[ag]

Hi there

For all those involved in commercial cleaning, is it possible to get in to do cleaning during office hours, if there are people working. Every one seems to want before 8 in teh morning or after 8 at night.
If this is what you also encounter, how are you managing to retain staff, if there are large empty patches during the day?
Or how do you manage cleaning while people are in the office?Do you hoover - the noise irriates them?do you mop - health & safety etc.
Cheers

[wilclean]

Hi

  I've got a couple of contracts where they start at 12.00 lunch time - I just ask them to move and they move and theres no complaining about the noise. I have an understanding with the manager where by I need total access to all areas so each job can be carried out if not it doesnt get done and threres no come back on me


                                                    Paul

[Paul-T]

ag

That is the nature of the cleaning industry - its crap work and dreadful hours.....double that if you're self-employed. Work isn't meant to be easy.

I have seen many (smaller) companies operate where the cleaners come in during the day. I'm not sure if this is the way forward......I guess a lot depends where you are and obviously the companies involved.

I never favour the option of requesting to change any hours that a company regards as suitable - unless it is obviously a ridiculous request - remember that they are paying you, they are the client. The moment you start creating a fuss will be the moment they start to feel that a change may be needed.

With regards to noise pollution (in the office), mopping etc while people are working is something you will have to discuss with your client. Find out what their specific needs are since that will be the only way you can make an assessment of the environment you'll be working in.

There are many cleaners that will do early mornings and late evenings - however if it is in a location that is not a favourable one then in order to maintain staff you will have to offer incentives. If you still have problems with getting staff in good locations then you may have to look at how you're going to drag them through your interviews successfully and hold onto them....only you know how you will do this. That is just part of the fun of being self-employed! 

Or simply roll up your sleeves and crack on with it yourself.

[Bertie Boo]

I find this thread quite interesting....

The only places i worked in (in my days before cleaning) that had cleaners during 'office hours' were the places where the building was so damn big and the number of staff/visitors so high that it was neccesary to have 2 or 3 people cleaning throughout the day to keep the walkways clean and the washrooms sweet etc. But that said, in ALL cases the bulk of the cleaning was done and the bulk of the cleaners arrived before/after working hours.

Although i have never employed staff myself i have dealt with many cleaners over the years in one way or another and MOST females claimed that it was the unsociable hours and the fact taht it was 2 or 3 hour shifts that attracted them to the job as it enabled them to fit the work in around taking the kids to school etc and was easier to find childcare during these times. If anything i was always left with the impression that it was filling daytime cleaning shifts that was more difficult, although of course this relates more to domestic cleaning which in itself brings lots of reasons for people not sticking at it so it may not be just the working hours at fault there.

I can't think though of anywhere i've worked where the bulk cleaning was done in office hours, i found it difficult enough doing my office cleaning working around those who were working late - not that they didnt like me being there BUT it was just easier to get round when the place was empty.

Cheers

Stephen

[Paul-T]

Stephen

...don't I know you....?

I guess a lot depends....again....on the company and size of building. I know some big companies that will have day cleaners but their tasks are more maintenance. They will have to maintain the washrooms/toilets, replenishment, staff kitchens (not industrial), drinks machines, bins/waste and basically general mopping up during the day. When you have huge buildings to cover you rarely get time to do the usual cleaning rounds since there is much more that needs doing.

You've certainly hit the nail on the head with your comment, Stephen, women do prefer the unsocial hours due to other commitments...family. The reason for some companies prefering the cleaning being done during the day could be due to their insurance companies requesting it.....obvious reasons, or it could be a company was previously 'stung' by a cleaning company and prefer not to take that risk again.

I have to say I prefer the late night method - generally there is no one around and you can, often, take as long as you like without 'busting ya gut' to get it completed before the arrival of morning staff.

[Fox]

We provide cleaning in and out of office hours, we go along with what the client wants and some just don't want you to hold keys.  I always say we prefer out of hours cleaning which I class as after 5pm or before 8am though as this gives the cleaner more leeway on times and an empty building.

When recruiting always state 'evening cleaners' this will help weed out people who want full time, I am assuming from your post you are talking about a full timers job though which is why you are worrying about filling their time.  My full time cleaners work on a split shift basis so they will do an early morning on an empty office then a few hours on occupied offices, they will then go home for a few hours and then go to an evening job, I don't seem to have any problem filling these as they enjoy their few hours during the day to go shopping or to appointments etc.  However this is very difficult if you are just starting out as you may not have enough clients to rota, take someone on part time with a veiw to going full time then get marketing.

As has been said before discuss options with the client, some really don't mind the noise and bother but others want the vac turned off every time the phone rings (right pain).  If you are cleaning throughout the day make sure you have done a risk assessment to cover this as there will be more people about there will be more of a risk of trips, more signs may be needed, perhaps the schedule of works would need amending.

Fox

[Bertie Boo]

One of my domestic clients has an opticians practice. I went to clean it 2x a week last year, i did it from Jan to Dec until i decided it was more bother than it was worth (they only needed a small amount of cleaning and i was turning down bigger jobs to allow me to do this one...pointless really) anyway, the things that held me up most was not being able to vacuum when people were talkin, not being able to vacuum when the fone rang, not being able to clean where members of the public were etc, oh and chatting to the receptionist etc, lots of things really made it a pain in the ass. At least in houses people stay out the way.

On teh plus side it meant i did not have to have keys to lock up etc. One thing i HATED about the office i cleaned was the locking up. The place had no external windows downstairs so as the lights went out everywhere was so d a m n dark. It was bad enough in the summer but on the darker nights it was worse as i came outside to total darkness too. At the time i used to say to myself "Stephen, after you give this job up you'll wonder how ever you did this locking up lark everynight". And i was right...i do...

Stephen

[ag]

thanks a million for the replies. It was just a curiosity to me,how someplaces want you in during the day. All our work at the moment is before 8am or after 5pm, and I would be with you all in that it is a lot easier at that time. Having people around really slows things down. Plus people can be a bit wierd in offices around cleaners dont you think?
Good tip though advertising for the "evening cleaners", thanks for that.
regards
agnes

[Office Cleaning Company]

You need to work to your clients demands. However it easier to work outside their working areas, as you have no interference from the client, less health & safety issues and the possibility, if you have the keys, to rearrange cover if required. Cleaning is a 24hrs 7 day a week business but in my exp the bulk of commercial cleaning takes place outside "normal"working hours.