How A Clean Environment Impacts Bottom-Line Business

Contributed by Stratus Building Solutions.

Some business owners don’t always see the value in paying a cleaning company. Sure, they see it when things get really messy and spiral out of control. But it can be easy for anyone to start rationalizing and concluding that a cluttered and somewhat sloppy working environment isn’t all that bad. Many people even do that in their own home, especially when they are too tired to break out the vacuum cleaner or do the dishes.

This inclination to pinch pennies and forgo proper cleaning routines, however, can be detrimental to long-term profits. That’s why it’s always a good idea to remind clients how cleaning often ends up saving a business money in at least three key areas:

Reduction in sick days.

When workers call in sick, that costs American employers $530 billion every year – and 1.4 billion workdays in absenteeism and presenteeism (that’s when you go to work but you aren’t really present because you’re too sick to do much of anything). You can also point out that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) often promote cleaning and disinfecting as part of a broad approach to preventing infectious diseases from spreading.

Boosting employee morale.

The Washington Post recently had an interesting article about how dirty schools can bring down students’ grades, affecting their mood and self-confidence. It stands to reason that adults wouldn’t really enjoy a filthy workplace either. If you think about it, employers who don’t have a clean workspace are sending an ominous message to their employees — and customers — that they don’t care enough about them to make sure their environment is clean. It also implies low standards of the business that may negatively impact business or long-term success.

Increasing productivity.

Marie Kondo is right; clean rooms improve moods. Research has shown that stress and workplace clutter can cause workers to delay making decisions. Granted, when you’re offering a cleaning service, there’s only so much you can do about office clutter. You’ll probably agree with your client that you can’t straighten up somebody’s desk, for instance. But you can emphasize that a cleaner, more sanitary workspace will improve productivity and morale.

Scientists at the Princeton University Neuroscience Institute have done experiments demonstrating that our brains prefer an orderly, clean workplace. When we see cues alerting us that we’re in a disorganized or dirty space, it reduces our ability to focus.

In fact, Stratus Building Solutions recently commissioned a survey of 503 employees, discussing their employers’ cleaning habits. More than 90 percent said that their productivity has been compromised by a dirty or disorganized office – and 25 percent said that they’ve thought about quitting, or actually had quit, a job because the office was smelly and unclean.

Still, as long as your client has common sense and high standards, you shouldn’t have to do a hard sell to convince them that a clean environment will benefit business. It isn’t rocket science — just science.