Post Covid Cleaning Services for Co-Working Spaces & Hybrid Offices
The pandemic forever changed how we work – and how we clean workplaces. Where pre-2020 commercial cleaners almost exclusively provided janitorial services and basic cleaning to offices or large commercial facilities, now professionals are asked about cleaning co-working spaces and hybrid work offices as well as those that are back to “business as usual.”
Professional cleaners also are fielding questions about disinfection vs. cleaning. They are answering questions about high-touch areas and electrostatic sprayers. The new normal includes all of these versions of work environments and services, plus many more. Office Pride Commercial Cleaning Services can customize your cleaning plan to support any situation and meet the needs of any industry or workspace.
The Hybrid Model
During COVID, we learned that a whopping 70 million U.S. workers can do their jobs remotely. Additionally, most people learned they liked working remotely, at least part of the time. A Gallup Poll in late 2022 showed that 55% of workers who are capable of working remotely expected work in a hybrid model going forward. Of those capable of working remotely, 61% said they would prefer a hybrid model over working fully remote or fully in an office.
Minimizing the Sharing of Germs
Greg Carr, owner of Office Pride of Tampa-Clearwater, recommends cleaning schedules be aligned with employee schedules, which could determine whether an office would be cleaned early in the morning, at midday or in the evening. In businesses that have moved to a smaller space with more remote workers, or where employees are working different days, frequency of cleanings also may change. In offices with co-working spaces, where employees work different days but share desks, you may want to clean every time a different team comes into the office to minimize the sharing of germs.
“Even in offices that have returned to business as usual, it’s best practice to do a midweek cleaning and to use electrostatic sprayers to disinfect common areas,” Carr says.
Be sure to communicate with employees about when and how often the office is being cleaned. That will help them feel safe at work. Encourage them to give feedback and voice any concerns so that you can share them with your professional cleaners.
Less Foot Traffic, Closer Quarters
To help your professional cleaning company determine an optimal schedule, be prepared to tell them when people are in your office, whether multiple groups are in the office on particular days and whether employees are sharing workspaces.
Prevent Distractions
Employees whose workstations feel messy or unorganized, or who are worried about catching germs from their desk mate, may be distracted and unproductive. To help employees stay healthy, make sure hygiene items such as hand sanitizer and tissues are readily available throughout the office and in common areas like conference rooms. You also may want to consider installing hands-free restroom fixtures such as soap dispensers, faucets and paper towel dispensers. Office Pride cleaners are able to restock consumables like paper towels and tissues as often as necessary.
Prevent Damage
Jerry Camacho, the owner of Office Pride of Anaheim-Irvine, says electrostatic sprayers can be used to disinfect shared workstations or offices without damaging computers, keyboards, telephones or other electronics.
He also noted that even in offices with lower foot traffic, you need just as much cleaning as before – if not more. “Less activity in the office can lead to more dust and allergens accumulating on surfaces and office equipment, especially in an older facility,” Camacho says. “So, you still have to dust, sweep, mop and vacuum frequently.”
Flexible Service
Whatever schedule your office is working on, Office Pride can customize your business’s cleaning plan based on your needs. To learn more about the cleaning services Office Pride offers in your area, please check out our franchise locations and call your nearest franchise location to request a free custom quote for all your cleaning and disinfecting needs.