Messy and cluttered office desk

A new survey identified that bad habits and hygiene at work are making life miserable in the workplace. But the problem is more than just messy desks.

The survey, commissioned by Stratus Building Solutions, says some of he biggest issues are microwaving smelly food, messing with the office thermostat, leaving desks dirty and unorganized, placing germy cell phones on others’ desks and urinating on the toilet seat.

The office employees surveyed say cleanliness and organization are key to their employment stability and satisfaction. Some of the survey highlights, include:

• At least 9 out of 10 people polled say their productivity is compromised by a dirty or disorganized office.

• 1 out of 4 say they’ve thought about quitting (or actually quit) a job because the office was smelly and dirty.

• More than half use a paper towel or handkerchief to open doors because they think the office is dirty.

• More than half have seen bugs or rodents in the office and nearly a third have seen mold or mildew.

• More than a third cite a clean and mindful environment as a top reason they took a job.

Plus, in addition to microwave and fridge fumes, the respondents called out cleaning chemicals as some of the worst offenders. More than a third say they can’t stand the smell and/or are allergic to powerful office air fresheners or cleaning chemicals.