Communal space is trending in office culture, and it has implications for Irvine janitorial services and how they cater to the needs of their clients. Whether the office is trailblazing a brand-new, hyper-communal productivity-centered approach to the office, or they’re just trying to save a buck, the cleaning needs of the space are the same: a hot desk can become a hotbed of germ activity, because shared workspaces, in essence, means one thing: more people working in a given space. This added concentration of people (and germs) is reflected in the workspace: already, the average office desk is one of the most germ-ridden spots of any office. The average keyboard can have 5 times the bacteria concentration of a toilet seat. When multiple people are sharing that keyboard, both germ concentration as well as the likelihood of passing germs on to others increases. One UK study found that hot desking increased germ counts by 18%.
If all this makes you reconsider a hot desk work environment, we don’t blame you! The potential risks should be part of the decision-making process. Still, if shared spaces are part of your work plan and layout, you’ve got to be smart about it, and implement processes to mitigate the possible spread of germs. Communication is key to making sure that all office staff that have access to the shared space are doing their part to keep the environment safe. In addition, here’s what can be done:
Hand sanitizer
Every hot desk should have a prominent hand sanitizing setup, possibly with a posted notice encouraging its use. If employees actively sanitize before and/or after the use of the shared desk, the likelihood of passing on or contracting a bug go down astronomically.
The Cleaning Crew
Naturally, whether or not an office has hot desks should be a primary concern for the Office cleaning staff. Every desk area needs to be regularly cleaned, but shared spaces hold a primary concern, and increased frequency of cleaning and disinfecting may be called for to cool down the germ concentration of these hot desks. Products and materials used don’t necessarily need to be different, but additional processes can be considered to disinfect areas. This additional attention can also be seasonal. When flu season rolls around, hot desks are especially hazardous and need to be treated as such.
Hot desks don’t have to be maligned. If your Irvine janitorial service has the ability to tailor a solution for your company that keeps these hot desk hot spots clean, they can be a valuable approach to efficiency and an expression of office culture. Just be sure that proper cleaning is a part of that culture too.
