How to Get Employees to Take Part in Office Cleaning

Posted on February 19, 2018

A clean, tidy, and organized office is one of the hallmarks of a successful business. It’s not hard to figure out why. People work better in clean and well-organized spaces.

A cleaner office starts with a professional office cleaning service. But it doesn’t end there. Employees need to take part, too. But motivating staff to take part in office cleaning can be tough. If clutter, dust, and food crumbs are a common issue for your office, you wouldn’t be the first to ask how to get workers to clean up after themselves.

At JAN-PRO®, office cleaning is what we do best. To help you create a healthier office, here are our top tips on how to get employees to clean their workspace.

Put Office Cleaning Policies in Writing

Clean language is just as important for office communication as a clean office is to workforce productivity. If you’re not spelling out what’s expected of employees, the message won’t be received. So, if you want to get workers to clean up after themselves or maintain a tidy workspace, put it in writing. Use clear language to explain what’s unacceptable, what’s expected, and how employees are expected to maintain a clean workspace.

If you have an employee handbook or a written set of workplace policies, use this as a place to collect any written office cleaning policies and standards. It’s also a good idea to post written notices in areas with specific cleaning concerns. For instance, you might post signs above the office microwave about how to avoid spatter and reminders to clean up any interior messes.

Be an Example for Employees

The fastest way to upset your employees is to implement “do what I say, not as I do” policies. Many bosses are just as guilty of leaving unwashed cups in the breakroom or letting papers pile up on their desks. Sure, you’re busy. You might not think you have time to give that mug a proper scrub or properly sort through your papers. But it’s unfair to ask your workers to clean up after themselves if you’re not willing to do it yourself.

So, make sure that you’re holding yourself equally accountable and setting a strong example for your workers. Also make sure you’re not cherry-picking your office cleaning policies. If you’ve conveniently omitted mug cleaning and paper tidying, but put strict standards in place for other aspects of office cleaning, it can send conflicting messages to employees.

Leave the Dirty Work to the Professionals

There’s a certain level of cleaning that most workers are more than happy to perform. But at a certain point, office workers shouldn’t have to roll up their sleeves for the dirtiest jobs in the workplace. That’s a recipe for upset employees and unclean spaces — after all, you didn’t hire your employees for their cleaning skills.

Hire office cleaning services and have professional cleaners take care of restroom cleaning, break room cleaning, vacuuming floors, and other big cleaning tasks. That way, you’ll only need to ask staff to tackle small, day-to-day cleaning jobs. It also means your office will look cleaner on a day-to-day and week-to-week basis. This sub-consciously encourages workers to maintain a cleaner space.

Get a FREE quote on office cleaning services in your local area by calling JAN-PRO today at 866-355-1064.