More than one-third of Americans would consider quitting if their workplace was not cleaned properly
As the new coronavirus omicron variant continues to spread across the country, a new survey of 1,600 Americans reveals a clean workplace is still a top priority for those returning to work.
The survey conducted by the Cleaning Coalition of America finds that U.S. workers increasingly value enhanced cleaning of the workplace and feel safer seeing professional cleaners on-site—a sentiment shared by both vaccinated and unvaccinated Americans.
Fielded in late October, the survey examined the perceptions of 1,099 vaccinated and 501 unvaccinated workers to understand expectations surrounding return-to-work as businesses continue to reopen.
An overwhelming majority—93.4%—of vaccinated respondents and 82.2% of unvaccinated respondents cited workplace cleaning protocols as important as employees return to the office, with 77.2% of workers wanting the workplace cleaned daily.
“American workers experienced a turbulent year that has forever changed their expectations around workplace safety,” Cleaning Coalition of America President Josh Feinberg said in a December 9 survey results announcement. “As employees return to the workplace, it is more critical than ever that businesses rethink their cleaning best practices and adopt a more holistic view of safety that prioritizes worker well-being. Both current and prospective employees need to know that their employer will not sacrifice worker health for an improved bottom line.”
Almost two years into the pandemic, nearly half of Americans—43%— still have lingering concerns about returning to the workplace. In fact, 38.3% of respondents would consider changing their jobs if the workplace was not cleaned properly. However, a clean workplace is not the only concern, with respondents citing COVID-19 infection rates as a primary impediment to returning to in-person work.
“With employees worried about contracting COVID-19 or other illnesses, businesses are facing an uphill battle in attracting workers back to the workplace and must go the extra mile to build confidence,” said Collins Building Services Inc. President Kenneth J. Collins. “While many businesses previously put an emphasis on cleaning for appearance, cleaning for health must be the new standard for any shared space.”
As businesses reopen, Americans have lingering concerns about the safety of the workplace.
Americans are putting increased emphasis on the cleanliness of the workplace, a trend that will likely continue far beyond the pandemic.
With the pandemic increasing worker anxiety, both vaccinated and unvaccinated Americans find comfort in knowing their office is being cleaned regularly.
Still, cleaning is not the only impediment to returning to the office.
Get CMM Magazine delivered directly to your inbox
Custodians at Harvard University will receive a 15.25% wage increase over four years under a tentative contract agreement reached earlier this month, The Harvard Crimson reports.
When ratified, the contract will be effective from November 16, 2021 to November 15 2025. The agreement contains a 2.75% increase retroactive to November 16, a 3% increase July 1, 2022, a 3.25% increase July 1, 2023 and 2024, then a 3% increase July 2025. Harvard will also continue to cover health care premiums for employees, contributing US$1,402 per custodian in the new year.
New or increased benefits under the contract include a transportation subsidy for third-party contract workers equal to the one in-house custodians receive, a $1.75 hourly increase for workers on less desirable shifts, a $1.75 hourly premium on shifts removing snow, and a $1.25 hourly premium on shifts moving furniture.
The tentative agreement comes days after custodians and their supporters held a rally in Harvard Yard calling for higher wage increases.
Harvard custodians have spent a lot of time in contract negotiations over the last year. In January they approved a one-year extension of their 2016 contract, which expired November 2021.
Get CMM Magazine delivered directly to your inbox
Did you know that 84% of building services contractors (BSCs) said “improving facility image” was a top challenge impacting their customers in 2021? Facility image tied with “health, safety, and security of buildings and tenants” as the biggest challenge affecting customers this past year, according to the 2021 CMM BSC Benchmarking Survey.
Source: 2021 CMM BSC Benchmarking Survey
If you are a BSC looking for new ideas to enhance your customer’s facility image or a facility manager or in-house service provider seeking to improve your guest experience, don’t miss tomorrow’s free CMM webinar, Enhancing Facility Image—Beyond Appearances, at 1 p.m. EST/noon CST.
This presentation will focus on methods to encourage cleaning staff to clean not just for appearance but also to clean for health. Industry experts will offer best practices on identifying and maximizing better performance from your staff, methods for moving past the pandemic effect on cleaning and maintenance, and ways to increase productivity with your current staffing levels.
Speakers include Gene Woodard with more than 35 years of experience in building services at the University of Washington in Seattle; Scott Stevenson, the president and owner of building service contracting company KleenMark; and Ricky Regalado, the owner and founder of building services contracting company Rozalado Services.
The webinar will conclude with a live Q&A session during which attendees can ask their most pressing facility maintenance questions.
The program is free to attend, but you must register here to save your spot.
Get CMM Magazine delivered directly to your inbox
3300 Dundee Rd, Northbrook, IL 60062 USA
© 1998- ISSA. All rights reserved.
