a cleaner, cleaning materials, and a strict standard should be set.
