Top 30 office cleanliness gripes - dirty microwaves and fridges top the list
Office workers have revealed their biggest gripes when it comes to the cleanliness of their workplace – with dirty microwaves and dirty fridges topping the list.
Overflowing bins, and old, half-eaten, or mouldy food left in the fridges, also ranked highly among the top bugbears, as did dirty kitchen floors, and putting the wrong things in recycling bins.
In fact, the survey of 2,000 employees found that one in three (34%) reckon the kitchen is the worst area in their office in terms of hygiene – with 22% avoiding the room altogether, due to the mountains of dirty dishes, and splatters of food left behind.
Meanwhile, having to share cups and crockery is a big no-no for many people – with 37% even bringing in their own utensils to use.
Overall, almost half of those polled (45%) believe their office is a “breeding ground for bacteria” – with toilets (30%) and communal areas (24%) also among the worst culprit spaces.
Cleaning guru shares why you shouldn't make your bed first thing in the morning
And 57% are generally left irritated by the state of their surroundings at work, with six in 10 claiming they are more productive in a workspace which is spick-and-span.
The research was commissioned by global health and hygiene company, Essity, which provides a Tork Office Hygiene package.
And over a fifth have complained to management or HR about the state of their surroundings at work (Essity)And spokesman Gareth Lucy said: “During the Covid era it felt as though everyone took their personal hygiene, and the safety of others, far more seriously.
“At one point, every desk and meeting room in the office had hand sanitisers for staff to use, as well as frequent reminders to wash hands.
“But oh, how quickly things change. This survey demonstrates a serious drop in office cleanliness, at a time when this should still be a number one priority – and workers are understandably frustrated at the conditions in which they are expected to function well in.”
Respondents were also concerned about a number of “touch points” within the office – with door handles, toilet flushes, and keyboards considered to harbour the most germs. Toilet door locks and lids, telephones, computer mouses, and light switches, are also likely to pick up dirt.
As a result, almost a fifth avoid using the toilets at work altogether – opting to go elsewhere or even hang on until they get home, due to a lack of cleanliness, sanitary supplies, and toilet paper or hand towels.
And while seven in 10 believe it is the responsibility of the hired cleaners to make sure things are up to scratch, 39% regularly end up cleaning their office themselves. Consequently, 22% have complained to either management or HR about the state of their surroundings at work.
Meanwhile, one in four are concerned about the dirt that can accumulate on their keyboards, as well as on door handles and toilet flushes (Marko Ignjatovic/Getty Images)Other common complaints about the workspace environment include the temperature (27%), switching lights off (14%), and making sure the appropriate recycling bins are available (13%).
Workers also raise concerns about single-use items like plastic cups (10%), and wanting more recyclable products such as paper towels or sanitary products (9%).
Man finds £47,000 stuffed into walls of new home - but can't keep it all
However, the study found that some good habits gained during Covid still persist, as 36% still sanitise their hands regularly, while 35% will make solo drinks instead of communal rounds.
The research also delved into how office conditions change across different professions – and found those working in business consulting and I.T. were most satisfied with the cleanliness of their workspace, rating it an eight out of 10.
On the other hand, employees in public services and administration were left dismayed at the lack of hygiene in their offices, scoring them less than seven.
Those in I.T. are also most likely to enjoy “green” workspaces – while transport and logistics staff claim theirs are below average in this regard.
Gareth Lucy, for Essity, added: “It is the responsibility of all to ensure a workplace is a hygienic, welcoming, and clean place for everyone to be. But workplaces need to provide the right facilities that enable high standards of hygiene throughout all areas of the office.”
TOP 30 OFFICE CLEANLINESS GRIPES:
- Dirty microwaves
- Dirty fridges
- Overflowing bins
- Dirty sinks and washbasins
- Old/mouldy food left in the fridge
- Desks that are never cleaned
- A build-up of all the dust in between computer monitors
- The sponge in the sink never being cleaned/replaced
- Half-eaten food left in the fridge/kitchen
- Carpets which need vacuuming
- Kettles that aren't descaled
- Water on the toilet floor
- The wrong items put in the recycling bins
- Drips on the toilet floor
- Windows which won't open
- Sharing cups and crockery
- Dirty kitchen floors
- A lack of toilet rolls/sanitary supplies/paper towels in the toilets
- A lack of recycling bins
- The toilet roll not being put in the holder, and just left loose by the sink
- A lack of food waste bins
- Overuse of printer paper
- Anti-social hot-desking
- Paper towels left on the toilet floor
- Packets/rubbish left on desks or in meeting rooms
- Spoons left in the sugar jar
- Trip hazards/belongings left under desks
- Hand towels never being replaced
- Water sprayed on the toilet seat from someone washing their hands
- Leaky bathroom taps
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
