Here are a few topics to think about that will help you answer these questions.

Do they understand what it is that you need? Before any office cleaning service agreement is reached, a manager from the office cleaning service should come to your company offices and discover your specific needs. If they don’t understand what you are looking for how will they pass on instructions to the actual cleaners?

If you are planning some special visit e.g. your board of directors visiting your regional office or a open day for customers will the cleaners work around that to give special cleans before and afterwards?

Are you allowed to give feedback? Don’t forget however that feedback should be more than just a survey form that you fill out each month and never see any changes as a consequence

Quality control inspections.

There should be scheduled and spot checks throughout the office cleaning contract period. The contract manager should make a planned visit at designated intervals early into the contract. This way, any initial problems can get resolved quickly. After this, random spot checks should be made in order to ensure that the cleaners are doing the job as per your agreed specifications.

Finally do they do have systems in place that will assure you that you will be able to get access to senior managers direct in order to sort out any issues that may come up during the cleaning contract. It is also important to understand how your calls are going to be handled and that you will be confident that your issue will be dealt with promptly and professionally at all times.

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One option being considered is to end the contract with the professional office cleaning in Aberdeen and do it all in-house using existing office staff. But does that actually save money in- practice?

Apart from the negative effect it would have on staff moral are there any other implications of going down this route?

One of the things you will need to consider is the need to go out and buy on a regular basis a variety of cleaning chemicals and other equipment dependant of the type of jobs being done. Who is going to take responsibility for going out to buy more cleaning products when levels run low or are all used up? This is a cost implication for time spent and time not doing their normal job! All professional cleaning service in Aberdeen will have their own preferred cleaning chemicals which their staff will have trained in using. This means they will have access to all associated safety data sheets etc from their usual chemical supplier.

If you are not going to hire an extra person to do the work then it is likely you will be utilising one of your existing admin staff members taking them away from their regular duties. This could have an extra cost effect on your business if their normal work is not being done effectively and on time.

If that person is not proficient on cleaning duties it will need to be done again an added expense and once again your office staff would not be using their skills and training in your business.

In addition the potential for damage to your office interiors increases as the person does not understand the use of some materials and the surfaces being cleaned. I recall going into one office complex and seeing that the cleaner (also employed as a book-keeper) had squirted some strong bleach on a floor and it had burnt the floor almost beyond economic repair. Are you aware of the dangers of mixing cleaning chemicals (even household strength cleaning products)? Did you know mixing some toilet cleaners together can give off poisonous Chlorine gas?

• Have you all the skills in house to develop all the health and safety guidance in-house? Or will you to pay to outsource it?
• Who would do the required risk assessment for each and every cleaning task being performed? Not Necessary… just wait and see what the Health and Safety Inspector has to say after an accident on your premises!
• Do you have copies of the COSHH data sheets for every single cleaning product your staff purchase in the event of an incident? Your local superstore will not supply them for the general household products they sell!| Can you be certain that you have the required COSSH safety data sheets for every single cleaning product your staff purchase? Your local supermarket or corner store will not be able to supply these legal documents and you will need them on site in case of an safety incident.}

If the choice was down to me as an office manager I would be asking myself the following questions

• ” Will I lose more money by taking staff away from the main business focus than I pay to use a professional cleaning company”

• ” What are the currently unbudgeted costs I will need to add on to cover for time spent cleaning the office twice, additional costs for repairs due to mistakes, increased insurance premiums and cost of compensation for breaches of health and safety including accidents to staff? ”

Personally I would come to the conclusion in most places that it would be better to hire a professional cleaning company in Coatbridge rather than take the risk of letting untrained people make mistakes. I believe it works out cheaper that way in the longer term.

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