Facility managers often focus on customer first impressions when budgeting out company requirements for office cleanliness. The impact of employee impressions of the office is often less considered. Employees and potential employees do take note of the overall cleanliness and organization of company facilities. Attractive and clean workplaces signal to employees a quality facility. Attractive facilities and office spaces are vital to retaining employees as well as attracting top talent.
A dirty and disheveled office can have a number of negative impacts on an employee from the minute he or she walks in the door:
- Increased stress level
- Bad mood
- Ill-health
- Reduced productivity
Employee discontent and poor performance can also lead to an increase in absenteeism. According to
CDC data
from 2007, on average of 4 days were lost per person due to illness and injury.
Low morale stunts the growth of an organization while companies that stimulate high morale in their employees see significant gains. A
2016 Workplace Index study
done in conjunction with Jacob Morgan and Staples determined that one in five Canadian respondents (91%) had taken a workplace stress-related leave of absence. The same study determined that 68% of Canadians indicated that their workplace directly contributed towards their stress levels. When you add these negative qualities together, you have a recipe for disaster in the bottom line of your company.
Treatment of employees by management directly effects staff productivity. A
2004 Gallup poll
surveyed 4 million workers worldwide. It determined that workers who received recognition and praise:
- showed an increase their individual productivity
- showed increased engagement among their colleagues
- were more likely to stay with their organization
- received higher loyalty and satisfaction scores from customers
- had better safety records and fewer accidents on the job
Employees feed off of praise from their employers. They want to know that their labours are appreciated. Verbal praise is only one form of showing employees you care about their efforts. Demonstrating to them that you also care about their health and well-being by keeping an attractive and well-maintained facility is a vital piece in maintaining high staff morale.
It’s fairly easy to understand how clean facilities lead to a reduction in workplace related stress and illness. It is also not a reach to understand the morale boost employees receive by working in clean, attractive facilities. We know that about our own home environment. We feel more relaxed when our home is clean and tidy. It’s therefore not a big stretch of the imagination to make the connection between commercial cleaning, higher staff morale and higher office production. Why not let the staff do the job they were hired to do and leave facility maintenance and cleaning to the professionals? Staff stress is reduced and management ensures maintenance and cleaning of facilities is done right.
Clean offices show an added benefit that vastly improves the company bottom line. Pristine offices keep your employees motivated and happy. The improved morale of your staff encourages them to keep their own work space cleaner and more organized also improving company productivity. Further, happy employees have a positive attitude that directly improves customer satisfaction with your brand. High customer satisfaction always advances your bottom line.
