Presented by Tork, an Essity brand
As businesses continue to prioritize return to office, the significance of the office facility manager’s role has never been greater. Their responsibility lies in guaranteeing a seamless and gratifying transition for employees as they settle back into the office routine. The job covers a lot of ground; everything from ensuring equipment like air conditioners are working properly to maintaining facility cleanliness. The latter has become increasingly important as consumer perceptions on hygiene have heightened during the pandemic.
Why focus on hygiene management is important today
In recent years, there has been a notable transformation in the way facility cleanliness is perceived, and this shift may have lasting effects. A survey by Essity reveals that half of employees now have elevated expectations regarding hygiene in their workplaces. For example, nearly 75% of employees expect their employers to conduct additional cleaning rounds to ensure optimal hygiene. It is imperative for every office facility manager to prioritize hygiene in order to meet and surpass the increased expectations of employees in their work environment.
The significance of workplace hygiene is evident in its potential impact on the employer-employee relationship. The same Essity survey revealed that three out of four office workers perceive inadequate office hygiene as a sign of the employer’s indifference towards their well-being. In the current landscape, where retaining top talent is exceptionally challenging, any negative sentiment towards an employer can influence employee retention. Therefore, prioritizing and maintaining high levels of hygiene in the workplace becomes crucial, as it can make or break an employee’s choice to stay with an organization.
What facility managers can do to meet (and exceed) hygiene expectations
Make hygiene a fundamental aspect of office values and norms
Ensuring that employees have convenient access to soap, sanitizer, and towel dispensers is an essential element in demonstrating an office’s dedication to hygiene. It is equally important to ensure that these dispensers are consistently stocked with the necessary products. Employees and visitors form judgments about offices based on the availability and quality of hygiene products provided. Facility managers can enhance the reputation of their office buildings by addressing these concerns and ensuring that the appropriate hygiene products are always readily available.
Leverage data-driven technology to optimize efficiency and effectiveness
As facility managers monitor the public’s preferences and implement the proper hygiene solutions, they can leverage technology to build out data-driven cleaning strategies to improve the overall operations and level of cleanliness in a facility. For example, data-driven cleaning technology, such as sensors in dispensers, provide real-time usage data to facility managers. Managers can provide real-time updates to cleaning staff advising when and where refilling is required in a facility.
Beyond this, managers can easily monitor restroom attendance levels and determine staffing needs to ensure they’re providing the optimal cleaning frequency while cutting costs. It’s been shown that utilizing data-driven cleaning services can reduce dispenser checks by up to 91%, save up to 20% of cleaning hours, and achieve up to 30% higher customer satisfaction.
Champion sustainability as a guiding principle for decision-making and actions
Facility managers have a wide range of sustainably created products to consider across various aspects of their facility, ranging from soap ingredients to paper hand towels. Eco-sustainable hand soaps made from biodegradable formulas derived from renewable sources like vegetables are now readily available. Additionally, there are paper hand towel dispensers that compact the towels to maximize space and dispense only the necessary amount, reducing waste by up to 50%. Facility managers can also explore products with sustainable packaging, such as those crafted from renewable and recyclable resources like paper or cardboard. All these decisions help offices show their employees and visitors how seriously they take sustainability and how it is incorporated into the everyday operations of the company.
Maintaining high standards of health and safety is crucial for businesses to thrive, as the public’s expectations in these areas remain elevated. In particular, restrooms undergo close scrutiny and are a key focus for facility managers to uphold exceptional hygiene standards. Return to office initiatives rely heavily on facility managers to get the office experience right: hygiene management plays a crucial part in that.
To learn more, visit www.tork.ca
