Keeping Up Appearances Can Keep Employees Engaged

How the cleanliness of your workplace is affecting employee engagement and what to do about it.

If I’ve learnt anything from the multitude of home reno shows on TV, it’s that appearance matters. Take one ordinary family home and turn it into a dream home with decluttering, a good clean, a splash of fresh paint and some new furniture, and watch the price soar!

Appearance isn’t just important for selling houses. People living in clean and tidy houses are healthier than those in messy houses. They are also less stressed and more focused. If these are the benefits of living in a tidy home where we only spend a few of our waking hours each day, how much more important is it for us to spend our 8-hour workdays in a clean, uncluttered environment?

There are obvious health and safety advantages to a well-cared for workplace, with legislation surrounding the need to comply with certain standards. But a workplace can be compliant and still not quite hit the mark. Grubby handprints on walls and coffee rings on boardroom tables won’t pose a risk to anyone’s health or safety, but they can be very demotivational for employees and reflect poorly on your corporate image.

The appearance and cleanliness of your workplace can impact your business performance through employee engagement:

1. A well-maintained workplace boosts productivity
   When employees aren’t distracted by mess and clutter, they are able to focus on their work and get more done. A clean workplace further boosts productivity by improving hygiene and health and reducing unnecessary sick leave.


2. A well-maintained workplace instills pride
   Coming in to a beautiful, clean environment for work is a joy and fills us with pride. Having pride in the company we work for makes us more loyal, more likely to turn up each day, and less likely to look for another job.


3. A well-maintained workplace inspires higher quality work
   The standard of our environment sets the tone for the standard of our work. If we work in a pleasant, orderly environment, we will produce a higher standard of work which leads to greater job satisfaction.


4. A well-maintained workplace increases morale
   When a company invests in the appearance of the workplace, it sends a clear signal to employees that they and their wellbeing are valued, resulting in increased morale.

It’s easy to keep up appearances with the right supplies, equipment and furniture to keep your workplace clean and tidy:

• Janitorial equipment and supplies
  Quality janitorial equipment and supplies are necessary for your facilities staff to get the job done right. Use the cleaning industry’s colour coding system to prevent cross-contamination between kitchen, bathroom and general areas by supplying separate mops, buckets, cloths and hygiene products in their corresponding colour (blue for general, green for kitchen and red for bathroom).
  
  
• Cleaning supplies
  Make cleaning supplies accessible to all staff so they can quickly and easily respond to any mess they might make. Disposable wipes are a simple solution around the workplace, especially for keeping personal workspaces clean and hygienic. Put paper towel, dish brushes, sponges and detergent in the kitchen, and place toilet brushes in each cubicle to avoid embarrassment.


• Storage furniture
  Invest in suitable storage furniture that provides a home for all loose items that might otherwise create clutter. This could include any furniture with doors or drawers like filing cabinets, cupboards, credenzas, pedestals for storing items under your desk, and personal lockers.


• Hand soap and sanitiser
  Encourage your employees to minimise the spread of germs and disease by providing them with access to hand soap in the bathroom and kitchen, and perhaps a hand sanitiser at their desk or workgroup.


• Bins and recycling
  During a busy workday, it is easier to get rubbish into a bin if it’s within arm’s reach. Supplying all employees with bins for rubbish and for recycling at their workstations will create good habits and cut down on mess.

A clean and tidy workplace is easily taken for granted. We simply don’t even notice it until something is amiss. But it is foundational if you want to build employee engagement and create a strong workplace culture. Keep the appearance of your workplace free from mess and dirt with these easy solutions: