Imagine walking into a spotless office every morning – a fresh canvas for your best work. Now, think about the unseen heroes who make that possible: your facility’s dedicated cleaning crew. Sometimes overlooked, these individuals play a vital role in our daily lives, ensuring health, comfort, and productivity in our workspaces. But do we show them the appreciation they deserve? This International Cleaning Week (March 24-30, 2024) let's change that.

Ecolab along with ISSA, celebrates the unsung heroes keeping our world clean. It's not just about sparkling floors; it's about healthy environments, worker well-being, and fostering a culture of appreciation.

Intrigued? Ready to go beyond "thank you"? Read on for simple yet impactful ways to show your cleaning crew just how much their hard work matters.

1. Provide a meal or sweet treats: Whether providing cookies and cupcakes or catering breakfast, choose what your staff or cleaning team will appreciate most. Sharing a meal can double as a way to get to know the cleaning crew.
2. Rejuvenate: Cleaning involves lots of physical activity. Pamper and revive staff with an on-site workplace massage. This can be 10–20-minute chair massages or 60-minute table massages — or a gift card to a local spa.
3. Offer personal time: Offer the gift of time by giving them a few hours or even a day off so they can take care of something important to them.
4. Give gift cards: Gift cards or certificates are something your custodians and cleaning crew can enjoy on their days off — anything from local coffee shops, spas and restaurants to gas stations, movie theaters or big box stores.
5. Make it personal: Ask your custodians and cleaners what they’d like from you as far as how you show appreciation. You may be surprised at the results and can feel confident that you’re rewarding them with something they will value and appreciate.
6. Acknowledge contributions: Acknowledge your custodians’ contributions in front of others — in a company email or blog, signage in shared employee spaces, or company meetings.

Appreciation tips to keep in mind:

• Schedule celebratory events at different times since custodians may work shifts at varying times. Hold events during working hours for maximum appreciation.
• Don’t limit appreciation to one week. Consider scheduling a monthly massage day, movie night, or catered breakfast.
• No matter how many custodians and cleaners you have, take the time to show them you care. They are the backbone to the health and wellness of our facilities.
• Switching up different ways to recognize employees ensures that your efforts come across as thoughtful, sincere, and genuine.