Cleaning budget cuts make for dirty work, say staff

MORE than one in four workers described their office as "dirty" and more said some of their colleagues had poor personal hygiene, a new study revealed yesterday.

A survey of 1,000 workers showed two out of five firms had cut back on cleaning and maintaining offices because of the recession.

The research revealed a picture of clutter and even danger in workplaces across the country, leading to the spread of germs and adding to the huge problem of sickness absence.

One in ten of those questioned described their office toilets as "filthy", a quarter said colleagues did not clean up after themselves and over a third complained their work environment was unsafe.

Half of those polled said they were embarrassed about clients or customers visiting their office because of a lack of cleanliness.

Esther Wassmann, managing director of Resource GB, who carried out the survey, said: "Managers must make employee wellbeing an absolute priority. Understandably, businesses are looking to reduce overheads, however neglecting proper cleaning and maintenance will only add to the cost of sickness absence during the recession.

"It is clear the cuts made to cleaning and maintenance budgets are having an impact on the workforce as well as putting off potential customers at a time when every business should be trying to attract new business."