How to Reduce Employee Turnover in the Cleaning Industry
Employee turnover in the cleaning industry is very high due to the nature of the work, varying hours and disrespect from employers, other employees and clients. Reduce turnover at your cleaning company by creating an atmosphere of respect and appreciation for the hard work your employees do each day. Offer opportunities for advancement to encourage employees to stay with your company. Over time, your employees will view their job not as a series of trivial tasks, but as a rewarding career.
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Hire those who want to pursue a career in the cleaning industry; not just a temporary job until they find a better one. While the cleaning industry is not the most glamorous industry, it offers steady work and advancement. Ask potential employees about their future goals, their interests and their reasons for applying for the position to determine if they want to learn and grow with your cleaning company.
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Provide training to new employees during their first week on the job. Employees who are comfortable with job tasks not only perform these tasks more effectively and efficiently, but also take more pride in their work. Create training manuals, hands-on training sessions and cross-training opportunities for employees to learn new skills. Offer training sessions to employees who have been with your company for awhile to give them an opportunity for advancement.
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Conduct yearly reviews of each employee's work performance. Offer praise and encouragement when employees go above and beyond their normal job tasks. This may include volunteering to work overtime, tackle tough cleaning jobs, respond to emergency or last-minute cleaning jobs, or volunteer to work overnight shifts. Offer constructive criticism so employees can learn from their mistakes. Provide additional training or counseling so employees do not repeat the same mistakes.
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Reward your employees with a staff party, day at a ball game or family bowling night. Create a sense of unity and "family" so employees feel as though they are an important part of your cleaning company, rather than a disposable component. Employees who feel appreciated are less likely to leave and find another job.
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Create a workplace survey to determine if there are areas in which your company can improve. Ask employees to provide honest feedback about cleaning assignments, shifts, training opportunities, pay, health benefits and management. Use this information to make changes in the workplace, such as rotating shifts more frequently or offering a health and wellness program, in addition to health care benefits or providing more room for advancement.
References
Resources
Tips
- Provide the best health care coverage your company can afford to employees. Many tasks in the cleaning industry cause repetitive, back, neck and shoulder injuries and discomfort during the day. Employees with good health coverage are less likely to switch jobs.
Warnings
- Ignoring your employees, treating them with disrespect or subjecting employees to harmful chemicals and other dangerous situations without providing proper equipment will definitely cause employee turnover.
Writer Bio
Based in the Washington metro area, Jessica Jones has been a freelance writer since 2006, specializing in business topics. Her fiction has also been featured in publications such as "The Jamaican Observer Sunday Literary Supplement" and at websites including HackWriters. Jones earned a Master of Fine Arts in fiction writing from Lesley University.