The typical business owner works an unsettlingly high amount of hours every week. The majority will go over 50 hours without much thought, with a significant number racking up even more.
A commitment to seeing their business grow and succeed drives this work ethic, but this single-minded focus could lead to problems.
When important business tasks become the centre of attention, business owners can neglect those jobs that seem menial. The list of potential “victims” is endless, from tedious administration to updating your social accounts. One place that commonly sees less scrutiny than it deserves — but that can have a highly detrimental impact on your business if ignored — is general workplace cleanliness.
Keeping your office space or headquarters clean and tidy may seem like a secondary chore that doesn’t affect your ability to operate. After all, what’s the problem with a bit of dust, a stain on the carpet or a few stacked mugs in the kitchen area? You’d be surprised. This article explores the risks you face when ignoring workplace cleanliness.
Unhappy Employees
Some people are not the least bit affected by a dirty workplace, and you may be one of them, but these people are in the minority. In fact, 90% of your employees would work to higher standards in a clean environment. Why is this the case?
Mess and dirt make most people unhappy and unhappy employees are less efficient, driven and productive, reducing their overall work output. A lack of cleanliness can also be directly related to cluttered spaces. Clutter is known to cause mental distractions that inhibit thought processes involved in problem-solving and task management. Physical barriers can effectively result in psychological blocks.
The problems that are more likely to impact your workforce are issues that affect their personal space, like dirty eating areas or workspaces. Keeping the areas in which your employees work clean — free of rubbish, dust, clutter and dirt — can see their happiness levels rise, productivity increase and result in a better working atmosphere for both yourself and them.
Unnecessary Damage
A clean workplace doesn’t just support the mind — it supports the very structure of your business. An accumulation of dirt can result in many unwanted effects; from the buildup of damaging materials to the attraction of insect infestations. Mould and mildew also have the potential to wreak havoc if left unchecked.
Simple cleaning tactics and awareness of problems mean you can ensure that your property does not succumb to these sorts of issues. If it does? You can face massive bills or even temporary closure as maintenance work is carried out to repair damage that could have been avoided.
Risks to Health and Wellness
Maintaining cleanliness at work is not simply about cost-effective practices — it’s also about basic standards of health and wellness. Neglect of property can result in the buildup of hazardous particles like mould spores, dust and bacteria, especially if your property has areas where these are more likely to proliferate — unused spaces, kitchens and bathrooms, carpeted areas, basements and attics, etc.
Excessive quantities of these hazards can increase the chances of your employees falling ill or developing health issues. Dust, for example, is a well-known respiratory irritant that can create a wide range of health problems.
Avoidance of these problems is simple. Regular cleaning efforts combat the buildup of harmful elements that may otherwise prove to impact the general health of your workforce negatively. Committing to plans such as commercial carpet cleaning, kitchen cleanup schedules and elimination of mould can support better long-term operations.
Brand Perception
83% of people state that mess can have a direct — and detrimental — impact on their impression of a workplace. This reaction is all down to our perception of a professional environment. We expect commercial entities to maintain a level of self-preservation and control. We also expect them to look after themselves because that is how a business thrives.
If you don’t look after your company, how can it succeed?
The data reveals that uncleanliness can create a perception of a lack of self-interest and care, which in turn results in the impression that your company is not meeting the necessary standards of professionalism that people expect.
These people could be employees, they could be clients and customers, or they could be investors. Whoever they are, they will likely provide some value to your business, which means giving them a negative impression through simple neglect of cleaning practices is only going to harm your branding.
All you have to do to negate these problems is to demonstrate that you are interested in self-presentation and self-care. Keep your workplace tidy, clean and meet the standards expected of a brand that is pushing to be the very best it can.
If you can’t invest time and money in looking after yourself, why should anyone else?
