Why You Need a Documented Commercial Cleaning Plan for Heading Back to the Office?

Studies have found that 1 in every 4 Americans continued to work from home even after the gradual reopening of the economy from the pandemic-induced restrictions. However, with 34.8% of the US population vaccinated as of May 10, 2021, people are considering heading back to the office. This is much needed for the economic recovery and business revival, as several companies suffered a hit to overall productivity in 2020. Apart from a decline in efficiency due to distributed teams, companies also saw productivity being impacted by anxiety and lack of focus among their employees, says an article published by Forbes.

What can you, as an employer, do to ease the situation? Here’s a look at why you need a proper plan as employees return to office.

Consider a Change in Layout

Before everyone returns to office, consider putting desks at a distance, if you have the space to do so. Ensure that ventilation systems are working properly and that windows can be opened. If you do not have the space or budget, consider having a well-documented commercial cleaning plan to ensure your space is getting properly disinfected to avoid any complaints or spreading.

Disinfect the Area

It’s a good idea to prevent infection from spreading, causing you to close your office again. For this, you need to have the complete area disinfected. This includes high-touch surfaces, like tabletops, keyboards, doorknobs, light switches, bathroom fixtures, and phones. Apart from the traditional mindset of cleaning floors, bathrooms, and garbage, you will need to have shelves, racks, water fountains, coffee dispensers, whiteboards, stair handrails, and elevators cleaned too.

Get your office disinfected according to the protocols issued by the CDC by hiring a certified vendor of the Clorox 360 electrostatic sprayer, say experts at Dex&Co. Such a vendor can handle standard day to day cleaning as well Clorox disinfecting, and will ensure the cleaning is OSHA compliant to improve effectiveness.

Planned Communication

As your teams return to office, it is important to have a plan in place to ensure that some safety guidelines are followed, so that infections remain on a downward curve.

Yes, we have all witnessed the pandemic and watched the news. However, do not take it for granted that all employees will take proper safety measures. Planned communication plays a key role here. You may organize sessions during which people are reminded to follow social distancing protocols, avoid shaking hands when greeting their colleagues or clients, and to report immediately if they feel sick or seem to be coming down with a cold.

You may also put posters listing down best practices, including washing hands frequently and avoiding touching your nose, eyes, ears, and mouth with unwashed hands.

You may also decide to prevent access to fitness equipment or to discourage people working in the first couple of floors from using the elevator. Without properly planning the communication around this, you may end up with disgruntled employees, even with the best of your intentions.

So, whenever you have sessions, send out emails or place posters, remember to mention that these protocols are being encouraged for their safety. Let them know that their health and well-being is a top priority for the company.

Reduce Mental Stress

Many employees may need to realign themselves to working from office again, after being at home for so many months. They may also feel anxious about losing their job or having to take on more work when colleagues are unwell. To reduce stress, you may plan short meditation sessions, meetings with senior management and/or events with motivational speakers. Most importantly, give employees a chance to express their concerns and talk about their challenges, which can give you an opportunity to improve employee loyalty and boost productivity, according to a report by PwC.

Having a well-established plan also gives employees greater confidence in being able to work at a disinfected, safe facility. Take help from your HR, IT and legal teams to ensure a protected workspace for everyone.