| The commercial cleaning industry remains slow in | | | | accidents and spillages, minimising the required clean-up |
| adopting daytime cleaning despite increasing evidence | | | | and promoting a clean and hygienic working |
| that demonstrates the added benefits of changing | | | | atmosphere. |
| from traditional evening and early morning working | | | | The cleaning contractor sometimes has to take a |
| hours. An increasing number of commercial cleaning | | | | flexible approach with the customer as well to ensure |
| companies now offer some form of daytime cleaning | | | | the commercial cleaning service fits within their |
| within their product portfolio, but few have shown | | | | day-to-day operation. It is essential to prevent any |
| much eagerness to encourage a widespread switch | | | | disruption to their core activities and ensure there is no |
| to this alternative cleaning format. | | | | potential damage to their reputation or image. With this |
| Daytime cleaning offers a host of business and | | | | in mind, it is sometimes necessary to downplay the |
| operational benefits for both the cleaning contractor | | | | cleaning operation and let workers just blend in with |
| and customer including reduced costs, increased | | | | the staff around them. |
| productivity, enhanced customer care, improved | | | | For example, to have cleaning staff within a bakery |
| recruitment and an energised workforce. In fact, more | | | | during opening hours would give off the wrong |
| and more customers are choosing daytime | | | | impression that the area was overly dirty. Obviously, |
| commercial cleaning and reaping the associated | | | | some cleaning already took place within the bakery |
| benefits. | | | | during the day, but this was handled by the chefs so it |
| However, this shouldn't be seen as merely a change in | | | | was not obvious to in-store customers. You could |
| working hours. Daytime cleaning offers the opportunity | | | | therefore dress cleaning staff up as chefs so visitors |
| to undertake a new working concept that provides | | | | to the store were none the wiser. |
| greater flexibility and the ability to raise the profile of | | | | With recruitment and retention of staff a key challenge |
| commercial cleaning within an organisation. There is a | | | | for most commercial cleaning companies, daytime |
| different thought process involved here, and | | | | cleaning is an increasingly attractive proposition as it |
| commercial cleaning companies need to re-educate | | | | expands the available employment pool and can |
| their customers so they truly understand the | | | | attract a higher calibre of employee. Frequent staff |
| opportunities that exist. | | | | turnover can negatively impact on standards and |
| One of the first benefits noticed by companies when | | | | increase training costs. This lack of suitable employees |
| switching to daytime cleaning is a change in customer | | | | also drives up wage levels for out of hours cleaning |
| and staff perception. The Increase in the visibility of | | | | staff, increasing costs to customers and reducing |
| cleaning staff raises the overall awareness of the | | | | margins for cleaning contractors. These pay increases |
| process, highlighting its importance and demonstrating | | | | will eventually become unsustainable and customers |
| the commitment to high standards. Building occupants | | | | will simply just refuse to pay. |
| tend to show more respect towards cleaning workers | | | | With a bit of intelligent thinking commercial cleaning |
| when they see them working hard to keep the building | | | | companies can overcome increasingly difficult |
| clean, so greater care is often taken by staff and | | | | recruitment problems and also avoid paying premium |
| visitors as a result. In addition, daytime cleaning also | | | | wages associated with evening, early morning cleaning |
| allows cleaners to work closer with the client and its | | | | operations. For example, switching cleaning hours to |
| staff leading to better communication and often | | | | 9.30am to 3.00pm opens up the work opportunity for |
| improved results. | | | | working parents looking for employment, who still need |
| Having cleaning staff available during a building's | | | | to make the daily school run. |
| opening hours ensures a consistent level of cleanliness | | | | Sociable working hours are proven to create a better |
| throughout the day. With a traditional service, a building | | | | motivated and productive workforce. As a result, |
| is likely to be clean at the beginning of the day and | | | | daytime cleaning, not only allows companies to |
| then standards gradually deteriorate until cleaning staff | | | | maintain a higher standard, but is achievable with |
| return the following evening or morning. This is not an | | | | fewer staff using less equipment. Furthermore, |
| ideal scenario, especially in a retail environment, where | | | | companies can benefit from other cost savings as a |
| it is difficult to anticipate possible problems and precise | | | | result of switching to this format. Offices and sites can |
| commercial cleaning requirements. | | | | be shut down earlier and opened later, reducing energy |
| Daytime cleaning offers new levels of flexibility and the | | | | needs and minimising security requirements. |
| opportunity to respond to any situation. Schedules can | | | | When you consider the economic and quality benefits |
| be adapted to better meet the needs of customers | | | | available, combined with enhanced working conditions |
| whether this is identifying customer peaks in a retail | | | | for your staff, daytime cleaning makes a lot of sense. |
| store, or arranging job allocations based on the planned | | | | This is the way the industry will go, and it will enable |
| usage of meeting rooms. Moreover, it enables an | | | | commercial cleaning companies to work closer and |
| immediate response in the case of unforeseen | | | | better with their customers and really add value. |