The hidden ROI of clean and hygienic workplaces

When people think about the most disgusting business they have ever gone inside, they can probably come up with a few contenders right away. A horrible gas station bathroom, frightening mechanic waiting room or unhygienic salon can drive away customers and employees alike.

People generally do not enjoy working or spending money in a place where they do not feel comfortable or safe. With this understanding, it is easy to appreciate the return on investment for companies that invest in cleaning and hygiene for their workplaces.

Reduced Absenteeism

Absenteeism is a key problem for employers. The CDC estimates that employers lose over $225 billion, or an average $1,685 per employee, in productivity each year due to missed workdays. Although employees might miss work for a variety of reasons, illness is one of the most common. Occasional absences are not avoidable, but persistent absenteeism can be managed.

Workers often miss multiple days of work due to unpleasant situations in the workplace. A chaotic work area can contribute to burnout, depression, anxiety, and other conditions that increase the number of missed days. Keeping the workspaces clean, tidy, and sanitary can provide efficient places for employees to focus.

Fewer Workplace Illnesses

Many companies go through the same problem every year, especially during cold and flu season. One employee on a team gets sick, and suddenly everyone on the team is down for the count.

Employees are more likely to go to work sick than they used to be, which contributes to the spread of workplace illnesses. Providing regular janitorial services can help to keep the spread of bacteria and viruses at bay. Cleaning and sanitization of high-touch areas, like keyboards, door handles, and surfaces in communal meeting areas, can decrease the spread of common colds and other workplace illnesses.

Increased Productivity

Although many businesses pressure their employees to come to work with minor illnesses, the cost to productivity is notable. Harvard Business Review reports that forced presenteeism — where employees are required to work when ill — costs as much as $150 billion annually in the U.S. Simple preventative methods, such as cleaning workspaces, bathrooms, and communal areas, can reduce the rate of illness in the building.

People who do not get sick at work are less likely to bring illness home to family members, which decreases employee stress and distractions. As a result, workers are more likely to operate at peak productivity.

Higher Trust

When employees and clients enter a business building, they place a degree of trust in the people running operations. They expect to be safe and to incur minimal risk during their stay.

Providing a clean, hygienic work area can help put both employees and clients at ease, increasing the likelihood of successful transactions. Employers can show that they attend carefully to client and worker needs by keeping areas clean and sanitary, and increasing ventilation to remove contaminants.

Improved Brand Reputation

For a client-facing business, brand reputation comes from every angle, ranging from the color scheme on advertisements to the smell of the building. Clients who are impressed by the care taken by the client-facing team and maintenance staff are more likely to think positively about the brand as a whole.

They may recommend the brand to others and give positive feedback to employees, who appreciate the pleasant interaction. As a result, maintaining a clean workplace can also help to improve employee retention and reduce customer churn, both of which often lead to increased revenue over time.

Keeping employees and clients safe and healthy is an important ethical goal for companies, but it is also a practical business decision. By focusing on the work needed to provide clean, hygienic workspaces, businesses can increase employee productivity, reduce illness-related absences, and improve their brand reputation with clients.

Chris Boschetto, President, is a second-generation owner of LEED-certified Trinity Building Services. Since 1987, Trinity has provided superior janitorial, specialized cleaning, and maintenance services to commercial clients throughout California. Boschetto takes pride in the family-owned business’s ability to deliver personalized service, with a priority given to the highest customer satisfaction.

SOURCES

https://www.cdcfoundation.org/pr/2015/worker-illness-and-injury-costs-us-employers-225-billion-annually

https://www.usf.edu/news/2024/new-study-finds-working-while-sick-actually-harms-productivity-and-retention.aspx

The ROI Of A Clean Workplace: Unseen Benefits Revealed

How Office Cleaning Affects Workplace Productivity And Employee Well-Being

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2947637/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2024/06/14/why-workplace-absenteeism-is-on-the-rise/