May 09, 2023

Investing in quality sees facility managers clean up

Against a backdrop of staff shortages and rising operational costs, how can facilities actually cut costs by investing in cleaning and hygiene?

Facility management teams are facing higher expectations in terms of hygiene and safety than ever before. Along with challenges in the sector surrounding staff shortages, the increasing demand for clear sustainability credentials, and tighter constraints on budgets due to increased operational costs – facilities will be reassessing their cleaning and hygiene practices against competing criteria of productivity, costs, and reputation.

IT PAYS TO PROMOTE PRODUCTIVITY

Historically, the cleaning industry has experienced high turnover rates and have struggled with the attraction of new staff and retention of existing staff1.

Absenteeism is a productivity-killer, and the cost of sick days can really add up. If the average worker takes on average 3 sick days every year, in a business of 100 employees you could be looking at costs of around £35,000 per year2. Costs that seem altogether high when considering the simple solutions available. When it comes to hand hygiene, touch-free soap and sanitiser dispensers - which are preferred by 92% of people3 - help avoid any disruption to workflow, as well as work harder to avoid the spread of germs among teams. Our LumecelTM Autofoam touch-free dispensers use hygienically sealed refills in order to prevent cross-contamination, offer concentrated dosing for better cost in use, and are battery-free which means they are both durable and more sustainable. Protecting productivity can be simple if you provide products that are built to last, reducing the need to spend time and money on sourcing replacements when lower quality alternatives let you down.

Inefficient practices and slow systems are also enemies of productivity and could be costing your business. According to research from IDC4 inefficient processes can cost companies 20-30% in revenue every year and with 3,000 hours of labour lost every year due to poor productivity practices5, investing in products that can help you deliver faster is vital for your bottom line and client satisfaction. Opting for long-lasting products that have been ergonomically designed such as our janitorial cleaning carts, will not only help protect your staff from injury but will have a positive impact on workflow and efficiency.

MAXIMISING WORKFLOW. MINIMISING COSTS.

When considering hygiene and cleanliness, facilities need to consider that it certainly doesn’t pay to cut corners. 87% of people agreed that the quality of hygiene and cleaning products provided affect users' perception of a facility6. Encouraging your clients to invest in quality solutions will help them build trust with their employees, facility users and customers.

What about workflows? With even just an extra five seconds in workflow causing a loss of profit7, using products that will help, not hinder, your staff is key. Opting for ergonomically designed, durable products that won't need replacing frequently will help you get the most from your teams, safely.

REAP THE REWARDS OF A GOOD REPUTATION

In this post-pandemic world, facilities are facing growing pressure from customers regarding cleaning and hygiene. The cost of a bad reputation could be catastrophic. 93% of facility operators know that the visibility of their hygiene and cleaning measures influences how their users perceive it8. Providing high-quality products that are not only visible but also aesthetically pleasing will improve user satisfaction and keep clients happy and reassured.

When it comes to facility management, the key is to opt for products that are built to last. Investing in durable cleaning and hygiene solutions upfront will pay dividends in the long run, paying out in terms of reputation, productivity and even sustainability.

Sources:

  1. https://cmmonline.com/articles/tackling-employee-turnover-with-tools-of-the-trade
  2. Avg salary taken from Olive Pometsky GQ Magazine
  3. RCP Facebook Hand Hygiene Survey 2020
  4. IDC
  5. Honeywell study: Unlocking Hidden Cost in the Distribution Center.
  6. RCP Facebook Research
  7. Honeywell study: Unlocking Hidden Cost in the Distribution Center.
  8. Changing Workplaces

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