Without a doubt, the way we work has changed. Prior to COVID-19, most adults spent more of their waking hours at their workplace—in commercial, industrial, institutional buildings, and retail establishments—than at their homes. The pandemic, however, demonstrated that working from home was possible and productive for many.

Not every job, of course, could be done remotely; for example, front line workers, those who work in retail, or those on assembly lines in manufacturing plants. However, even these workplaces are now thinking more expansively as to how to give choices to their employees. For instance, manufacturing giant, Ford Motor Company, recently announced that once the pandemic is over, staff will be able to work remotely when their job allows it. Instead of assigned desks, workers will reserve office space when they need it—a process called “hoteling”.

What does the changing workplace mean for today’s property managers?

All of the above means that health and safety has taken on new priority in the workplace—in particular, for those returning to an actual building either full time, part-time, or in some form of “hotelling” arrangement. In response, building property managers are working with those responsible for operations, including human resources, on ways to incorporate new regulations as well as higher expectations. The goal is to find ways to give employees, customers, and visitors confidence in the answering the following questions:

  • Is the facility being professional maintained?
  • Is it being cleaned and disinfected in accordance with what is required by law and the latest protocols?
  • Is it being upgraded where needed to meet today’s higher standards of “healthy, clean, and safe”?

The above applies to employee expectations in terms of what people see as well as what they experience. Indoor facilities need to look spotless as well as being properly cleaned and disinfected on surfaces where you cannot see the germs. For instance, when visitors enter a store, a shopping mall, a dentist’s office, or a warehouse,the safety measures being taken should be obvious (for example, readily available hand sanitation stations, proper signage is in place, confirmation of cleaning is evident, etc.).

Let’s look at a few of the workplace changes since COVID-19, and specifically, how they relate to commercial cleaning and janitorial cleaning services as well as overall facility maintenance.

Demand for better air quality is impacting all properties

The research is now clear: the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 (similar to other flu-like viruses) transmits both via droplets and aerosolization. This means the germs can be suspended in the air and they can travel. Air quality therefore matters a great deal; in particular, how well the air is being circulated and filtered.

In a comprehensive survey by Honeywell (a company known for its leadership in air filtration and disinfection products), workers surveyed echoed these findings in their concern about the spread of COVID-19 via air transmission. At least 56% were more concerned about transmission through the air than through contact with a surface. And when asked about what poses a bigger threat to their safety, more than 41% believed that buildings with outdated ventilation systems were more dangerous than co-workers not following safety guidelines.

“If you have poor air quality […] you’re creating conditions where the virus can spread more easily,” says Paul Ghezzi, CEO, Kontrol Technologies, an industry leader in smart, healthy and sustainable buildings.

“Bad conditions can be created through very poor carbon dioxide levels, sloppy upkeep with your HVAC system and generally low-quality ventilation,” he adds, “And with concerns around workplace safety increasing as employees return to work, air quality is very much a part of this.”

All of this translates into a need for higher capacity ventilation and air filtration—obtained both through upgrades as well as more frequent cleaning, maintenance, testing and inspection. Such services should be available through a facility maintenance partner with proven expertise in these key areas.

Shared spaces: workplace cafeterias, high density areas, kitchens and washrooms

COVID has created a heightened awareness of cleanliness in washrooms and kitchens—for obvious reasons. In response, governments and related health agencies have issued strict protocols for COVID cleaning for commercial spaces, with specific instructions for these areas. These came with recommendations for the use of approved disinfectants and effective cleaning methods against COVID.

The pandemic also heightened the awareness of shared surfaces in public or high density areas. People now realize that the elevator buttons, railings, and door handles they touch numerous times during the day can be covered with germs. These features are typically found in areas such as reception, staff lounges, hallways, and visitor waiting areas.

Providing a new level of clean in building maintenance

When North America was in “shut down” mode, the above hazards were easily avoided. However, after months working apart, most employees say they want to come back to the office in order to be with other people, socialize and collaborate in ways they couldn’t do remotely. This means that property managers need to make sure that these shared spaces as well as high density areas (reception areas, shopping malls, etc.) have the required cleaning protocols in place.

The following measures will help with the above challenges. These can be implemented by property managers by working with their commercial cleaning and janitorial partners with the following recommendations

  • Being explicit about your cleaning and disinfectant regimen. Support what measures are being taken with signs explaining how safety is being maintained. Post and announce through social media and/or internal communications the new protocols, including cleaning frequency, now in place so everyone can see them. You might introduce the cleaning team.
  • The mere presence of cleaning products in bathrooms is enough to calm many fears. Let employees know they’re for general use. (An email is a great way to get the word out in addition to physical signage.) In addition to washrooms and kitchen areas, many companies have set up sanitary stations—including hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes – throughout common areas of the buildings it manages and make sure these areas are kept as tidy and spotless as possible.
  • Cleaning teams used to come in after hours, never to be seen by visitors or retail customers. Today, facilities that open to the public such as retail, are increasing doing “during the day” housekeeping. This helps maintain a visible presence so visitors as well as employees see the efforts of the organization to keep them healthy and safe.
  • The same applies to commercial buildings. If feasible, scheduling cleaning in common areas such as washrooms and cafeterias during office hours so employees can see for themselves that surfaces are being wiped down and washrooms attended to on a regular basis.

Some have suggested that touchless hand sanitizers and disinfectant wipes will become like exit signs, employees can see them from every vantage point.

  • Expect a higher demand for deeper cleaning, carried out more frequently, especially in those high density spaces such as reception areas, shared spaces as well as washrooms and cafeterias, two hot spots for spreading germs even without the threat of COVID.
  • More and more companies are looking into advanced cleaning technologies such as electrostatic cleaning. For example, when Southwest airlines opened up new travel schedules, the “Southwest Promise” promoted electrostatic spraying as a highlight of their travel safety and cleaning plans.

Heightened cleaning standards, touchless technology and training

Clearly, the industry is experiencing an increased demand for commercial cleaning and maintenance partners that are large enough and have the experience to handle what is now required in properties across North America. Such companies are able to provide certification—such as ISSA’s CIMS-GB—that there are quality standards and measurements in place to guarantee that “properly cleaned” goes way beyond just a slogan.

ISO programs, for example, mean that all work is followed up through audits and checklists to ensure the best practices are in place and all protocols being followed. Such companies also provide advanced training in disinfection, cleaning technologies, and the proper use of protective equipment. “Going with a large, well-known brand is what facility managers are going to be looking for,” says Tom Mulrooney, commercial services equities analyst. “Those companies are much better positioned as we enter the next phase of commercial cleaning.”

Kleenway leads the way in this regard in terms of its longevity in the industry, through quality ISO standards including a rigorous internal audit schedule, with three components for quality audits, management meetings, and onsite supervisory inspections. Kleenway also provides comprehensive staff onboarding and on-going training in provincially-mandated Health & Safety certifications, product and equipment usage, cleaning and maintenance methodologies.

Clearly, COVID-19 has changed the future of the workplace—changes that will continue long after all the lockdown measures are finally lifted. The cleaning and property maintenance industry has changed with it. Its leaders are ready and able to move buildings and the people who trust such buildings are ready to move into a new future of clean.