A workspace that is consistently clean reflects the values of the business and is considered a great marketing tool when potential or current clients come to visit. Keeping the office premises tidy is also a good way to increase productivity and cut down on distractions, which can cost businesses valuable man-hours. Interestingly, over 87% of the interviewed workers by Forbes have addressed the growing need for a cleaner and healthier workspace that fosters collaboration. With that in mind, listed below are some helpful tips for maintaining clean and hygienic shared working spaces.
No Eating Policy Inside the Office
Nothing’s worse than inviting business partners or potential clients just to have them be welcomed by unwanted smells and food crumbs all over the unkempt office space. Introducing a no eating policy inside the office is a major cornerstone when it comes to keeping the entire office area smelling good and clean. Furthermore, declaring desks as food-free zones will encourage staff members to take a break from their office tables to relax and connect with colleagues in an informal setting. This can both help in promoting healthier workstations while also preventing an unsanitary working environment at the same time.
Disinfecting the Entire Office
Disease-causing germs thrive in busy office environments because people spend the majority of their time in the office. In fact, according to a recent study, there are over 10 million bacteria on the surface of an average office desk, which is 400 times more than typical toilet seats. Keeping office equipment clean and hygienic by hiring professional cleaners can help entrepreneurs and businesses get the highest standards of cleaning. These staff members are professionally trained in sanitation practices and are equipped with all the necessary tools to sanitize high-touch areas like keyboards, doorknobs, trash cans, and appliances to reduce the spread of germs. Likewise, they are also to disinfect hard-to-reach places in the office like furniture corners and high cabinets that are often left ignored. This, in turn, can decrease the chances of absenteeism due to illness and lost workdays among employees.
Regular Decluttering
Maintaining a clean office goes beyond disinfecting and sanitizing. Statistics about desk cleanliness conducted by Craigslist show that employees spend 4.3 hours per week just looking for misplaced documents and lost papers. With endless piles of paper on the desk, it can be difficult for employees and staff members to focus on the task at hand. One helpful tip is to experiment with decorative office boxes to keep important files or cable wires organized–creating the image of a clutter-free workspace. Just as the saying goes ‘tidy space, tidy mind,’ it is vital to have a well-organized workspace to increase productivity and mental stability. Regular decluttering and getting rid of unused equipment also frees up more space and makes it easier to maximize every inch of the office space.
There are countless things that can influence the success of an organization and the cleanliness of the workspace is one. Putting efforts to provide a cleaner and healthier working environment can boost employees’ motivation and foster healthy relationships with clients. This also helps businesses of all sizes to save money on equipment repair and replacement costs by extending their lifespan.