Keeping the workplace clean is important because it encourages employees to be more effective and productive. From time to time, all businesses face the challenge of maintaining a clean and organized workplace.
This situation is especially true for those in the service industry, where customers can often see the state of your business premises. It’s crucial to find ways to encourage your employees to keep things clean to provide exemplary service to the customers.
Let’s talk about a few ways to establish and enforce cleaning habits in the workplace.
Lead by Example
Creating an environment that supports cleaning habits is important to encourage employees to maintain a tidy and clean workplace. One key element of this process is setting a good example by keeping your work area clean and organized.
If you, as the business owner or manager, are not maintaining your own area, why would you expect your workers to do so? Make a point of establishing a clean workplace in both words and actions.
Schedule a General Cleaning Day at Least Twice a Year
There are several ways to ensure that your employees keep cleanliness a top priority in the workplace. A straightforward strategy is to schedule regular general cleaning days at least twice a year.
These events should be formal, organized activities that entail deep cleaning and organizing the entire office space. Encourage your employees to participate and set aside enough time for the effort.
In addition, develop clear protocols for messes and upkeep; maintain clear lines of communication within the office so that employees know what is expected of them to keep things tidy and well-maintained.
And if you want to take it another level, make an event out of it, order pizza, put on music, and make cleaning as fun as possible.
Write a Policy
If you want employees to take cleaning seriously, have a written policy outlining expectations and consequences. The policy doesn’t have to be a long, complicated document – simply state what is expected of employees regarding cleanliness and what will happen if those standards are not met.
Be sure to post the policy in a prominent place and review it with employees regularly. And most importantly, follow through with any disciplinary action that might be necessary if someone doesn’t meet the standards.
Create Incentives
In addition to leading by example and enforcing a cleaning policy, you can also create incentives for employees who go above and beyond to keep the workplace clean.
This could be anything from a gift card for the employee who keeps the tidiest workspace to a company-wide contest with prizes for the winning team. Whatever you decide, ensure the incentives are meaningful and everyone has a fair chance of winning. Positive reinforcement.
Conclusion
By taking these steps, you can increase the chances that your employees will feel motivated and inspired to maintain cleanliness in the workplace. After all, when employees feel valued and recognized for their hard work, they will be far more likely to take pride in what they do.
Remember that your employees are your greatest assets. Pair them with a reliable commercial cleaning company; your office will run like a well-oiled machine year-round!
