Office Sector Prepares to Return to Work

David Whan • 11 March 2021

With the successful vaccine rollout and the careful lifting of restrictions, it is predicted that life in the UK will return to near-normal by the summer of 2021. But many people don’t know what ‘normal’ is anymore. A huge percentage of businesses were forced to reimagine how they operated in 2020, and the ‘new normal’ involved working from home out of necessity, but as we see glimpses of light at the end of the tunnel, businesses are beginning to question whether working from home is really for them.

It is easy to imagine how many businesses have settled comfortably into new work patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic, and have sought to cut costs by having people working from home. Perhaps a short term measure has become a long term requirement merely to help balance the books, but as lockdown restrictions start to be lifted during the spring, the benefits of face-to-face office working begin to re-emerge and business will have to start preparing for life back in the office.

Preparing the office for the ‘new normal’

With businesses slowly returning to work over the next few weeks, employers are faced with the challenge of preparing offices as a safe and welcoming environment after they have been left empty and abandoned, in some cases for a full 12 months. Preparations for the ‘new normal’ of working under the continual threat of COVID will include office pre-cleans, new protocol for hand hygiene, social distancing, health monitoring and strict procedures for ongoing cleaning.

New policies and procedures have to be discussed and implemented internally, but professional cleaning companies such as It’s Clean can help with the organisation of preparing the office from a hygiene point-of-view and installing new hygiene measures. This applies whether people are returning full-time, part-time or only one day a week.

The physical return to the office has strong support from the business sector too. A BBC report has detailed the concerns of banking giant Goldman Sachs, whose boss David Solomon rejected remote working as the ‘new normal’. He explained how Goldman Sachs had operated with less than 10% of their workforce physically in the office, but with 3,000 new recruits expected in the summer of 2021, all of whom require direct mentorship, remote working was not sustainable for them.

Post-COVID office hygiene

Solomon expects that the long term structure of the organisation won’t be much different to the pre-COVID environment, and that view is supported by other financial stalwarts such as JP Morgan chief executive Jamie Dimon and Barclays boss Jes Staley. Clearly big business needs physical interaction and will also have issues with IT infrastructure and security, which prevents people working from home as a rule.

Many industry sectors have obvious limitations, such as leisure, retail, hospitality and healthcare, but with office work, bosses may just have issues with a loss of productivity, even if they think morally and financially working from home has its benefits. At a time when the bottom line figure is crucial, creating the best work environment is a balancing act for many businesses and it is not surprising that working from home is okay for some, but not for others, and it is not simply down to the culture a business wants to create.

So for businesses wanting to prepare offices for a physical return, now is the time to employ professional contractors to do the hard work. This can include a thorough pre-clean of an office, and routine fogging and touch point cleaning to retain ongoing hygiene standards. You can also install hand hygiene stations and re-organise the office with one-way systems, new barriers and partitions for isolation. It’s Clean can help with all of this, so get in touch today and get yourselves prepared for whatever the ‘new normal’ means to you.

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It’s Clean Ltd Supports Launch of IT Recycling Charity in Harrogate

by david • 10 December 2024

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Professional Healthcare Cleaning: Why People Trust It’s Clean Ltd as Contract Cleaners for Medical Practices and Clinic Settings

1 December 2024

Healthcare settings such as dental surgeries, GP clinics and other medical practices are busy environments with a particular need for reliable professional cleaning to very high standards. Hygiene is essential for these kinds of premises, which is why professional healthcare cleaning is so important, both for safety reasons and to create a calm and effective environment for patients. Keeping your medical practice spotless maintains a safe and professional space for both patients and staff but it relies on having a contract cleaning company in place that understands the unique requirements of healthcare cleaning. That’s where our professional cleaning for medical and dental surgeries and clinics comes in. Our clients in this sector see us as a trusted partner to ensure their practice or clinic is thoroughly cleaned, without disrupting operations or compromising patient care. At It’s Clean Ltd, we specialise in contract cleaning for healthcare clinics and understand the unique requirements of medical settings. Our expert team provides cleaning services outside core hours, ensuring your practice is always pristine when your staff and patients arrive. Why You Need Specialist Cleaners for Medical Practices In a medical setting, cleanliness is not just about appearance—it’s about safety. You need a cleaning service that understands the intricacies of maintaining a sanitary and compliant space. Here are some of the key ways we meet the needs of organisations looking for expert cleaners for medical practices: Safety First: Cleaning in a Medical Environment When hiring cleaners for a dental surgery or medical clinic, it’s vital they have experience with the safety protocols specific to healthcare environments. Your cleaning team must know how to handle equipment, sharps bins and other items properly. It’s Clean Ltd ensures our cleaners are fully trained in the proper handling and disposal of hazardous waste. We work closely with you to understand the specific safety concerns in your practice, so that our cleaning solutions won’t harm equipment or jeopardize patient safety. Our team uses cleaning products that are suitable for medical settings and our teams are fully up to date with the latest best practice for maintaining hygienic healthcare premises. A Local Provider for Outstanding Service As a local cleaning firm, we are often the first choice for healthcare environments because of their particular need for a responsive service. We only work with clients within a 50-mile radius of our head office and this local focus that allows us to have fast response times and outstanding service levels. This is a huge advantage for clinics that feel it is important to build a good relationship with their contract cleaner and to have a supplier they can trust. Compliance with Regulations Trust is a fundamental element of any professional cleaning partnership, especially when dealing with confidential patient information. Your cleaning service should adhere to strict data protection and confidentiality regulations, such as GDPR and the Data Protection Act. At It’s Clean Ltd, we prioritise compliance and maintain strict protocols to ensure the safety and privacy of your patient records and medical data. Our team undergoes background checks, and we follow all relevant safety guidelines to ensure your clinic remains compliant at all times. Professionalism and Pride Your cleaning team will sometimes be working while your staff are still in the building, so professionalism is key. Cleaners should be uniformed, courteous and fully equipped when delivering any type of cleaning service, particularly GP surgery and health centre cleaning . Our team at It’s Clean Ltd takes pride in delivering reliable and professional healthcare cleaning. We ensure our staff are fully trained and always prepared to tackle any challenge. If sickness or other absences occur, we’ll ensure that your cleaning schedule is covered, so you never have to worry about the cleanliness of your practice. Check Out Reviews and References When looking for a contract cleaning supplier for your clinic, it’s important to check reviews and seek references from other businesses in the industry. Look for a cleaning service that has a proven track record of working in similar settings. At It’s Clean Ltd, we have a long history of serving dental and medical professionals with exceptional cleaning services. Our clients trust us because we consistently deliver high-quality, reliable service. We invite you to read all our testimonials Relationship Building A good cleaning service isn’t just a one-time solution—it’s a long-term partnership. Over time, your cleaning team should become familiar with your clinic's specific needs and provide a personalized service that evolves with your business. With It’s Clean Ltd, we strive to build strong, lasting partnerships with our clients. We pride ourselves on being a reliable partner that can be trusted to maintain the highest standards of cleanliness. The Benefits of Choosing It’s Clean Ltd for Your Medical Practice At It’s Clean Ltd, we specialise in professional cleaning for healthcare practices. Our team is local and committed to offering flexible, efficient, and compliant cleaning solutions tailored to your needs. Contact us today for a free survey and quotation to discover how we can help maintain a safe and clean environment for your clinic.