CLEANING CHANGING FACES
Cleaners are becoming more noticeable in certain industries. Previously a lot of activity would be undertaken out of sight but there’s now more cleaning taking place in the daytime to maintain standards. As such, there is now more facetime with these business- critical teams. Johan Venter, Managing Director of Cleaning at Atalian Servest explains.
The cleaning industry has long been considered a space occupied by ‘invisible’ workers, where the more unnoticed the work goes, the better. However, the industry is changing, as workplace wellbeing and the importance of recognition are given greater attention, the international day of appreciation, Thank Your Cleaner Day, being an example.
An activity that has historically taken place out of sight or overnight is now more commonly taking place in the day time to maintain standards. Simultaneously, cleaning solutions are becoming more proactive and focusing on active - rather than passive - interventions.
Two key trends threading throughout facilities management are driving this change: technology and wellbeing. And these are both playing a big role in shifting the way cleaning staff work.
The role of technology The development of smart buildings is adding value to daytime working. Working sensors can be used to measure disposables, such as soap and paper towels in toilets. Cleaning staff can then top these up as and when required depending on their useage, rather than at predetermined times. Other sensors, such as footfall sensors, can be used to adapt cleaning levels to need. This proactive approach makes the process of cleaning more time efficient and allows work to be tailored to customer needs.
Wellbeing It has been shown that night shifts can raise the stress levels of employees, leading to a higher risk of physical and mental health issues. In addition, unsociable hours detract from important relaxation time spent with family and friends. Lone and night workers can often feel more vulnerable, even if they are completely safe, especially when working in the dark and outside the working hours of those who directly manage them. As a result, the main focus for Atalian Servest when moving away from night cleaning has been to improve team management and the overall working experience for colleagues.
Added benefits There are other clear drivers for the move towards this novel approach to cleaning. Significant cost savings can be made from employing only daytime staff. The use of technology means that some jobs can be carried out
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little and often, according to demand, making the task vastly more efficient, potentially saving time and money. Reacting to needs will create a better environment for customers. In addition, the quality of cleaning work and the productivity of workers have both been shown to be significantly higher in the day than overnight.
Making a change We no longer live in a society where people are expected to work behind the scenes. It is important that organisations understand the importance of recognition for work, from customers and employers. However, changing roles naturally brings with it some considerations. Moving a service from one behind the scenes to a customer facing role demands that employees are trained accordingly. Atalian Servest provides customer engagement modules to ensure staff know what is required of them. This is vital as cleaning staff can work in a range of different environments with diverse client bases.
“The quality of cleaning work
and the productivity of workers have both been shown to be
significantly higher in the day than overnight.”
Cleaning is changing for the better; wellbeing and customer experience are being prioritised above tradition. As with the evolution of any sector, roles will become more multifaceted, blending cleaning with customer interaction, requiring staff to develop new skills. Creating greater value by developing employees’ skillsets is nothing new in the facilities management sector but when it can be combined with better wellbeing for staff and higher standards for clients, there is certainly no reason to be mired in the past.
www.atalianservest.co.uk/ twitter.com/TomorrowsFM
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