According to a recent CIPD study, the average employer estimated that 54% of their workforce were continuously working from home. This has contributed to a surge in businesses adopting a system of agile working, which has made the importance of office cleaning even greater. Many employees now have the ability to be more flexible with their working hours and conditions to enable them to work to their best ability.
Agile working gives employees the freedom to commute to the office at any given time throughout the week, offering a sense of freedom that a predesignated schedule wouldn’t allow. This freedom brings with it an added pressure on businesses to maintain office cleanliness, however, with employees coming into contact with office equipment at irregular intervals throughout the day. In light of Public Health England’s January 2021 figures report, in which data suggests that offices have been victim to more COVID-19 outbreaks than any other workplace, it is therefore integral that thorough cleaning initiatives are put in place.
In a December 2020 Government study, results suggested that coronavirus particulates can remain on inanimate surfaces for up to nine days. Hot desking, wherein a group of workers share a single workstation during different shifts, thus presents a greater challenge to businesses operating on an agile working system. While ideal for encouraging open discussion, hot desking increases the risk of cross-contamination between colleagues, particularly if they are coming into the office at different times throughout the day. Twice daily office cleaning, both prior to and after the office day, is thus not practical for ensuring the safety of all employees; a far more vigorous or flexible cleaning routine is required.
Established for the benefit of UK employers, these guidelines ensure the safety of all employees returning to the office, who may need reassurance from their employers regarding the safety of their business’ workspace. One of the new guidelines recommends that businesses reinforce their cleaning processes, noting that workplaces should undergo frequent cleaning in high-contact areas.
Our team of operatives here at Atkins Gregory can provide regular disinfectant and cleaning services to suit your company’s individual requirements, including allotted times outside of office hours to minimise contact with your employees. Using the latest technologies and equipment, our experts are trained to leave no stone unturned when it comes to deep office cleaning, including frequent touchpoints and communal spaces. Employees can feel at ease knowing that the desk they’re sharing has met the Government’s COVID-19 guidelines, irrespective of the number or frequency of workers who have visited the office throughout the day.
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