Almost every day of the week you wake and begin your typical routine as you prepare to head to work. Why is cleanliness important in the workplace? You spend a third or more of your day at your workplace, and you are influenced and impacted by your environment every second that you are there. Many people place a great deal of importance on the cleanliness of their homes but pay little to no attention to the cleanliness of their job-site. Having a clean workplace is important for all building employees. Let’s take a look at the top reasons why the cleanliness of your workplace should be a priority for you and your company.
Sick employees either aren’t available to work, or work less efficiently while putting others at risk of illness. You can help prevent your employees from getting sick by ensuring that their work environment is clean. Two ways to ensure a clean and healthy work environment are to hire a cleaning company or hire an in-house staff that will keep the facility consistently clean.
Proper cleaning will reduce the level of allergens that trigger asthma. It is important when choosing cleaning chemicals, to choose those that are safe and will not trigger an allergic reaction in individuals with sensitive respiratory systems.
Infections like influenza spread very quickly among groups who share space. Offering instant hand sanitizers and encouraging workers to wash their hands regularly reduces the spread of germs. Additionally, improved air filtration will reduce infection rates by circulating clean air. Air filtration will provide two benefits: respiratory infections will decline, and foul odors will be reduced.
Who would want to work in a messy environment? Employees prefer working in a tidy space in an overall clean workplace. A clean environment leads to engagement levels rise, and your corporate culture is positively impacted. Employees are not the only people who have access to your facility. Clients, investors, and others who visit the workplace will judge you based on the first impressions. A dirty building can reflect badly on you, most will assume that you are not serious about your business. This may factor into a customer’s decision to work with a competitor. A clean facility shows that you care about your employees and you take your business seriously.
Office equipment and other machinery are valuable assets to any business. This costly equipment and machinery must be maintained to extend its lifespan. If not properly maintained, it may need to be replaced prematurely which means this negligence leads to increasing capital expenditures.
Other important assets like flooring and furnishings should be cleaned regularly to maintain their visual appeal and extend their useful life. Hard surface floors should have an even gloss as well as always be free of scuffs and black marks. Carpets need to be vacuumed frequently and should be free of spots and stains. Furnishings such as tables and desks should be free of dust, stains, and scratches. All of this will not only prevent unnecessary replacement costs but also contributes to great first impressions, as well as a healthy environment for employees.
Having a clean work environment is important for employers, employees, clients, and investors because it impacts health, satisfaction, and promotes a positive company appearance. The bottom line is when everyone is healthy, productivity increases and everyone shares in the benefits.
Editor's Note: This post was originally published in 2017 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.