When it is time for employees to return to working in the office, it will be essential to have the office space is cleaned and sanitized so that workers and visitors feel safe there.
Public health officials recommend that businesses increase the frequency of cleaning, using proper disinfectants deemed effective by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) against viruses such as flu and coronavirus. They also recommend cleaning “high-touch” areas and making hand sanitizer readily available to employees and visitors.
Check out the web page that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) created to offer Guidance for Businesses and Employers, which includes a recommendation to perform routine environmental cleaning.
Office Pride offers the following suggestions for preparing to welcome employees back to work:
What should you do before employees return?
- Take the opportunity presented by an empty office to deep-clean floors, bathrooms, desk spaces and other heavily used office areas.
- Carpet, tile and other floor types should be deep-cleaned at least twice per year. Taking these measures will reduce the number of unwanted germs and dirt from being tracked throughout the office.
- The office supply inventory should be evaluated, as some employees might have used supplies to work from home. Make sure you have plenty of cleaning supplies and hand sanitizer, as well as pens, sticky notes, legal pads and other office supplies.
- If routine cleaning services were paused while employees were working from home, resume regular cleanings now. Office Pride offers weekly janitorial services, monthly cleaning and annual services to help provide a clean and healthy workplace environment.
Will office life be different?
Employees are likely going to want extra measures in place to ensure that their spaces are cleaned and disinfected. Before employees return, pre-order disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer, tissues and other paper. You should be prepared with all cleaning goods that are or should be used on a daily basis. Don’t forget to order extra paper towels and antibacterial soap, as you want to encourage frequent hand-washing.
You may need to rearrange some common areas, such as break rooms, kitchens and conference rooms. Push tables and chairs farther apart to encourage social distancing. You also may want to create several smaller meeting areas to prevent large gatherings. Increasing the number of virtual meetings to avoid gatherings helps as well.
Place disinfectant wipes and bottles of hand sanitizer throughout the office. Have one on every desk, if possible – so that employees can wipe down surfaces and clean their hands frequently. You may also want to stock the bathrooms with thoughtful touches such as hand cream, as hand sanitizer and soap are drying to the skin. People want to feel safe and comfortable.
Just as employees had to adjust to working from home, they will have to adjust to working in an office setting again, and you want to make the transition as seamless as possible. Taking these simple precautionary steps will help employees feel welcome and let them know that their employer cares about their health and the cleanliness of their work environment.
For more information on cleaning your office to encourage a healthy working environment, find an Office Pride near you. We will be happy to provide a free, no-obligation quote.
