The Impact of a Clean Workplace on Mental Health

With more than 12.7% of all sickness absence days in the UK attributed to mental health conditions, now more than ever, employers should be considering ways to positively improve mental health in the workplace. After all, a large proportion of the week is spent at work.

Today we dive into the impact of a clean workplace on mental health, and how as an employer, you can implement a few quick steps which could have a significant effect on your staff’s wellbeing and overall productivity.

The link between a clean workplace and mental health

When it comes to the link between a clean place of work and wellbeing, it’s clear that there is a degree of psychology involved, with clutter, mess and disorganisation often negatively affecting the overall mentality of employees. But, how does it work?

One study showed that disorganisation and clutter has a cumulative effect on our brains. Ultimately, our brains like order, and constant visual reminders of disorganisation drain our cognitive resources, thus reducing our ability to focus.

So, for the growth of your business and staff retention rate, it’s vital that you give thought towards the impact your workspace may have on the wellbeing of others around you.

The benefits of a clean workplace for mental health

Here are some of the benefits of a clean workplace, and ways you can promote them in your establishment.

Improve employee productivity

Staff productivity is vital for utilising the capacity of resources at work. Put simply, the more productive your staff members are, the more work they are getting done, and the more benefits you’ll see.

It can be hard to focus on important tasks when several things compete for your attention. Being around clutter and disorganisation can make it hard for your brain to focus. So, spending time decluttering, disposing of waste and even dusting and hoovering can have a significant impact on the productivity of your teams, all whilst promoting a positive brand image to those in the space.

Enhance wellbeing

There’s no denying that feeling under the weather can have a huge impact on the way you feel mentally. Exposure to the allergens, dust and germs that come with a dirty environment can wreak havoc on your body and result in poor physical health and sickness. When employees are healthy and physically well, it can positively impact their mental health. Therefore, if you’re looking to reduce pesky sick days and boost wellbeing, you should consider dusting (including high-levels), surface cleaning and disinfecting (including hard to reach surfaces and high traffic touch-points) and bathroom and communal area cleaning.

Reduce anxiety

A cluttered and unclean workplace can lead to feelings of anxiety as employees are forced to search high and low to find what they need to do their job most effectively. In fact, one study by CloudEmployee showed that people spend around 4.3 hours rummaging through papers per week. Anxiety can sabotage work performance and can even go as far as to impact relationships and physical health. Therefore, tackling the root cause of the anxiety is vital for a productive, successful workforce. Taking the time to deep clean the workplace could be all that is needed to give your employees the boost they need.

Reduce stress with scents

Research has shown a clear correlation between pleasant smells and stress levels. A nasty smell from a dirty workspace can soon lower the mood in the office. But, a fresh smelling, clean environment can aid stress reduction and improve the wellbeing of your employees. If you’re looking to go above and beyond, there are scents which are actively proven to benefit mental health, these include: Lavender, peppermint, pine and rosemary. So, next time you’re shopping for supplies, why not pick out a diffuser, air freshener or a scented soap for your washrooms?

Improve your workplace cleanliness with Jani-King

Now you know the positive impacts of workplace cleanliness for mental health, it’s time to put your knowledge into action.

Cleaning your workspace using your in-house team can be costly and time consuming. However, with more than 50 years’ experience in commercial cleaning, Jani-King is on hand to deliver superior and efficient cleaning services, adapted to your needs.

Whether you work in an office, restaurant or educational facility, we can help. Allow us to do the work for you, while you focus on what you do best. Get in touch today for more information, or request a quick quote.