Did you know that having a sanitised environment is one of the most important things an office needs? Unfortunately, there are people who don’t pay attention to poor office hygiene regardless of whether they’re an executive, a manager, or a rank-and-file employee. This bodes poorly for them — even if they hire the occasional office cleaner to take care of things.
In this discussion, let’s learn why hygiene matters in the workplace and what you can do to maintain it properly.
What Makes Office Hygiene So Crucial?
The main goal of good office hygiene is to reduce the spread of illnesses among employees. Common infectious diseases like colds or the flu may not seem like a big deal. However, they can drastically bring productivity down when you have several personnel calling in sick because of these.
But if everyone does their part to keep the workplace safe, they can stay healthier and focus better — plus have higher morale at work.
6 Tips to Have a Healthy Workplace
Let’s look at some practical steps to have a clean and hygienic office:
Establish a Cleanliness Policy
Everyone in the organisation should have a clear understanding of your business’s standards of cleanliness. For instance, they may be expected to clean up after their mess or have scheduled cleaning duties in common areas like the pantry or the break room.
Sanitise Surfaces Regularly
Vacuuming and wiping dust and dirt are all well and good, but these don’t get rid of germs. Be sure to frequently wipe down the various surfaces in the office with disinfectant. You’ll want to pay extra attention to the ones that have the most contact with everyone, such as the light switches, door knobs, or lift buttons.
Manage Your Food and Waste
Infestations from pests like rodents and cockroaches are a surefire way of getting sick in the office. So make sure that any crumbs and spills are handled ASAP before they attract any critters. Any food around should also be stored securely.
Furthermore, you should use waste bins with tightly sealed covers so the smell doesn’t lure pests, and empty them regularly to greatly reduce the chances of any creature feeding or living in them.
Improve the Air Quality
If the indoor air is full of germs and allergens, it’s easy for multiple people to fall sick at once. You’ll need to make sure clean air circulates throughout the office by maintaining the air conditioning systems and ventilation ducts. It would also be a good idea to add some plants in the workplace, as these can naturally purify the air.
Promote Good Personal Hygiene
What good is a clean office if its employees aren’t? Do encourage your workers to practise proper personal hygiene too, such as by providing hand sanitiser stations, educating them on handwashing techniques, or reminding them to cover their mouths when sneezing or coughing.
Take Health Issues Seriously
If an employee gets sick, encourage them to stay at home instead of going to work. The latter would only compromise everyone in the office. If you have flexible working arrangements, your staff could have the option to be on duty while at home to avoid getting infected or infecting others.
Professional Office Cleaners Can Take Hygiene a Step Higher
As vital as it is to have in-house hygiene practices, you should consider hiring an office cleaning company to maintain the premises. They use more advanced approaches and equipment to clean and disinfect surfaces more thoroughly. This way, your people can focus more on basic tidying up instead of deep cleaning.
It might cost you a bit upfront, but outsourcing your cleaning needs can give your organisation more peace of mind.
A Cleaner Office Makes a Business Better
A hygienic work environment is an investment not only in your employees’ health and productivity but also in your business’s future. So keep the tips above in mind if you want everyone to perform their best for the company.
If your staff ever need more help, just remember that local office cleaners can help. Just reach out to them and discuss your workplace’s needs — they’ll sort things out for you in no time.
