6 Reasons Why Office Hygiene Is So Important

GCC Facilities Management, who provide an extensive range of facilities management services, recently surveyed over 650 members of the public to obtain an understanding of how often workspaces and equipment are cleaned, either by themselves or someone else.

11% of the public workforce never clean their desks. More shockingly, 28% of telephones are neglected when it comes to maintaining cleanliness along with 31% of keyboards and 37% of computer mice. Take a look at the full study here.

But why is keeping a clean and hygienic office crucial for both employers and employees?

1. Employee welfare

There are many elements that contribute to employee satisfaction in the workplace. The happier your staff are, the more productive and efficient they’ll be.

The average person spends 8 hours a day in the office and due to this, you need to ensure they are comfortable with their space.

If you’re troubled by the cleanliness of your facilities, it’s highly likely your staff are too. Therefore, it’s especially important to maintain shared areas such as kitchen and washrooms as these can easily harbor bacteria and lead to spreading germs.

2. Presenting a professional image

Your employees are not the only ones who experience your office. Visiting clients, investors and suppliers do too.

We all know first impressions count, not just in your own appearance, but also the appearance of your premises and having a sloppy workspace will immediately give the wrong image.

Word travels fast within industries and if a visitor believes your company doesn’t maintain adequate standards, others will quickly know.

3. Healthier employees

By ensuring proper work hygiene, you can prevent harmful bacteria and viruses from spreading. Falling sick is an inconvenience for both employers and employees.

Through the use of proper office hygiene management, you can keep areas and items free of germs and stop any sickness spreading throughout the workforce.

Employee sick days can quickly add up and studies show 17.92 days are lost per employee per annum due to sickness leave and sickness presence, which will cost businesses millions.

Keeping a clean office space will not only look after the physical health of staff, but also their mental health, an important focus for any business. This will reduce sick days taken and the impact they could have on your business. Remember, when someone catches a cold, those in close proximity can are likely to catch it, affecting the entire workforce.

4. Improve health and safety standards

Regular cleaning can prevent slips, trips and falls in the workplace. Washrooms and kitchen areas can often be left with wet floors from spillages, and corridors and staircases need to be kept clear and clean to avoid any hazards.

By ensuring these areas are clean and clear, you eradicate risks of your staff hurting themselves in the workplace.

You need to prevent people from injuring themselves with proper maintenance. Not only will there be a physical and mental strain on anyone who suffers from an injury at the workplace, but it will also impact your business as they take time off to recover.

You could also see yourself open to a potential lawsuit if the injury was substantial and it’s proven that proper care wasn’t taken to ensure employee safety.

5. Improve air quality

Airborne pollutants are 100 times greater inside than outdoors. A dusty and dirty office will contribute to these pollutants and poor air quality can cause effect in both the long and short term.

Employees with asthma and other breathing-related health conditions can be vulnerable in environments that have poor air quality.

Especially if you’re working with any form of hazardous material, keeping spaces clean to prevent any dangerous particles from drifting into other departments who may not be prepared with safety gear is of the up-most importance.

6. Saving money

In the long run, you can save money by maintaining a clean office space. By keeping your offices clean and regularly treating soft furnishing and carpets, they’ll last longer and delay the need for an expensive refurbishment.

With regular office cleaning, you’ll find your cleaning bill will be lessened compared to infrequent deep-cleaning contracts that tackle months’ worth of grime, a lot of which could cause permanent damage.

Final thoughts

At the end of the day, nobody wants to be working in an unclean environment. 23% of employees are having to take matters into their own hands and spend their own cash on cleaning products purely for office use; don’t allow your staff to suffer and ensure you maintain a spotless workspace for the benefit of everyone.