It’ll come as no surprise that we’re major advocates for a cleaner workspace. As one of the UK’s leaders in cleaning services, we’ve always championed the importance of cleanliness in the workplace, and its integrity in creating a space where people are happy to work. It makes sense, too – a happy workforce is a content and productive one.
However, what you might not have realised is just how much of a positive impact a cleaner, tidier workspace can have on productivity. As part of the latest in a string of articles concerning how best to keep your office sparkling clean, we’ll be diving into how cleanliness impacts employee productivity and what it means for you.
We’ll also pose practical solutions for how you can most effectively address those cluttered corners of the workplace, and how Vanguard could be the ideal solution to your workspace woes.
We’ve hand-selected just a few of the key advantages of having a pristine working environment, and how it helps your business operate at optimal capacity.
One of the most common complaints about a cluttered workspace is the distraction it provides from work and important tasks. We’re perhaps all a little bit guilty of this, with smartphones and desk toys all presenting an occasionally welcome distraction from work. However, where it gets complicated is when a messy desk impedes your ability to work.
Scattered papers, copious post-its and even a jam-packed desk calendar can all add to the mountain of sources of distraction. All of that leads to a disrupted workflow, and can steadily impact your profits.
There’s also growing scientific evidence that a messy workspace can and does affect us cognitively. Research from the University of Oregon found that with more distractions around us, as we work or study, we struggle to recall information or experience cognitive overload (i.e. we can’t process tasks as quickly or efficiently).
The solution, as you might imagine, is to aim to keep on top of your workspace. While there are things that are best left to the professionals (as we’ll delve into shortly), doing a routine tidying of your desk is an ideal way to keep on top of the clutter.
This could be done as a Friday task, clearing the desk once a week, or taking 5 minutes each evening before you leave to get rid of any unnecessary clutter. Alternatively, investing in a daily cleaning service removes any onus from you or your staff members, and can ensure productivity never dips.
Still struggling? Our quick hacks for desk cleaning set you on the course to a cleaner, tidier and more productive workspace.
While it’s closely tied with our previous point, a messy desk doesn’t just offer substantial distractions from your everyday roles – it can also contribute towards higher levels of stress and anxiety. For many, that’s the last thing they need on top of an already stressful job, but the science behind it doesn’t leave much room for misinterpretation.
Several papers, including this one from UCLA, point towards a clear connection between clutter and increased stress levels, with participants showing a spike in cortisol (the “stress hormone”) when in an untidy environment. It tracks, too, with many of us opting to distance ourselves from the desk when we’ve got a large workload that’s resulted in stacks of paper or to-do lists.
Cortisol causes anxious and depressive symptoms to surface, as well as increasing blood pressure and heart rate – a potent mix when we couple that with the stresses of everyday life. That can quickly spiral without effective action which, when it’s only your desk to clean, can be relatively simple.
The routine we mentioned in our earlier point is useful here too – routines and schedules can help alleviate some of those anxiety symptoms and ultimately contribute towards a more welcoming work environment.
You might recall our previous piece on office hygiene, which highlighted the shocking statistics about the cleanliness of our workspaces. Standout statistics from that include one that’s truly shocking – our desks harbour 400 times more bacteria than your average toilet seat.
It’ll be no surprise then that an unsanitary workplace can lead to illnesses, with that same article discovering that desks can harbour seasonal viruses (like colds, flu and norovirus) long beyond the last sneeze, as well as nasties nestled in your keyboard, mouse and even laptop hinges.
Bacteria and viruses can spread quickly across workspaces and throughout your office. To minimise staff illnesses, regular cleaning and disinfection should be conducted to stop the spread of germs that can cause everything from the common cold to E.coli. This ensures a healthier and happier workforce, able to operate at maximum capacity.
Having a clean workspace is a crucial element of infection control, which is why sanitising surfaces and frequent touchpoints is such an important element of commercial cleaning. Some of these areas include:
This is where professional cleaning excels. Proper cleaning processes are critical in maintaining a clean and hygienic work environment and protecting the health of your workforce. Ensuring these areas are frequently sanitised is one of the most important steps in creating a clean workplace, and keeping your staff happy and healthy.
Keeping your workspace free of clutter means less potential for trips and injuries, which could harm staff’s ability to carry out tasks. Unclean floors, for example, can be a slipping hazard if not dealt with promptly and effectively. Similarly, loose wiring and trip hazards all contribute towards that less-than-favourable impression.
It’s all part and parcel of the idea of creating the right environment for your staff and any potential visitors. A study from the University of Minnesota found that different floorings (and even the quality of flooring) can influence everything from customer experience to purchasing decisions – an essential if you’re working in a retail environment.
Regular cleaning, specifically floor mopping, reduces the risk of trips and slips and helps convey that lasting impression you’re looking for. We’ve delved into much more depth with our comprehensive guide to cleaning for different floor types, but suffice it to say that a clean floor is conducive to better workplace productivity, as well as a cleaner, more hygienic environment.
Of course, floor cleaning can be complicated and – in cases where you’ve got hard flooring or a particularly dirty carpet – expensive. That’s where a professional floor cleaning service comes to the fore.
Hiring a professional cleaning company ensures that your floors won’t become a breeding ground for bacteria, or as a slipping hazard for anyone who enters your site. Cleaning professionals like Vanguard invest in state-of-the-art equipment, so that your flooring is never damaged in the cleaning process.
An organised workspace is far more likely to create a positive impression for clients and visitors than a messy one. A clean space creates a more professional image, instilling an image of trust and responsibility.
First impressions are important, whether it be to visitors, clients, or potential investors. Keeping a pristine workspace helps create an image of accountability, organisation, and care. Looks famously aren’t everything, but they certainly help achieve a positive first impression of your premises!
Research indicates that people make a judgement about you and your business within as little as 7 seconds, so having a tidy workplace is essential in nailing those first impressions. This time isn’t enough for you to lay out the credentials of your business, but it is enough for you to sell yourself as professional and organised.
While there’ll always be the temptation to do those final touch-ups and tweaks before an esteemed visitor arrives, keeping on top of your everyday cleaning is something we’d strongly recommend outsourcing. Not only does it help remove any onus from your staff members, it’s also a concrete guarantee of quality each time.
Caring for your workspace is part of caring for your staff, helping them feel valued and appreciated. When employees feel valued, they’re more likely to want to give more back to the company, and to the overall plans you’ve made. Many view it this way – if the company I work for is doing all it can to create a better environment, I can do more to help that.
In addition to staff retention, employee morale is an important element in attracting and retaining staff. A high staff turnover can reflect poorly on your business and can be an off-putting factor to potential applicants or candidates. Consider your own opinion here – would you work for a place that doesn’t have cleanliness as a priority?
This can have wider impacts in reducing employee turnover, saving costs and time in training new staff. Ultimately, tidier workspaces go far beyond those surface benefits and promote a culture that leads to more satisfied staff members. Where we’re more productive, we naturally feel more valued, and more comfortable in what we do.
Hiring a professional cleaning company like Vanguard is an easy way to keep your workspace clean and tidy, taking the stress out of workplace maintenance. Vanguard has a comprehensive range of cleaning packages available to cover all your cleaning needs. This includes:
We also offer enhanced and deep cleaning services if your premises needs some extra care. Our services are available to a wide variety of sectors, whether your business is an office premises or a larger manufacturing facility. We also work with the medical sector, automotive industry, and educational settings, providing excellent services up and down the UK.
With regular cleaning, you can ensure your premises are maintained with frequent cleaning to keep your workspace clean and tidy. This includes all essential cleaning duties such as wiping services, mopping, and dusting.
With our tailormade cleaning schedules and audits, we always work to create solutions that work best for your business. Day or night, our cleaners can work at any time to suit your business needs, whilst minimising disruption for you and your staff.
To find out more about how we can give your workspace a pristine clean, and to receive a free, no-obligation quote, contact our team of professionals today.
