If you’re running an office, then you’ll need to keep it clean and tidy. Fail to do so and productivity will surely fall off a cliff. After all, it’s hard to concentrate when you’re surrounded by mess, and the air is filled with dust motes and the smell of old grime.
Office managers have two options when it comes to cleaning. They can either hire an in-house team, or they can outsource to a specialist organisation. Both options have their upsides and downsides, and the one you choose will depend on the size and shape of the office in question. Let’s examine both options in turn.
Why Hire a Professional Cleaner?
Lower Administrative Burden
When you hire your own cleaners, you’ll need to sort out their paperwork and spend time directing them. New staff will need to be instructed, which will add to the workload on office managers. Given that office managers aren’t necessarily skilled in cleaning, effective instruction tends to come from a specialist cleaning department within the business. Smaller businesses, of course, won’t enjoy this option.
Specialist Skills and Equipment
A dedicated cleaning business will be able to dedicate every resource to worrying about cleaning. This focus will allow them to invest in specialised equipment, like pressure washers and carpet cleaners from specialist companies like SGS. They’ll also have a greater depth of experience from which to draw, which will allow them to get the job more quickly and to a higher standard.
Flexibility
Your office may not always require cleaning. If you have a fixed team in place to do the job anyway, you’ll be wasting money. Outsourcing allows you the luxury of cutting back when the office is empty or underused.
Why Not Hire a Professional Cleaner?
The Cost
Being skilled specialists, professional cleaners charge a premium for their services. This up-front cost causes many office managers to hesitate. Over the longer term, getting an in-house team in place can often work out as more affordable – especially if we consider the economies of scale enjoyed by larger offices.
Larger Businesses won’t enjoy the same benefits
If you’re running an office of a hundred or so people, then the administrative costs of running an in-house cleaning team begin to look relatively measly. Moreover, the specialist equipment we talked about will look that little bit more affordable if there’s a more generous budget to play with. The convenience of an outsourced team becomes less important when we’re talking about larger premises.
Lack of Personal Interaction
Outsourcing to another team means that you won’t have the same degree of control over who comes and goes. Moreover, you won’t be able to build the same level of rapport, which might come in handy should you wish to ask about the way things are being done.