Have you got a call to go back to the office yet? If you haven’t, you are one of the very few lucky people. There are no more restrictions and although hybrid working is reshaping most industries, many people are reluctant to go back to the office. It seems that one of the main reasons for that is the cleanliness at the workspace. A survey conducted at the end of 2021 reports that a whopping 87% of tech employees would like their place of work to be in a better (cleaner) condition. Let’s look at some of the reasons why that might be the case.
Clear Focus
Untidy or dirty places make it really hard for people to concentrate and be productive. For tech employees clear focus is very important so they can execute their tasks correctly and on time. Advanced technology is anything but a simple thing to create and operate. That’s why big tech companies usually make their offices white and very minimalistic. Clean environment boosts creativity and improves concentration. Eventually that leads to a much better performance at work.
Potential Infectious Diseases
COVID may not be a major health threat like it used to be at the early days of the pandemic, but it doesn’t mean that there aren’t other viruses and bacteria that could make us really sick. During the course of the pandemic, tech employees worked mostly from home. After 2 years of isolation and limited exposure to contacts, the immune system becomes less prepared to fight various infections. If the office is unclean and not sanitised regularly enough, it would be very easy for the returning workers to contract a disease.
Mental Health
While some people can’t wait to go back to socialising at work, others feel really anxious about it. Many individuals who work in the tech industry are introverts. Staying at home or being surrounded by their closest people was much easier than spending the day at a buzzing office. Sometimes, even the thought of having to share certain spaces with others, like a microwave, the fridge, the toilet, is uncomfortable. Having professional cleaners disinfecting those communal spaces at the office gives a level of reassurance to employees with a variety of anxiety disorders.
Having to Change Patterns and Habits
Working from home, many people have created certain patterns and habits. Also, they have become accustomed to the way they like their working environment to be maintained. If the level of cleanliness at the office doesn’t match what they are now used to, it is only normal for them to be reluctant to go back. And therefore, to demand a cleaner office.
Do you think local offices are maintained in a good and healthy condition? Do employers need to do more to create a better environment for their employees? Commercial cleaning has been on the rise in the past 2 years and it seems like the demand for the service will continue to grow.