At first, you might think that restarting your business as pandemic restrictions ease is as simple as reopening your doors: you choose a date, tell your employees to return to the office, and conduct business as usual. Unfortunately, reopening your business or facility isn’t that easy—and following new safety precautions and easing employee concerns will require time, effort, and professional support.
As more business owners welcome employees back, cleanliness is more important than ever. Business can’t be put on hold forever, and business owners must consider how to safely open while still protecting their employees and customers.
Whether you’re welcoming employees back to work after a few months or slowly returning to full capacity, Coverall, the nation’s leading franchisor of commercial cleaning services, offers these important tips all companies should consider before reopening their doors.
Create a Strategic Commercial Cleaning Plan
The CDC has said that the key to successfully reopening any facility is to create a workplace cleaning plan. When it comes to minimizing the spread of COVID-19 and other germs, hiring a reputable commercial cleaning provider can help alleviate the responsibility of cleaning for your team. Expert daily cleaning will give you and your employees peace of mind, knowing your workplace’s cleanliness is in the hands of professionals.
Assess Your Business’ Traffic Flow
Social distancing can help minimize the spread of COVID-19, according to the CDC. As you plan to return to work, think about how traffic flows throughout your work environment.
Although high-traffic areas will vary with available space and industry, it is helpful to identify where employees are likely to come within six feet of one another. Do employees consistently crowd near the restrooms or the water cooler? Are employees constantly walking between the break room and their desks?
To encourage social distancing, consider asking employees to move clockwise through the office or create one-way walkways. For the best results, invest in signage or floor markers to remind your team to follow the safest flow of traffic. Some high-traffic areas may require additional cleaning and direction. These include:
- Meeting spaces and conference rooms
- Kitchen and break room areas
- Reception areas
- Building entrances, elevators, and staircases
- Restrooms
Be Aware of High-Touch Areas
Minimizing the spread of COVID-19 starts with targeting the high-touch point surfaces and areas in your facility that can be breeding grounds for bacteria and viruses. High-traffic areas, including restrooms and entryways, should be professionally cleaned each day to keep employees safe. Additionally, be sure to focus on high-touch areas such as:
- Doorknobs
- Light switches
- Stair rails
- Desks
- Sinks
- Tables
Don’t Forget About Routine Maintenance
In addition to daily cleaning, staying on top of routine cleaning and disinfection can help ease employee’s concerns when returning to the workplace while addressing the long-term needs of your facility.
However, there’s no one-size-fits-all maintenance plan, and it’s important to consider your facility’s needs to determine the best approach. When it comes to routine cleaning, your facility size, frequency of service, and layout of the space all weigh heavily in designing your clean routine.
Make Commercial Cleaning Part of Your Workplace Reopening Plan
A clean work environment is always essential and non-negotiable in the age of COVID-19. As more businesses reopen their doors, business owners are hiring professional commercial cleaning services to ease employee concerns, minimize sick days, and keep their workplace running efficiently.
At Coverall, our Health-Based Cleaning System® protocols and proprietary Core 4® Process remove the maximum amount of dirt, germs, and bacteria. We use hospital-grade cleaners, microfiber cloths, no-dip flat mops, and HEPA filters to create an exceptionally clean environment for your employees and customers.
When implementing your reopening strategy, keep in mind that not all areas will require the same amount of attention. If you’re unsure which areas need additional cleaning, Coverall’s franchise business owners will assess your facility to determine what cleaning services are necessary.
The commercial cleaning services provided by a Coverall Franchised Business help minimize the spread of COVID-19 and other germs by focusing on high-touch areas throughout your facility. Their general cleaning services include vacuuming, mopping, surface wiping, dusting, and trash removal. Ask us about additional preventative maintenance, on-demand cleaning services, and customized commercial cleaning services tailored to the unique needs of your facility.
Every Coverall independently owned and operated franchised business owner values your trust and wants to help make your staff’s return to work a positive experience. Ready to reopen your business? Get a free, easy, no-hassle quote today.