OFFICE SPACE
Nigel Crunden, business specialist at business solutions provider Office Depot, discusses how businesses can conduct a smart spring clean.
Spring is traditionally a time for clearing out and freshening up our homes, but with numerous advantages to be gained from a hygienic and uncluttered office, now is also the time for businesses to kickstart their spring cleaning routine
As well as helping to boost employee productivity and reduce the unnecessary stress associated with an untidy office, maintaining a hygienic working environment can also have a positive impact on employee sickness rates by reducing available breeding grounds for bacteria and viruses. However, in order to fully maximise the benefits of planning and delivering a workplace cleaning strategy, companies should not miss opportunities to reduce delivery costs and engage with the green agenda.
As well as allowing facilities managers (FMs) to reap the benefits of a more sanitary working environment, businesses should also view an office deep clean as an opportunity to revaluate supply activities and drive efficiencies. Rather than purchasing cleaning supplies and equipment from several different suppliers, companies should aim to streamline the supply chain by choosing partners who can provide a range of products. Bulk- buying cleaning chemicals and opting for concentrated forms can also help FMs to minimise the pressure on supply chains, reducing the number of deliveries and amount of packaging needed.
As a strategy may be more likely to suit larger businesses, it is important that the chosen purchasing method takes into account individual business needs. For smaller organisations, ready-to-use chemicals may provide the best value. Dilution control, which uses dispensers to manage and regulate the amount of concentrate needed to achieve a high cleaning standard, is another area that offers businesses potential cost reductions when conducting their spring clean-up.
While scoping out opportunities to cut supplier costs should be high on
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the agenda for FMs this spring, it’s important that businesses do not do so at the expense of environmental sustainability. However, the search for products which cause minimal damage to the environment can often be confusing. Eco- labelling for different products, with its various accreditations and certifications, can be cryptic. Suppliers should ensure that customers are able to decode cleaning product marques and labels easily, allowing them to make informed purchases.
Keeping abreast of the latest innovations in cleaning equipment can also help businesses to drive environmental sustainability this spring. For example, constant improvements to the manufacture of microfibre cloths allow reduced amounts of chemicals and water to be used to achieve a similar cleaning standard. While a consideration of the chemicals and ingredients used during the manufacturing process is key to companies’ engagement
with the green agenda, it is also important to remember the impact of supply activities on the organisation’s carbon footprint. As well as allowing businesses to cut costs, consolidating the supply chain allows FMs to reduce the distance overall travelled by cleaning products, boosting environmental sustainability.
While supply chain efficiency is crucial to ensuring that any office spring clean is delivered in line with overall business objectives, effective communication with staff is necessary to maximise the impact and thoroughness. In this way, a priority for businesses should be ensuring that each individual appreciates the important part they play in helping to maintain a tidy and hygienic working environment. Regularly reminding employees to undertake tasks such as clearing their desks at the end of each day, disposing of unwanted electronic and hardcopy files whenever possible and washing up after themselves can enable companies to increase the effectiveness of their cleaning routine. By clearly emphasising to staff the need for a joined-up approach to office upkeep, organisations can save valuable time and resources to invest in other important business areas.
It goes without saying that employees are likely to be more productive in a tidy and sanitary environment, and an office spring clean presents the perfect opportunity for FMs to freshen up the workplace, whilst also putting effective new cleaning policies in place. However, with businesses constantly looking for ways to shave margins without compromising their environmental credentials, companies should not look at cleaning strategies in a vacuum. With careful planning and clear employee communication, facilities managers can implement a smart cleaning strategy which reinvigorates several different areas of the business.
officedepot.co.uk twitter.com/TomoCleaning
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