Giving Tuesday is celebrated after American Thanksgiving, and it is a movement encouraging people to donate, volunteer, and participate in acts of kindness. Why not involve your cleaning staff in the planning and execution, and give back as a team this year?

This year, Giving Tuesday happens on December 2, so plan ahead to get your team involved and make a difference this season:

Team building

Cleaning can be a solitary occupation, often involving visiting empty office spaces without much human interaction. Get your staff together to help out sorting food, collecting cold-weather clothing donations, or taking on a neighbourhood cleanup project to improve your community together. Studies show that only 23 per cent of employees feel engaged at work, and team building is a great way to promote collaboration, caring, and communication. Participating in these kinds of activities can help your company culture and inspire your team, while embracing the spirit of Giving Tuesday.

Incentive-based effort

If you want to take your efforts to the next level, consider turning it into a competition with prizes, company matching, or paid volunteer time for your employees. Divide your staff into teams, and tally random acts of kindness, weigh donations, or create your own system to determine the winners. You could even set up a competition against other cleaning companies or suppliers to help raise awareness, increase your efforts, and engage more with your community.

You can also encourage individual giving by setting up a donation matching program, giving paid time off for volunteering, or fostering a “pay it forward” initiative so you can celebrate your employees’ contributions.

Employee benefits

Giving Tuesday can also be an internal endeavour, where you focus on the health and well-being of your staff. As the season picks up and labour challenges abound, many cleaners (about 70 per cent) are feeling the effects of stress, lack of sleep, and burnout. Focus on your staff by showing you care, upping the recognition and rewards, and offering support. This may mean increasing the flexibility in scheduling, facilitating counselling services, or even investing in something as simple as a small grocery gift card to help tide someone over. Your employees are the heart of your business, so incorporate a little company love into your Giving Tuesday planning.

Giving Tuesday offers the opportunity for you and your team to work together towards a common goal, connect with the community, and move ahead with your business goals. Don’t forget to share your efforts on social media to help generate more interest and show potential clients what your company is all about.