Dear SparkleTeam Friends,
From shared collaborative spaces to energy-efficient designs, today’s office environment seeks to be more productive and inspiring than ever. Learn more about the unique challenges of the modern office, and how a little planning (and a good dose of new technologies) can help you create the most welcoming and most industrious work space yet.
Cleaning 2.0 Property management for the millennial office
Open office design – where employers share space, with limited (if any) designated rooms for individuals – has become a popular trend, thanks to its promotion of teamwork, communication and flexibility. But more people sharing the same space also creates its own set of property management challenges, with employees using the same areas for different purposes, and at different times. So maintaining clean and sanitized work zones becomes essential for preserving harmony and productivity among colleagues. To get the best strategy for your open office’s unique needs, consider these tips with your property management provider.
When to Clean
The “open space” work concept often applies to office hours, as employees can negotiate their work times based on the company’s needs. But this also throws the nine-to-five workday – and the customary night cleaning shift – out the window. Discuss with your staff and your property management provider on the best hours for cleaning, as a near-empty workspace can be cleaned far more efficiently and thoroughly.
A completely empty office, however, may be an exception rather than the rule in an open work space. To ensure limited workflow disruption, establish a set cleaning schedule – particularly for the restroom – that employees can both anticipate and work around. Be sure to also inform your staff when the schedule needs to be adjusted for more heavy-duty cleaning.
Managing Noise
Managing noise is already a major challenge in open work areas, with limited dividers to separate groups and individuals doing several tasks at once. No one needs a blaring vacuum cleaner in the mix. Discuss with your provider what quieter cleaning can be done when work and cleaning times overlaps. Also, be sure to clearly outline which time periods are best (and which are worst) for more intensive cleaning with potentially loud equipment – so there are no noisy surprises for your staffers.
Communal Cleaning
When multiple people share the same work space, everywhere can become a high traffic area. As each individual may have varying health concerns, using products that are both hypoallergenic and green-friendly becomes even more essential. Be sure your provider is using non-toxic and allergen-reducing products and equipment to minimize possible negative health reactions. And discuss how your provider can help manage health concerns, particularly during the flu season.
Despite the benefits of sharing space, everyone loves to arrive at a freshly cleaned work area. Cleaning between work periods also helps prevent cross contamination – a major concern in shared work stations and collaborative spaces. So if your office works in distinct shifts, explore whether cleaning between work flows is possible.
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Green News
Educators Honored for Teaching “The Science Behind Cleaning”
Two Purdue University Extension educators were honored by the American Cleaning Institute (ACI) for helping consumers learn the science behind cleaning products.
The Indiana-based educators, Mary Ann Lienhart Cross and Annetta Jones, received the Clean and Healthy Families & Communities Award at the National Extension Association of Family & Consumer Sciences (NEAFCS) Annual Session.
Industry News
Balancing “We” and “Me”: The Best Collaborative Spaces
The open office has a lot of critics these days. But it remains the dominant form of workplace design for a reason: It can foster collaboration, promote learning, and nurture a strong culture. It’s the right idea; unfortunately, it’s often poorly executed—even as a way to support collaboration.
There’s a natural rhythm to collaboration. People need to focus alone or in pairs to generate ideas or process information; then they come together as a group to build on those ideas or develop a shared point of view; and then they break apart again to take next steps.
