The Benefits of Having a Clean Work Environment

Updated on December 5th 2022

Employees expect a clean work environment as standard when they turn up to do their jobs. There are many benefits of having a clean work environment such as reducing staff illness, having a positive impact on employees’ mental wellbeing, increasing productivity and projecting a great image of your business to employees and clients.

However, before we discuss these benefits, it is important to look at the other side of the coin and see what can happen if you do not have a clean work environment.

The Negative Impact of Having an Unclean Work Environment

Colds, flus and stomach bugs can spread rapidly in an office environment, where employees work in close proximity to each other every day.

Therefore, having an unclean work environment can increase the chance of illness and consequently, employee absences.

What employee absenteeism means for businesses

In 2021, it was estimated that UK workers took an average of 4.6 days off work due to sickness or injury. Sick employees cost money, which can clearly be detrimental to a business, particularly if it becomes a regular occurrence or if multiple employees are off at the same time.

Results collected from Dr Charles Gerba’s study, The Healthy Workplace Project, demonstrated that maintaining a clean workplace can help to reduce the possibility of catching the common cold or flu by up to 80%. This clearly demonstrates the correlation between a hygienic workplace and reduced absenteeism. So, correlations show that as hygiene and cleanliness increases, absenteeism decreases.

Why Having a Clean Working Environment Is Key for Businesses

1. Reduce absenteeism at work

It is no surprise that having good workplace hygiene is key for employees’ health, which in turn can reduce absenteeism at work.

The office can become easily contaminated during the working day and can have a direct impact on staff wellbeing. The most common surfaces in an office to become easily contaminated are computer keyboards, phones, behind desks, beside the electronics, bathroom taps, microwave and refrigerator handles, vending machine buttons, office chairs and in the corners of ceilings and floors.

Some of these may seem like obvious places for bacteria to collect, but others may surprise you. That is why making sure your office is properly cleaned is essential to minimise the chance of illness spreading, and therefore reducing the likelihood of employee absenteeism.

2. Positively impacts employees’ mental health

The phrase ‘tidy desk, tidy mind’ is extremely true when thinking about the importance of having a clean office. If an employee comes to work and is faced with a messy work environment, there is no doubt that it may cause them stress and become frustrated at not having a clean environment to work in.

Having a space that is free from clutter and mess will positively impact employees’ mental health, as they will feel able to tackle their day in a mess-free space.

3. Increases productivity at work

There is nothing worse than turning up to work and having to clear away rubbish and mess left by clients or employees the day before. This has a direct impact on business activity due to the effect it can have on the productivity of the team.

Companies should ensure that employees are able to arrive at their jobs without the hassle of having to clear up after other people, to help increase the team’s productivity.

4. Provide a good impression for staff and clients

Every business should care about having a clean office and the impression it leaves with clients and staff.

Meeting rooms and office spaces that are dirty or messy will not only push away potential and existing clients, but it can also put off current and future employees.

Taking pride in the cleanliness of your workplace is key for securing future business and as an employer to show that you care about your staff.

Find out more about how to improve staff retention with a clean workplace.

Office Cleaning Services at Jani-King

At Jani-King, we have an array of expert cleaners that provide commercial cleaning services to businesses. Our team provides a wide range of commercial office cleaning services including:

• Floor care for both hard and carpeted floor
• Waste disposal including recycling
• Dusting at high levels
• Cleaning of freestanding and built-in furniture
• Cleaning of bathrooms
• Cleaning of communal areas such as canteens and kitchens
• Disinfecting and cleaning of surfaces, including surfaces that are difficult to reach and high traffic touch points

We tailor each cleaning programme to fit the individual needs of each business, focusing on the high traffic and high bacteria areas of your workspace.

Enquire About Our Commercial Cleaning Service

At Jani-King, we provide a spotless and reliable office cleaning service across a range of locations in the UK.

If you would like to find out how much our cleaning services will cost for your business, then please contact us and fill in our enquiry form, and we will get back to you with a competitive quote.

If you are still undecided about whether to enquire for our services, take a look at the 10 benefits of hiring a professional cleaning company.