How cleaning services can reduce employee absenteeism

The coronavirus pandemic has focussed the minds of people all over the world on cleaning and hygiene for the purposes of infection prevention and control. This was more pronounced at the beginning of the pandemic, but industry research has shown that focus has since started to tail off. It is really important that the value of these services doesn’t just slip back under the radar.

Changes in the cleaning industry due to Covid-19

I recently took part in a seminar hosted by the International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA), looking at how the cleaning industry has responded to the pandemic. A white paper developed by the ISSA highlights the evolution in the focus on cleaning and hygiene throughout the pandemic. It also reveals that:

• Cleaning is still seen very much considered as a cost by companies across all sectors,
• The high demand for disinfection services is likely to be here to stay,
• Product efficacy is currently more important to clients than sustainability factors with an increased demand for disposable products,
• There is an ongoing focus on technology and innovation,
• There is a need to maintain ‘brilliant basics’ within the cleaning industry as a whole.

Professional cleaning is an investment, not just a cost

Professional cleaning should be seen as an investment, which delivers measurable results in supporting the health and wellbeing of building users, with the positive, and measurable, impact of reducing absenteeism.

Even before the Covid-19 pandemic a study for The Healthy Workplace project by Dr. Charles Gerba of the University of Arizona found that implementing a “wash, wipe, sanitize” protocol in the workplace reduces the probability of catching the flu or common cold by 80%. It can also reduce the number of surfaces contaminated by a virus by 62%. Just from these statistics alone it’s clear that investing in the professional regular cleaning and disinfection of contact points in any workplace could drastically reduce the risk of infection and associated employee absenteeism.

Experts in cleaning, disinfection, infection prevention and control

Professional cleaning for infection prevention and control is something Sodexo has been delivering for years, both in our support to healthcare clients and sharing this expertise with clients across all sectors. Innovative products such as Xenex Germ-Zapping Robots™ have supported our cleaning professionals in healthcare settings around the world in providing excellent cleaning services. However, fundamentally it’s about applying a cleaning strategy which reduces the spread of infection to every environment.

Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, Sodexo formed a Medical Advisory Council to support the development of new protocols and standards across our business. We’ve also partnered with Bureau Veritas to introduce a hygiene verification label which provides businesses with peace of mind that the very highest levels of cleaning and disinfection are in place to protect all building users.

FM services for new workspaces

The way people work, and how they experience work, has changed enormously and continues to evolve. After months of working from home employees are looking forward to flexible workspaces which support both their productivity and wellbeing when they do return to working in offices.

Effective FM services will be essential to manage these new workspaces and well-trained, well-equipped, appropriately resourced and managed cleaning teams are intrinsic to the delivery of high-quality FM services.

It is essential that all parties recognise the importance of investment in training for cleaning teams on disinfection and infection control measures; not just in terms of financial cost, but also allowing time for appropriate training to take place.

There is at last some more recognition that cleaning for health is really important. As a service provider, Sodexo will work in collaboration with clients to invest in cleaning as a service that is key to public health. Long-term, sustainable investment in the delivery of effective cleaning services will help people to feel more confident in returning to workplaces – whatever shape it takes in the ‘new normal’.

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Following the ISSA webinar Lauren also spoke with the UK’s Facilitate magazine, the official publication for the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management. You can read the article here.