All Pro Cleaning Systems teams clean all sorts of business and industrial properties. One thing we know for sure is that every facility is a bit different. We also know that very few things about business cleaning remain static for long. For example, sometimes it’s necessary to modify a business cleaning schedule – even if the schedule seems to be working.
A business cleaning schedule keeps everyone on the same page. It serves to remind cleaning crews what to clean and when. A schedule even helps clients get a better understanding of what our teams are doing for them. But cleaning schedules are not set in stone. They can be flexible enough to accommodate a variety of changes as needed.
So why would a business cleaning schedule ever change? Consider the following four reasons:
1. Seasonal Changes
Seasonal changes are probably the most common contributing factor to modifying business cleaning schedules. Here’s the thing: seasonal changes themselves take many forms. Businesses whose operations change with seasons immediately come to mind. For instance, a retail environment that gets extremely busy over the holidays may need extra cleaning between November and early January.
Seasonal changes could also reflect other things, like the annual cold and flu season. When illnesses start going around, a business cleaning schedule might have to be modified in order to increase hygiene.
2. Operational Changes
In second place behind seasonal changes are operational changes. This is another big one. Why? Because business operations are not any more static than cleaning schedules. Businesses are constantly adjusting to a variety of factors. Here are a few examples that would suggest cleaning schedule modification:
- Significant staff volume increases
- Extending hours of operation
- Adding new facilities or workspaces
Whenever operations change, cleaning schedules need to be looked at. Existing schedules are subject to modifications commensurate with the operational changes.
3. Performance Issues
Cleaning schedules sometimes need to be modified because current schedules simply aren’t meeting performance goals. Perhaps there isn’t enough time in a single shift to get everything done at the highest quality. So modifications are necessary to guarantee that all cleaning tasks are done up to standard. As a side note, employees and cleaning crews can offer some valuable insights when performance issues crop up.
4. Unexpected Circumstances
Finally, unexpected circumstances can throw a monkey wrench into established cleaning schedules. Maybe during the cold and flu season, multiple cleaning crew members are out sick for several days. If there aren’t enough people to replace them, a facility’s business cleaning schedule may have to be modified until the sick employees come back to work.
Other unexpected circumstances will include:
- Long term staffing shortages
- Equipment malfunctions
- Damage from workplace accidents
- Unforeseen property issues
Unexpected circumstances are a bit different in terms of cleaning schedules because modifications tend to be short term. A schedule may only have to be modified for a day or two while the circumstances are dealt with. Cleaning schedule modifications might be implemented for longer periods of time, even permanently, under the other three scenarios.
Key Things to Remember
In addition to these four reasons for modifying a cleaning schedule, there are several other things to keep in mind. First, it’s important that companies maintain flexibility in their cleaning scheduling. Cleaning effectiveness should be routinely assessed in light of scheduling needs. And of course, feedback is always welcome when considering potential modifications.
Cleaning schedules are great tools for both businesses and their cleaning crews. But like rules, cleaning schedules are meant to be modified. There are legitimate reasons to change a schedule that seems to be working just fine.
