The COVID-19 pandemic has upended traditional work dynamics, and many offices now adhere to a hybrid work schedule. If the cleanliness of your office has taken a hit during this adjustment period, read this office cleaning checklist and learn what you can do!
How Has the Condition of Your Office Held Up?
The expansion of remote work after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has led many employers to realize that nontraditional work settings are possible. One work concept that has taken the United States by storm is the hybrid work schedule. This model offers employees flexibility on where they’d like to work and aims to increase productivity. Whether or not you believe in hybrid work, it’s here to stay—74% of companies plan on permanently implementing a hybrid work model.
Has your office adopted a hybrid work model? If so, take stock of your office and workforce cleaning since making the change. Is it up to your personal standards? If not, continue reading to see our office cleaning checklist for hybrid work environments. Following these tips will keep your office sanitary and your workers healthy.
Install Cleaning Stations
First up on the office cleaning checklist is the distribution of cleaning stations. These stations give your workers the tools they need to keep areas clean. Cleaning stations are easy to implement and serve a critical role in keeping your staff safe and your office cleaner. They should be located throughout your office should include supplies like:
- Disinfectant sprays and wipes
- Hand sanitizer
- Masks
- Facial tissue
- Paper towels
- Disposable gloves
Cleaning stations are an unobtrusive way to encourage workforce cleaning and safe protocol, but cleaning stations often go unused when not implemented correctly. Set the precedent by regularly using the stations yourself, and instruct fellow managers to do so as well. If management ignores the station, interested employees could be dissuaded from using it.
Furthermore, make sure to educate your employees on how to use the supplies provided—simple signs could do the trick. Of the steps on our office cleaning checklist , establishing cleaning stations is straightforward, positive, and should have immediate impact. Keep in mind, though, that simple cleaning stations may not be enough for certain industries. Medical office cleaning stations must be more thorough, for example.
Rework Your Cleaning System
We start to get more intensive with the second step of our office cleaning checklist. When was the last time that you updated your office’s cleaning system? If it was before switching to a hybrid work model, you’re bound to run into issues. The dramatic shift to your work environment calls for a dramatic shift to your cleaning system.
The flexibility of the hybrid work model means that your cleaning processes should be incorporated differently. Days where you have low physical traffic from employees are perfect opportunities for cleaning. Whatever the case may be, examine your new work model and scheduling and adjust accordingly.
This is also a great opportunity to adjust procedures and set up your own office cleaning checklist. Assign people specific tasks, highlight certain locations, and distribute cleaning supplies—basically, create a cleaning schedule. Make sure to monitor cleaning tasks to see that each team member is fulfilling their duties.
It may be worth scheduling a company meeting where you discuss the new system and verify that everyone is on the same page. Keep the communication process collaborative as this new cleaning schedule is about your employee’s safety. While more intensive than the first step in our office cleaning checklist, restructuring is a necessary step in keeping your office cleaner.
Set Up and Enforce New Policies
While the last step was largely collaborative, sometimes you need to lay down the law for the greater good. Set up new policies and rules like:
- Regular use of hand sanitizer
- Social distancing mandates
- Limited occupancy in break rooms
- Temperature screening at the entrance
- Contact-tracing forms
While you may encounter backlash by establishing these new standards, it will keep your team healthier and more productive. Good communication is the key to managing change—help your employees understand why the changes are necessary and will lead to a more effective team.
This step of the office cleaning checklist may be the most difficult, and needs to be handled on a case-by-case basis for each company. However, precautionary policies are a huge part of keeping your office cleaner and your employees safer.
Invest in Modern Technology
The pandemic has spurred great technological innovations in the realm of workplace safety. Technology worth investing in can include:
- Contactless hand dryers
- Contactless paper towel and soap dispensers
- Automatic faucets
- Touchless door mechanisms
- Air purifiers
- Infrared thermometers
While some of these technologies cost more than others, they all keep your office safer. Air purifiers are proven to be effective in mitigating airborne contaminants. The other technology works to eliminate high touch-point surfaces that bacteria frequently congregate in. Overall, workforce cleaning technology is worth investing in and is a huge part of our office cleaning checklist.
Partner With a Commercial Cleaning Company
If the above seems overwhelming, you can guarantee that your cleaning is done right by partnering with a commercial cleaning company. A cleaning service provider will have the equipment and experience necessary to get the job done. Whether it’s through advanced technology like electrostatic sprayers or simply a wealth of experience, a commercial cleaning company will get everything done in an office cleaning checklist.
If you’re interested in a commercial cleaning partner, reach out to Absolute Janitorial. We offer stellar service across all industries, so don’t worry that we won’t cover you. We have an expert team with the experience to know what to do, and the technology to get it done. We tailor our cleaning services to each client and strive toward the highest standard of cleanliness. Whether you have your own office cleaning checklist or need one drawn up for you, we can help.
