In today’s hybrid workplace, commercial cleaning services are helping to enhance the workplace experience by improving collaboration, productivity, sustainability, and, crucially, workplace health and wellbeing.
Introduction
The great workplace debate of hybrid vs in-person continues between employees and employers. Discussions surrounding collaboration, engagement, employee experience, and talent attraction and retention have some companies calling staff back to the workplace at least a few times a week – with Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday being the most popular – while others, like Virgin Money, are allowing employees to choose when and where they work.
Recent research from Savills found that workplace occupancy is slowly on the rise. In London’s West End, occupancy rose from 50% to 62% between February 2023 and September 2023, driven mainly by the Finance sector (excluding Insurance). Some fast-growth, UK-headquartered AI companies also report over 85% occupancy rates.
Interestingly, though, insights from the Institute of Directors (IoD) reveal a compelling trend among business leaders: a resounding 84%, as per an IoD survey conducted in September 2023, are forecasting a sustained and significant element of remote work in their workforce strategy for their office-based staff over the next few years.
While occupancy levels and working styles vary by company, location, and sector, it’s likely that hybrid working, however it may look, is here to stay.
Making the Office Worth the Commute
With this change in workplace dynamics, we see many organisations, including occupiers, property developers and landlords, repurposing and redefining their spaces to accommodate hybrid working patterns and attract and retain employees, ensuring that when hybrid workers come in, it is worth the commute.
With inclusive office design, sustainability, social spaces, and health and wellbeing amenities some of the many factors influencing employees’ decisions to commute, organisations increasingly recognise the significant contribution workplace cleaning makes, too.
Here are three ways commercial cleaning services are helping elevate the hybrid workplace experience by empowering efficiency, collaboration, sustainability and, importantly, health and wellbeing.
Prioritising Sustainability in the Workplace
Just as commute-worthy office space can help companies attract and retain top talent, organisations that actively prioritise sustainability are becoming more appealing to employees – in a recent Deloitte survey, 40% of Gen Z and Millennials would consider switching jobs based on environmental concerns.
But this shift isn’t just limited to how a company conducts its business; it’s actively reshaping workplace expectations, including the sustainability of the physical space.
To attract and retain the eco-conscious, organisations are making their workplaces greener by introducing initiatives like hybrid working policies to reduce commuting-related carbon, recycling water, prioritising air quality, creating biodiverse spaces, and implementing green cleaning practices and recycling schemes.
Green cleaning, for example, incorporates energy-efficient equipment and practices, reducing toxic chemicals, limiting waste generation, and conserving natural resources while maintaining a clean, healthy, hygienic indoor environment.
In office and mixed-use environments, Andron prioritises chemical-free cleaning products into its green cleaning service. Aside from eliminating germs, these non-hazardous, non-irritant and non-carcinogenic products are environmentally friendly and free of Volatile Organic Compounds, with no impact to indoor air quality. Best-in-class equipment helps us remove further airborne contaminants and prevent their circulation.
Additionally, in a hybrid workplace, areas may be used less than others, which presents opportunities to reduce energy consumption and product usage. Through data-informed cleaning services staffed by cleaning professionals committed to sustainability, Andron reduces energy, waste and product use by only cleaning when needed.
Clean air, reduced exposure to harmful chemicals, and a commitment to sustainability can help you ensure the office is compelling, engaging and productive.
Empowering Collaboration Through Technology
Hybrid workspaces promote collaboration, creativity, and adaptability, with many office spaces trending towards open-plan layouts, collaboration spaces and break-out areas for teamwork, and even quiet pods for those who want to focus on deep work.
These flexible environments allow employees to choose where and how they work, providing a variety of spaces to accommodate different work styles and preferences.
However, determining when and where cleaning should occur can be difficult as occupancy can often be unpredictable and fluctuate. It’s, therefore, important to fully understand how employees use your spaces to get the most out of your cleaning services—those on the unprepared side risk wasting resources, time, and money.
Andron’s cleaning teams use technology to gather valuable, real-time insights into workplace usage. For example, by positioning connected sensors throughout a building, we anonymously count the number of people entering an area. Cleaning operatives then receive alerts when these high-traffic spaces are due for cleaning, usually after a set number of occupiers, ensuring safe and hygienic spaces and a seamless, collaborative, uninterrupted employee experience.
Utilising data this way helps us move from static cleaning schedules to on-demand, reactive cleaning, which creates extra time for cleaners to carry out periodic cleaning and hygiene-related tasks. The built-in cloud reporting also shows work completed for solid audit and compliance trails.
Deploying robotic floor cleaners alongside our operatives is also helping optimise cleaning services. While robots handle routine tasks, our cleaners can concentrate on more complex tasks to meet customer expectations and deliver exceptional cleaning experiences.
Ultimately, embracing technology assures cleaning is built around how employees use your workplace. Every space is cleaned when needed without disrupting employees – empowering them to collaborate more effectively and create their best work.
Boosting Employee Wellbeing and Productivity Through Safe and Inviting Spaces
High-traffic collaboration spaces, such as meeting rooms and communal spaces, are central hubs where employees gather to collaborate, brainstorm, and bring their visions to life.
Workplace wellness has also become increasingly important, with yoga and spin studios, gyms, and relaxation areas now prominent features in the hybrid workplace, offering employees space to workout, relax, and recharge their batteries.
However, they are also prone to accumulating viruses, bacteria and clutter due to the increased frequency of human interaction.
Regular cleaning throughout the day, using data to inform protocols based on usage, helps minimise the risk of illnesses spreading and ensures employees get that much-needed endorphin boost without interruption. Occupiers also receive that extra layer of reassurance as they witness the cleaning being carried out instead of invisible after-hours cleaning, fostering a greater sense of confidence in the cleanliness of their spaces.
Clean and clutter-free collaboration and wellness spaces are not just a cosmetic choice but a crucial factor influencing productivity. Exceptionally maintained areas are less likely to cause distraction – contributing to an overall boost in employee wellbeing and productivity.
The combination of data-driven cleaning practices and the expertise of friendly, well-trained cleaning operatives ensures that your employees consistently experience safe, healthy, and welcoming spaces, no matter when they work.
How Andron can help your employees thrive in the hybrid workplace
At Andron, we believe exceptional experiences start with a great foundation – a clean, hygienic, and safe workspace. By combining innovation, data, cutting-edge technology, a dedicated team of professionals, and a concrete commitment to sustainable practices, we deliver flexible and agile cleaning services bespoke to you and the ever-changing hybrid workplace. This tailor-made approach means anyone who works in or visits your building receives a cleaner, greener, and more inviting experience while you benefit from maximum value for money.
Contact us to learn how we can support your hybrid workplace.