CLEANING & HYGIENE
TOP OF THE AGENDA
Cleaning operatives play a vital role in business operations, but their work often goes unnoticed and unappreciated. Jan-Hein Hemke, MD of Facilicom, explains why employee wellbeing should be a high priority for the cleaning industry.
What keeps a business running smoothly? Good management, motivated employees, and a healthy profit margin are probably the first things that spring to mind. But what about those working behind the scenes, or in many cases right in plain sight, that contribute to the overall success of a company? Of course, I’m talking about cleaning operatives.
Take a shopping centre or a hotel for example. If facilities and public areas are not kept clean and hygienic, it can create a damning impression of the overall business. Within the contract cleaning world, it’s no secret that cleaners are one of the most essential parts of a company’s daily operation, and without them their business could grind to a halt. But when it comes to the perceptions of those outside our industry, many don’t appreciate the hard work and skill that goes into professional cleaning.
For some years, the cleaning sector has been viewed by many as short-termist, low skilled and poorly paid, leaving cleaning operatives feeling undervalued and unappreciated. Over time, these opinions can impact on a person’s mental health, so it’s vital that, as an industry, we do all we can to safeguard our colleagues’ wellbeing. After all, people are our most valuable asset.
As with any industry, the job comes with its challenges. Many cleaners often work long, unsociable hours and shifts, which can make it hard to manage a positive work-life balance and enjoy home life. There are many occupational-related factors that can impact on a colleague’s wellbeing, so it is crucial that management have policies and procedures in place to look after their teams’ mental health.
At Facilicom, our company motto is ‘Happy People Make Happy People’. This may sound simplistic to some, but when you think about it, it’s really important. We believe that, by investing in everyone’s wellbeing, we achieve a positive workforce and our clients receive a much better service. To me, having a strong employee wellbeing strategy in place is as important as having a robust business plan.
We have created numerous schemes and incentives to ensure that all workers feel valued and supported when at work. From the ‘Facilicom Awards’, which
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aim to recognise and thank our colleagues that go that little bit further than ‘just doing their job’, to our Employee Assistance Programme, which provides 24/7 quick access to counselling, where staff can discuss any physical, mental, social or financial issues, we have created a compassionate health and wellbeing network.
We have developed a training and development programme that not only supports our cleaners in their professional role, but also equips them with skills that can be transferred to their personal lives. We offer all our colleagues training in ‘Hostmanship’ (‘the art of making people feel welcome’). This not only helps build the confidence of our staff to communicate and engage with their peers, clients and customers effectively, but is also a way that, as a business, we can add value to our clients. By developing and honing peoples’ interpersonal skills, a caring, yet professional, approach is introduced to our work. Colleagues are more motivated and committed to their tasks and have a better understanding of a client’s needs.
In return for these investments, we have seen low levels of absenteeism, increased staff retention and high levels of job fulfilment. This has led to better teamwork, service provision and greater client satisfaction.
Workforce wellbeing can no longer be a token gesture. We have to demonstrate to our colleagues that they are valued and appreciated in the hope that others too will begin to share this view and the cleaning sector finally gets the recognition it deserves.
www.facilicom.co.uk www.tomorrowshs.com
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