A sanitary workplace is a clear indication of an employer’s care for the health and wellbeing of its employees. As a society, we have inherited a newly heightened awareness of hygiene standards as a direct consequence of recent events. That means that poor standards can greatly impact what an employee thinks of their employer and workplace.
Retention & resignation
As more and more employees began shifting their working approach from remote to hybrid models, research has found 78% of workers were concerned about how clean their working environment would be. Those thoughts often stem from basic hygiene measures not being met. It’s clear, then, that poor standards of hygiene, which trickle down from the top of businesses, can set a negative precedent. If this negativity continues to grow, there is potential for businesses to suffer from high staff turnover. Investing in a thorough hygiene strategy can help employers showcase the positive regard in which they hold their staff, leading to a happy, more productive workforce.
Responsible employers
It is currently estimated that around 40% of job leavers hand in their notice without having a new position lined up. Consequently, it shows that more people are leaving negative environments behind them in favour of greener, cleaner pastures.
Workers are now beginning to question what their employer’s actions mean with regards its workforce’s wellbeing. They are also scrutinising what impact its actions have on the planet. This leads the modern workforce to question whether their office is clean and whether the cleaning products used are planet friendly.
This sustainably conscious employee thinking driving a rise in the availability of and demand for sustainable cleaning products. With plastic-free soaps, as well as products made from recycled, as opposed to virgin, materials, hygiene providers are showing that they are listening to the clamour of the workforce. Manufacturers are striving for fresh innovations.
Green hygiene is more accessible than ever, so it’s important that employers respond. Research from Deloitte has found that 97% of executives see the world at a tipping point regarding climate change. Yet, from an employee perspective, as outlined by research from IBM, greener businesses are more appealing to work for. As such, there is an expectation for businesses to lead the way in shouldering environmental responsibility. Employees expect their employers to make positive, actionable steps towards a sustainable future, or they’ll move to a business with greener credentials. So, investing in a hygiene strategy that emphasises circularity and minimises the damage it has on the planet, can be a key driver for staff morale and retention.
Although recent events are now shrinking in our rear-view mirror, the impact they’ve had on our perception of hygiene standards is still very much in our collective headlights. For facility managers, it’s important to make the workplace safe and appealing to flexible workers. It’s a signifier of their care for employee health and wellbeing, helping boost productivity and reduce sickness.
Satino is one of the leading suppliers of sustainable hygiene products, offering tailored-to-fit solutions for businesses of all sizes and scopes. Why not follow us on LinkedIn or, for more information, you can get in touch with UKI head of sales AFH, Alasdair Sharp.
