How a Professional Workspace Sets the Tone for Business Success
Wondering what separates successful businesses from unsuccessful ones?
The product? Not always.
Marketing budget? Again, not always.
Actually, 9 times out of 10 it's the workspace. A professional looking space lets everyone who enters your workspace know that your business means business.
Did you know that most business owners vastly underestimate the impact a workspace has on productivity, client trust and even employee sick days? The successful businesses that recognise the importance of workspace cleanliness are racking up clients and retaining staff.
Here's what we'll cover:
Why keeping your workspace clean is integral to business success
Increased productivity and reduction in sick days
Customer's perception of your business
How to find cleaning professionals you can trust
Why Keeping Your Workspace Clean Is Integral to Business Success
Take a moment to remember the last time you stepped foot into a cluttered office filled with garbage on the floor and desks littered with papers.
What were your initial thoughts?
Don't lie. We both know you're thinking…"They don't know how to clean."
It happens in seconds. But you can bet that every single person that walks into a business will feel exactly that. Whether they're clients, partners or potential new hires. Everyone judges a business by their workspace.
That's why it's critical to bring in cleaning professionals. Cleaning professionals keep your workspace presentable and allow your team to focus on what they do best. By hiring a trusted Perth cleaning provider, any business can rest easy knowing cleaning professionals will keep the workspace tidy every day of the week. Creating a clean workspace will set the standard for your business and allow for continued success.
And the data backs this up…
According to a Staples study, 94% of workers say they're more productive when working in a clean workspace. In other words, 94% of people work harder when they know the space they're working in looks good.
See what that means?
Increased Productivity and Reduction in Sick Days
Fun fact…Did you know that not only does a dirty workspace lower employee productivity, but it also costs your business money?
When workspaces are not adequately cleaned, employees lose focus due to clutter and become sick easier. Employees being sick isn't just bad for morale (and let's face it, who likes working with a sniffling coworker?), it costs your business money.
The CDC states that employee illness and injury costs employers $225.8 billion per year in the United States. That equates to $1,685 per employee.
Stop and let that sink in.
Imagine walking into work one day and seeing multiple employees out sick. Then imagine knowing that each person in that room could have potentially been at work if the business just hired some office cleaners.
Anyone would feel horrible (and broke).
Think about how many commonly used objects are never cleaned on a daily basis. Desktops, keyboards, phones, bathrooms, doorknobs. The list goes on and on. And every single one of those objects are covered in germs that get transferred from person to person all day long.
So how do you fix this germ transferring nightmare?
You let cleaning professionals handle it. Having your workspace cleaned regularly by qualified cleaners will reduce the number of sick employees you have. Meaning, more productivity.
But did you know that cleanliness also has the potential to make your employees more productive Researchers found that employees in clean and organized workspaces were up to 15% more productive than employees in cluttered offices.
That means a business with 50 employees could gain the productivity of 7-8 more workers if they simply kept their workspace clean.
That's a massive return on investment.
Customer's Perception of Your Business
Here's another thing people tend to forget about…First impressions.
When a customer steps into your business, you want them to know you take pride in what you do. One of the best ways to show that is by maintaining a clean workspace.
If you've got a sparkling clean reception desk, tidy bathrooms and meeting rooms that look like they actually host meetings then you're on the right track. However, if your business has dusty countertops, overflowing rubbish bins and coffee stains on the carpet people will know you don't care about your workspace. And more importantly, they'll assume you don't care about them.
Guess what…Research has shown that most consumers will have a negative perception of your business if your facilities are dirty.
A dirty workspace equals poorly managed and unreliable in your customer's eyes. Once someone has formed this opinion of your business, it's hard to change their minds. Which is even worse news if you own a business that's customer-facing.
Dining establishments, retail shops, medical offices and beauty salons. These types of businesses have the hardest to please "customers." Why? Because if they have a bad experience in a dirty workplace they'll never step foot through your doors again.
The easiest way to prevent this from happening is to hire cleaning professionals who specialize in your industry. All industries require different levels of cleaning. An office workspace will not need the same level of cleaning as say, a medical office.
Professional cleaners know this. And will tailor their cleaning duties to your businesses needs. They will keep your front-facing areas clean during business hours and complete more strenuous clean tasks when your team clocks off. Allowing your customers to feel comfortable each time they visit your business.
How to Find Cleaning Professionals You Can Trust
Office cleaning isn't cookie cutter. You can't just hire the first cleaning company you see.
Think about it. If you were hiring someone to clean your business' workspace, you would want someone with experience in that specific field correct? Someone who knows how to maintain office spaces on a day-to-day basis.
Same thing applies when hiring your cleaning professionals. Here are a couple things to look for when searching for your new cleaning team:
Experience in commercial cleaning. It's important that you hire someone who has experience cleaning business spaces. Don't just hire the guy down the street who makes a bit of extra cash on weekends wiping down offices. Residential and commercial cleaning are very different.
Consistent clean schedules. Hire a cleaning company that won't just come in once a month and do a deep clean. You want someone who will come in weekly (if not twice a week) and clean your workspace while your employees are there.
Customized service. Every workspace is different. Don't settle for a cleaning company that provides you with a "one size fits all" cleaning package.
Reputation. Do your research. Find a cleaning company that other businesses trust to clean their workspace.
Needless to say, taking these things into consideration can save you a lot of stress down the line. Having cleaning professionals you can trust handle all the dirty work allows you and your employees to focus on what you do best.
Conclusion
Your workspace says a lot about your business. Whether you realize it or not, the cleanliness of your workspace impacts employee productivity, employee sick days and customer perception.
Statistics prove that clean workspaces encourage employees to be more productive, keep employees from calling in sick and create a positive impression with your customers.
Here are some key takeaways:
Employees are more productive in a clean workspace
Professional cleaning reduces sick days
Customers use the cleanliness of your workspace to determine how you run your business
By hiring the right cleaning professionals, your business will benefit from a clean and tidy workspace
Don't wait until your employees complain about dirty kitchens or your customers avoid using your facilities. Office cleaning isn't an expense, it pays for itself.