Cleaning is a valuable investment. With global priorities in health, sustainability, and technological advancement, businesses are adapting to new norms. There are abundant opportunities for cleaning professionals to elevate standards, innovate services, and position themselves as leaders in fostering healthier environments.
Lockton’s 2022 report highlights the substantial costs associated with absenteeism and presenteeism: “Workers who are habitually absent (over 70 days) have a 65% chance of leaving the company.”
Investments in quality cleaning programs and practices lead to reduced operation costs, occupant wellness, building wellness, asset preservation as well as sustainability. Social returns are also increased as cleaning improves company image and customer satisfaction.
Businesses, including hospitals, sometimes view maintaining environmental hygiene and cleanliness as an opportunity to reduce budget costs. However, preventing sickness is always better and more cost effective than seeking a cure.
Per a Georgia-Pacific Professional Consumer Poll (2020), a large share of people are concerned about germs left on surfaces in shared break rooms or common areas.
$150B–$250B
annual cost of working while sick (NIOSH, 2022)
Presenteeism refers to the lost productivity that occurs when employees are not fully functioning in the workplace because of an illness, injury, or other condition. According to the Harvard Business Review, more employees are working when they are sick, costing employers about US$150 billion to US$250 billion — roughly 60% of the total cost of worker illness.
“We spend about 90% of our time indoors. Indoor Air Quality affects everyone, especially the most vulnerable – children, the elderly, and people with health conditions like asthma and heart disease.” — Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Not only does cleanliness improve productivity and generate occupant wellness, but it also helps preserve a company’s resources and creates opportunities for sustainable, efficient practices.
In schools, improved air quality is linked to fewer illness-related absences and better standardized test performance, ultimately influencing school funding. (Box Pure Air, 2024)
A building’s assets have life expectancies. Thorough maintenance plans and schedules help resources meet and even extend those expectancies.
