It is safe to say that people spend more time in their offices than anywhere else. Well, at least this is true for people who have a job that doesn’t permit them to work remotely! And since we’re talking about offices and workplaces, we all know that they aren’t exactly the cleanest of places. In some cases, the lack of hygiene and tidiness can seriously affect a person’s health.
Here’s a fact: a clean office space motivates people to work better and increases overall productivity on a personal and business level. A healthy work environment promotes enhanced emotional and physical well-being leading to higher levels of motivation and performance. The long-term outcome of increased employee productivity is reflected directly in business growth and success.
Low productivity is a severe issue for many businesses. It leeches on the company’s resources and cash flow and slows down business growth. If you aim to manage and maintain productivity in the office, with some essential cleanliness tips, here’s how to go about it.
1. Take Out The Trash Daily
Anything that can make your office look like a mess and doesn’t serve any purpose is trash. To avoid clutter, diseases, molds, and odor accumulation, throw out the garbage daily just as you would at home. It is the simplest of the solutions, but it can help you achieve a cleaner office in minutes. Of course, the result is a positive mood, quality air to breathe, and enhanced work productivity.
2. Stock Up Cleaning Products In Your Office
Ideally, you should hire a professional cleaning service with all the tools and equipment necessary to get the job done. But if your company chooses to assign tasks to employees for ‘personal development,’ make sure you stock up on essential cleaning supplies. These include some microfiber cloth pieces, a broom, duster, mop, floor, and desk cleaning liquid, detergent, vacuum cleaner for the carpeted areas, and a disinfecting spray or liquid. These should be enough to help you maintain a clean and germ-free office.
3. Prepare For SOPs
The point of cleanliness is to increase staff productivity. But your staff can’t work if they are always falling sick because of bad health. Unhygienic workplaces are hotbeds for germs and infections to wreak havoc in the environment. Not to mention, the novel Covid-19 virus is still a looming threat. So if you want to maintain productivity in your office by keeping your employees safe, you need to start creating and following SOPs for better office cleanliness and hygiene.
Start asking employees to wash their hands regularly and keep their work stations clean. Identify and clean germ hotspots especially door handles, the kitchen, and pantry regularly. Creating SOPs and ensuring that they are correctly followed is paramount to maintaining employee health, enhancing their ability to work diligently. You can refer to this Infographic with 10 points to consider for a Covid-19 secure working environment that will help you prepare your office for the worst.
4. Have A Designated Food Area
When your employees are under loads of work, it may seem like a good idea for them to have lunch at their desks while working simultaneously. But that only contributes to more uncleanliness in the long-run. Food and drink can create clutter on the work desk. Not to mention, there’s always a possibility of spilling one’s beverage all over their work, wasting time and diminishing productivity.
As an alternative, encourage your employees to go to a lunch area for all their munchies. This will give them a much-needed break from work to rejuvenate their energy and keep their workstations free from becoming a catastrophic mess.
5. Change The Air Filters And Clean The Ventilation System Regularly
Because of all the different food and bodily aromas present in an office space, the air can become pretty unbreathable. And quite frankly, air fresheners merely worsen the smell. Also, air pollutants such as germs and viruses constitute a significant cause of airborne infections.
Your office’s air quality plays a significant role in your staff’s health. So consider opening windows and vents for fresh air ventilation. If that is not an option, clean and upgrade the air filters regularly in your ventilation system. The filters work to remove harmful particles and allergens from the air. When they clog up over time, they stop working effectively. This can increase pollutants in the air that can make your employees sick. Increased business productivity comes with healthy employees who can show up and dedicate their mental and physical capabilities to their work. Good air quality enhances oxygen levels and improves the human body’s ability to function properly. That definitely sounds more productive to us instead of a smelly, dingy office with subpar air quality. Do you agree?
Conclusion
Cleanliness and personal hygiene play an essential role in human psychology. Naturally, we avoid messy and dirty places that trigger a feeling of distaste, anxiety, and a lack of motivation to work. On the other hand, a clean office enables the human mind to focus on work-related tasks. Besides that, with necessary cleaning and protective measures in place, your staff is less likely to fall sick. That means fewer sick days and better work productivity. It really is as simple as it sounds. So, how clean is your office?
Hina Irfan is a professional blogger, outreach expert, and writer. She is an active content creator who aims to inspire. She writes for several online magazines and on diverse topics with the focus on offering useful and actionable information to the readers. You can contact her for outreach opportunities at [email protected]
