Lighten the Load: The Value of Outsourcing Professional Facility Services
Facility maintenance is a complex responsibility, with many elements and processes that must align to ensure a building runs smoothly. One of the core elements of facility maintenance is a building’s cleaning program. A robust, effective facility cleaning program not only helps prevent the spread of germs, but can also boost a company’s image and contribute to a positive customer and employee experience. Cleaning also continues to be in the spotlight as people’s expectations have heightened as a result of the pandemic. A recent survey found that Americans are putting increased emphasis on the cleanliness of the workplace, with nearly 90 percent of respondents feeling that workplace cleaning protocols are important1.
Keeping a facility clean around the clock is a multifaceted operation, with a long to-do list. Outsourcing more difficult and/or time-consuming tasks can help ease the burden for both facility managers and employees to allow them to focus on other responsibilities. In doing so, you can add tremendous value to your building by accomplishing more tasks in the same amount of time and knowing that important maintenance duties are being completed on schedule to keep your building operating at and looking its best.
Save Money While Improving Cleanliness
Outsourcing services has always been a cost-effective way for businesses to improve their bottom line. Essentially, it reduces overhead costs and allows you to pay exactly for the service needed. When it comes to cleaning, outsourcing select professional services allows facility managers to cut down in-house cleaning time, while achieving increased and consistent cleaning results. Even better, outsourced professionals provide their own top-of-the line equipment and products that are specifically designed to complete the task hired for. This eliminates the need to purchase and maintain costly equipment and products that are only used for one component of the facility.
It's important for facility managers to determine what facility services make sense to outsource and what is more beneficial to keep in-house. For example, cleaning and laundering facility floor mats can be an extremely time-consuming, labor-intensive task for employees. On top of that, it must be performed regularly as mats can get saturated and dirty very easily. By outsourcing a commercial floor mat program, mats will be professionally cleaned, laundered and replaced on a routine basis to maximize performance. In addition, with no inventory investment, it eliminates the need to purchase or replace mats. Outsourcing intensive tasks such as floor mat cleaning helps business save time, money and manpower, while also providing the peace of mind that it will still be completed correctly and on time.
Alleviate Stress and Staffing Challenges
Like most job roles, facility management has its stressors. Increased demands and unpredictable building issues can contribute. Respondents to a recent Building Operating Management survey regarding stress among facility managers found that the primary job-related stressor, cited that at 59 percent, is not having enough time in the day to get everything done2. Enabling facility managers to outsource laborious facility services can help ease stress so that they are not constantly bogged down with routine cleaning and scheduling duties. Since outsourced cleaning professionals track their cleaning tasks and maintain a certain level of cleanliness, facility managers will have more time to focus on other building matters and quickly tend to any urgent issues that may arise. This can help alleviate facility manager burnout.
In addition to freeing up valuable time, outsourcing facility services can help improve staffing challenges. Facility managers won’t need to spend time recruiting, hiring and training additional staff for often high-turnover cleaning positions – especially during the current turbulent job market. This helps save headaches and resources, knowing that job will be completed by trained, outsourced professionals. Outsourcing also eliminates the need to pull in employees that weren’t hired for cleaning, which can also aid in employee retention.
Make Everyone Feel More Comfortable
A clean work environment has been linked to improved mental health. It can help increase productivity, heighten focus and even provide a happiness boost3. With the amount of time people spend at work, it’s important to provide a clean and welcoming environment that people feel comfortable in. Outsourcing less glamorous, yet critical, jobs such as deep cleaning bathrooms can help ensure a positive restroom experience for all building occupants and ease the workload for employees as well.
Since restrooms require a lot of attention, some facility managers partner with a service provider to ease the burden. In-house staff typically handles spot cleaning and daily cleaning, while a service provider handles inventory management and deep cleaning. Outsourcing restroom deep cleaning eliminates the need for employees to do the heavy lifting and the extra dirty work. It also eliminates the need to stock auto scrubbers, dry vacuums, wet vacuums, pressure washers and grout cleaning machines. By freeing up inventory space and limiting labor associated with ordering and inventory management, employees can focus on their core responsibilities, eliminate guess work and let out a sigh of relief that they don’t have to deep clean the restroom.
Find the Perfect Fit
When looking to outsource professional facility services, thoroughly research and compare providers to see who will provide the most value-add to your facility, employees and customers. The right service provider should complement and boost your existing in-house cleaning program. Look for a partner who is flexible to fit your specific needs and can adapt quickly to any changes that you need – whether an increase or decrease in service – to protect your investment.
Outsourcing is not taking the easy way out. If it simultaneously boosts the bottom line and improves employee morale, it’s a smart business move and a win-win situation for all building occupants. You can have the peace of mind knowing that specific facility services are always completed on time and on schedule to help improve your image, protect your business, save money and provide an inviting atmosphere for everyone.
For more information about facility services offerings from Cintas, visit cintas.com/facilityservices.