Among the many challenges, demands, and expectations of running a business is providing employees with a safe and positive workplace that boosts productivity and ultimately, overall satisfaction of your entire team. One of the most effective and straightforward ways to do this is to keep your office spaces clean and hygienic with the help of a professional cleaning service.
Keep in mind that cleanliness goes beyond straightening your desk and eliminating clutter; the most efficient offices are also the healthiest from floor to ceiling. While some companies may balk at the added cost of hiring cleaners, this is one expense that can secure your team’s long-term success.
How does a clean office boost productivity?
Did you know that the average U.S. employee misses roughly five days every year due to sickness? In many cases, those lost days stem from poor workplace hygiene and it’s no secret that absent employees directly and negatively impact your company’s bottom line and overall morale.
Employee sick days naturally increase during cold and flu season, when sickness spreads like a secret high school rumor. The tricky part in all this is people can get the flu simply by touching random objects percolating with the virus and then touching their mouth, nose, or eyes. Avoiding virtually every place in your office is unrealistic and making matters worse is the flu virus’s tenacity to cling to a surface for 24 hours. What to do? Awareness is the first step; here’s how a clean office affects productivity:
- Focus on the task
It’s tough to focus on your work with dust bunnies drifting around the room, dirty furniture, and general clutter mucking up the place. It’s amazing how a clean space inspires.
- Better use of time
Some people spend tremendous amounts of time sifting through piles of paperwork or searching bookshelves for that lost reference manual. Organized and clean means more time actually getting things done.
- A clean office makes everyone happier; it’s as simple as that. And happy employees work more efficiently, with positive results.
Office hideouts for germs
Germs are incredibly mobile and can be found anywhere but particular locations in an office tend to be favorite landing pads. Once you identify these areas, focus your cleaning there for the most benefit in alleviating sickness.
High traffic areas, where lots of people touch the same things, carry the most germs by far. Here are the targets:
Elevator buttons
Think about how many fingers poke an elevator button throughout the day. Those buttons are packed with germs, with more than 60 percent of them contaminated with one form of bacteria or another.
Door handles
Door handles might as well be dipped in vats of germs and can spread virus-based trouble around an office within hours. Encourage everyone to wash their hands and keep handles sanitized.
Work desks
Here’s a concerning statistic: The average office desk contains 400 times more germs than a toilet seat! Simply sitting and working at a dirty desk invites the potential for sickness.
Educating employees on diligent cleanliness and keeping an organized space is your ticket to increased productivity.
Enlist the help of RJC Commercial Janitorial and Cleanroom Solutions today. Call 800-582-2105 or contact us online.
