Considering how employees stay in the workplace most of the day, it’s unsurprising for that much activity to create a mess. Whether they’re crumpled-up pieces of paper or skewed desktop units, employees will create all kinds of disarray the longer they’re there. But even though they pick up after themselves, that doesn’t mean the workplace is immediately squeaky clean.
What makes dirt so troublesome is how easy it is to get into anything. If you thought that cluttered paperwork was the only thing you cleaned up, you’re likely missing out on a lot more dirt. And given how the workplace is a public environment, you can only imagine the kinds of germs and bacteria accumulating after going unnoticed for so long. Once they turn into viral diseases, productivity will decrease as the workforce becomes infected.
To keep employees safe and secure, identify where most of the dirt is concentrated, such as the following:
1. Break Room
Keeping a vehicle running for countless miles without the engine breaking down is impossible. Similarly, pushing the workforce to produce quality results will only lead to overfatigue and burnout. To regulate their mental well-being, scheduling breaks during their work hours isn’t enough. Because even though they’re not working, being in a working environment won’t elude their minds from relaxing, even for a moment.
That’s why many companies have included a break room in designing offices. Giving them a room separate from the work environment encourages them to relax much better. However, considering its purpose, most employees occupy it regularly. What used to be rugs and carpets in optimal condition have grown worn under so much foot traffic, and where the dining area used to be spotless is now chock-full of dirt that’s both visible and invisible to the naked eye.
It’s best to assume that everything in the break room is covered in dirt from every corner. Those vending machines look ‘clean,’ but having so many people touch them is anything but. Because they’re used to heat food, microwaves are likely contaminated with all kinds of bacteria since steam and food combined turn microwaves into a safety hazard for those who frequently use them.
2. Work Cubicle (Computer Equipment)
Employees spend the majority of their time in the office. Considering how long that is, it’s safe to say that their workspace was given too much attention, especially everything they frequently use. Their desk areas often have the short end of the stick since that’s where they stay the most. Aside from the employee, they became the ‘landing area’ when more physical work was distributed, particularly paperwork and other documents.
Because of how dull it is to see papers piled on their desks, some employees decided to clean up their desks and give them small decorations to liven things up a little more. But more often than not, the more you personalize a work desk, the more likely it is to get cluttered. When that happens, what’s supposed to be calming can easily become another headache.
Sitting on top of your desk is most likely your desktop, complete with a mouse and keyboard. Since they’re tools provided by the company, most employees are expected to use them for work. Given that the employees have their hands on these devices for hours every day, they’ll accumulate dust, food particles, and even dead skin cells over time.
3. Touchpoints
Office buildings have countless areas that employees frequently touch, particularly stairwells, door handles, and elevator shafts. After all, it’s almost impossible for everyone to get to where they need to go without accessing these touchpoints. But because they receive a lot of traffic day after day, they’re some of the dirtiest areas in the office.
4. Bathroom
Even outside the office, everyone knows how many germs and bacteria are found in restrooms. Considering how these places are where people relieve themselves, their hands have already come into contact with their private areas. Because of that, washing your hands could be challenging since faucets are covered in dirt.
5. Office Pantry
While some offices only have break rooms, others also include a kitchen or pantry to separate equipment for handling food and solely dedicate the break room as the place where employees can relax. But because it’s where food is being made, an office pantry is the perfect breeding ground for cultivating all kinds of dirt. Whether on the coffee maker or the oven, as long as people use them, they already have dirt on them.
Takeaway
Running a business requires multiple people onboard. However, the more people there are, the less likely it is for the office to remain as pristine as the first time it was designed. After all, people carry dirt wherever they go. Because of this, dirt builds up in so many areas in the office, especially those that receive plenty of traffic each day.
