The ill will of housekeeping employees
Oh, how often I hear that employees lack interest, that they don't care. Or that they're acting in bad faith or lacking motivation. That they do everything they can to avoid working. So, in this article, we'll see if the ill will of housekeeping employees is real or not. If so, what could their ill will be due to?
Lack of training
First of all, 90% of participants coming to my training courses have not never received real training to learn their trade. Most of them learned their trade "on the job." They've been in the trade for 5, 10, 15, 20 years in general! Honestly, you should see their motivation in their eyes throughout the day. They become "on," motivated, and engaged! Why? Because they feel like we're finally realizing that their work was important! Housekeeping staff are used to walking between walls, meaning no one notices or cares!
Lack of interest from the employer in housekeeping
Ah, this is so common!! We're interested in production, sales, and everything that makes money. But cleaning doesn't sell anything, does it? And indeed, that's partly true.
But... would you do business with a completely unclean manufacturing facility? Would you eat in a restaurant or stay in a hotel where they only dust the place with a duster, not wash it? Would you like to receive your multi-thousand-dollar order, the whole thing dusty and covered in fingerprints?
Household cleaning products, accessories and equipment are not never renewed
Oh, how common this situation is! If you saw the heavy wooden or metal cleaning carts that employees have to work with! You would be surprised, and you yourself would refuse to work with this heavy and non-ergonomic equipment. These carts are more than 20-30 years old, but they are deemed "acceptable" by the management of the building or company. The principle being that the more you extend the lifespan of the equipment, the more money you make. Well, precisely, NO! Technology has evolved so much in recent years that it has improved productivity and work efficiency.
The same heavy, large, square, hard-to-clean scrubbers and polishers are outdated. As are household cleaning products that, when you open the cap, they are so strong that they suffocate us in alkalinity or acidity! Or conversely, we choose products that are totally ineffective (for their price) or we dilute the products so much that they are ineffective. Having spare flat mops and washcloths, but not having a washer-dryer on site. So, we throw them away and don't renew them. We save on purchases, but we accuse the employee of doing a poor job. In reality, they simply don't have what they need to be effective, in health and safety conditions.
The housekeeping rooms are poorly designed and already dirty.
Phew that Most housekeeping facilities are inadequate! Sometimes it's wardrobes or "crunches" as they say! No tablets or pleasant facilities. Overcrowded by other trades that clutter up the premises or borrow materials without asking. Premises nwe painted of course. So, the walls and floors are very difficult to wash. We don't allocate no time real time for the employee to clean their premises. However, this task can take from 5 to 15 minutes in a shift. The attendant must wash his cart and other equipment as a priority. Put his clothes in the wash (If he has a washing machine at his disposal, which is rare). Wash and dry them. Prepare his cart for the next day or the following shift, etc. So this time for the employee to wash his equipment and premises is necessary.
When was the last time you visited the housekeeping facilities? Would you enjoy working in that environment?
Unfounded accusations
These people are very often unjustly accused of theft. Who better to steal than an employee alone in the building, they say?! It quickly turns out that the money left on the desk was ultimately spent. Or, that the box of (…) had been thrown in the trash, but there were still items inside. Or worse, the item in question was taken by someone else or was deposited elsewhere. Many employees have unfortunately had to justify themselves or even lost their jobs for reasons that were not their responsibility.
The vision of these employees is negative
Housekeeping often has a low-level connotation. Seen as if these employees were dirty, uneducated, or didn't speak the language perfectly, etc. Yet, most employees entering this profession started for the right reasons. That is, wanting to work and help others with their abilities. Wanting to make floors shine and maintain spaces to make people happy! Yes, yes! I myself, in my years as a housekeeper, told myself that the person sitting in that spot would appreciate my work the next day. I took care of it, even if I didn't even know who was sitting in that spot.
Some of These employees are teachers, engineers, dentists, doctors, ergonomists in their country or here! But in Canada, their diplomas and education are worthless. So, to survive, they decide to retrain for jobs that are learned on the job, with the help of a friend or acquaintance from their home country. And for Canadians doing this job with a good education, they sometimes choose this profession because they no longer want the pressure.
So how do you rekindle the motivation of these employees?
The training
- Give a solid housekeeping training of at least one daye. And every year. They too are entitled to training to evolve.
Premises, equipment, products and accessories
- Furnish their housekeeping premises with washable tablets, THE painted wallss, with a washable floor, of the hooks for mops.
- The installation of a sink in each of their housekeeping rooms or at least per sector or floor. And please, make sure it's a sink on the floor! This is for the worker health and safety. Imagine carrying and emptying a 20-litre bucket at waist height, day after day, year after year… Comfortable?
- Check that they really have a product range that meets their needs. With a adequate dosaget, respecting the manufacturer's instructions. On this subject, see the following article: Clean effectively at a low price!
- Demand products ecological or biotechnologicalIn 2020, there is no longer any reason to have products that are toxic to employees and the environment.
- Of the wash cloths in good quantity and good quality. With the installation of a washer and dryer. The employee does not have to wash his work tools at home!
- Assess, with the help of your workers, L'efficiency of equipment and accessoriess. Look with them for the best equipment and accessories that really meet your needs. their needsOur field has evolved so much in recent years! Compare equipment, its possibilities, its efficiency before buying. Since it will be the tools and work equipment for the coming yearss of these employees.
Repair and preventive maintenance of equipment
- Have it done equipment repair, when necessary by competent people or companies. And even better, do preventive maintenance on equipment at an interval of 2 times per year.
Quality control, respect and consideration for employees
- Make a quality controle to help see non-conformities with respect. This means quality control that will not be accusatory or denigrating. Work as a team!
- Take a genuine interest in the working conditions and comfort of employees. How are they perceived by other workers in your building?
- So bring them a coffee, a delicious cold smoothie, muffins, etc. Go chat with them. Their job isn't easy, but it will be more interesting if we consider them Really at their true value and that we learn to know them.
- I could add many more points. But I think you get the gist.
Thank you for reading this article. I really want to try to change our perception of this essential profession.
