How does workplace cleanliness affect employer – employee relationships?

Keeping a clean and healthy workplace for your employees seems to be common sense. However, a clean environment will affect different aspects of one’s life dependent on their employee / employer status. The World Health Organization released a graph on the importance of promoting health in the workplace. They revealed that managing a clean and safe work environment yielded different conclusions for employers than it did for employees. For example, maintaining health promotion in the workplace meant that the organization had created a well-managed health and safety program. However the employees viewed this as a safe and healthy work environment. Here are some more:

• Employer: A positive and caring image = Employee: Enhanced self-esteem
• Improved staff moral = Reduced stress
• Reduced staff turnover = Improved morale
• Reduced absenteeism = Increased job satisfaction
• Increased productivity = Increased skills for health protection
• Reduced health care/insurance costs = Improved health
• Reduced risk of fines and litigation = Improved sense of well-being

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), organizations that implemented their recommended guidelines saw a 52% decrease in the average number of claims, an 80% in cost per claim, and an 87% decrease in the average time lost per claim.

A clean environment creates happier employees and happier employees are more productive and likely to stay on board longer. However, how do we define what a safe work environment looks like? Here are a few steps you can take to improve the health in your workplace:

1. Maintain a cleaning program / janitorial system

• Implement. Evaluate. Change as needed.

2. Educate your employees.

• Train. Provide accessible literature. Enforce.

3. Communicate.

• Listen to employee concerns. Address the issues in a timely and effective manner. Thank your employees.

Overall, a clean and a healthy workplace is beneficial all-around. Cutting corners or neglecting cleanliness is not only risky, but it forges a negative and distrustful relationship between employers and their employees. When your employees do well, you do well, so talk to Clean Planet today about further things we can offer to help with your staff happiness!