You want a flurry of activity geared toward production and sales because this is how you make money. The office can become less tidy with all the chaos your team members create. While you may encourage your employees to keep everything in order, chaos is inevitable, so you need a structure to ensure the shared workspace is habitable and clutter-free.
The work environment and company culture will improve when you provide the proper guidance and implement a cleaning protocol in your business. This will lead to an improved employee experience and productivity.
Sometimes, keeping an office tidy can be easier said than done, but that doesn’t mean it’s a lost cause. With the right ideas and a game plan, you can have a clean work environment where staff thrive. Here are some effective tips for keeping an office tidy.
Lead by Example
Employees tend to mirror their bosses and coworkers and quickly learn what they can and can’t get away with. You set the tone for office cleanliness.
Keep your immediate area spick and span, with all paperwork and supplies in order. When you use communal equipment, ensure it is back the way it should be, ready for the next person.
Offer to put coworker’s items away if you are heading to the supply cabinet or break room. This effort will be noticed and spread to the rest of the workforce.
Commercial Cleaning Services
Whether you have a small or a large team, they are hired for specific business tasks, not cleaning. Everyone can take care of their general area, but the major cleaning needs to be done by someone else.
This is where hiring a commercial cleaning service comes in. These professional companies ensure your office is clean and germ-free. They have strict training methods, so their team maintains sterile surfaces.
In addition, they have the proper equipment to wash, disinfect, vacuum and dust your workspace. Depending on your needs, this is often a daily schedule with light cleaning and more extensive cleaning at the end of the week.
Arrange the Layout for Success
Offices are geared towards making the best use of the space but are geared towards high occupancy. While you can fit more people and equipment in a room, it is better for everyone if there is more space to move around.
Set up your office for success by having wide footpaths. Bring adequate storage cabinets so supplies and small equipment can be organized and put away easily.
Also, consider how desks are arranged so cords and cables only run in some places. Having desks facing one another creates a connection line between them and exposes workspaces, encouraging others to keep their space neater.
Have Enough Waste and Recycling Bins Around
There is always an accumulation of debris and garbage in an office, but if there are enough receptacles, this stuff will stay on the floor. Make sure every desk has a personal waste basket.
Make it the responsibility of every team member to dump it at the end of the day into a large, closed-and-sealed bin. This will prevent critters or bugs from showing up and finding a habitable home around the office. Also, ensure that a dedicated staff member or cleaning team dumps the main bins regularly.
Have a No-Eating At-Your-Desk Policy
This should be a no-brainer because spills and leftover food are not only lying around, but the smell of different food items may be offensive to some while working. Drinks are usually acceptable, but food should be consumed in the lunch room, preferably during breaks.
Ensure a flexible environment. If someone is hungry, they can head to the lunchroom to grab a quick snack to hold them over. This ensures they don’t have to sneak it in at their desk.
Keep a Tidy Office
A clean office puts employees in a better mood and makes them happier. When everything is organized, productivity increases. Items are easier to find, and less clutter means fewer distractions. When clients visit, their first impression matters. A tidy office creates a positive image of the business.
There are also safety perks. Slip-and-fall accidents cause workplace injuries. A clutter-free office is easier to move around with fewer obstacles. This lowers fire risk and ensures safer and quicker exits during emergencies.
