Can Employee Productivity Soar when Facilities are Clean?

In 2015, full-time workers were off sick an average of 7.4 days. The economic cost of sick days due to salary costs was about $16.6 billion in 2011. The cost of replacement workers makes that cost even higher. The main reasons volunteered for taking the day off:

• Colds
  
• Flu
  
• Headaches
  

Staffing costs, including salary and benefits, account for the largest part of business operational expenses. Thus, anything that impacts the health and well-being of staff should be of paramount concern. Employee health and mental state is directly proportional to levels of motivation and productivity. Salary costs associated with absenteeism are staggering but do not account for indirect costs that are difficult to quantify:

• administrative costs (e.g., time spent finding a replacement)
  
• a reduction in employee morale (e.g., from increased workload)
  
• a reduction in productivity (e.g. delays, missed deadlines)
  
• a reduction in customer satisfaction
  

It has been estimated that sickness reduces workforce productivity by a whopping 54%.

Dirty work surfaces are a significant cause of work absenteeism. Workers spend about 1/3 of their life at work. During the course of a day, many surfaces are touched:

• door knobs
  
• desk tops
  
• phones
  
• coffee pots
  
• paper work
  
• flooring
  

Transfer of bacteria and viruses occur on all of these surfaces. Every step on dirty flooring or carpets releases thousands of mold spores, bacteria and viruses. It is not difficult to see the benefit of reducing or eliminating the source of these disease-causing pathogens.

Sick building syndrome causes absenteeism but it also causes 'presenteeism' (employees who are physically present but are, due to a physical or emotional issue, distracted to the point of reduced productivity). A number of offenders can contribute to this syndrome:

• mold spores due to pipe breaks, water leaks and roof leaks
  
• a poorly maintained HVAC system resulting in indoor air contaminants such as lead dust and VOC's
  
• dust mites in neglected areas such as vent covers, blinds and fans
  
• carpeting which releases VOC's and accumulates mold spores and bacteria
  

All of these contaminants contribute to a variety of symptoms, leading to reduced morale and productivity in the workplace:

• headaches
  
• dry coughs
  
• nasal allergies
  
• itchy, dry skin
  
• fatigue
  
• dizziness
  
• nausea
  
• difficulty concentrating
  

Regular facility maintenance has positive benefits for both the health and safety of an organization's employees:

• it reduces or eliminates slipping and tripping hazards
  
• it results in the reduction of workplace exposure to hazardous substances (dust, vapors)
  
• it reduces sick days by improving hygienic conditions
  

One of the greatest areas of control an organization has over lost productivity due to employee health issues is the maintenance and cleaning of the work facility. Facility managers willing to spend budget dollars to keep work areas clean, remove agents causing illness. But more importantly, this action lets their employees know their health and well-being is valued.

Healthy employees = Productive employees

Valued employees = Motivated and productive employees

Spending on regular facility maintenance is a win-win proposition for the company. Employee productivity levels are boosted - increasing profits. At the same time facility productivity losses are minimized - reducing profit loss. Employees are healthier and happier, producing a financially healthier facility.