Business

What role do ethics play in your cleaning business?

In recent years, news headlines have yelled about high-profile scandals involving big names and companies like Martha Stewart, Enron, and Tyco. Due to these high-profile scandals, companies and individuals are increasingly aware of the importance of ethics in the workplace and in everyday life. What role do ethics play in your cleaning business?

You will often (and perhaps always) clean your clients’ buildings at night when no one from the business is around. Also, you may have access to areas that have confidential or non-public types of information. Because of this, it is critical that your customers can trust your cleaning company and believe that you and your employees will act ethically.

Business ethics sets standards and establishes a value system for how your business will operate. It is important to remember that there is much more to ethics than simply not “breaking the law.” They are standards of “right” and “wrong” that dictate what people should and should not do. Acts such as intentional abuse of company equipment and theft by employees are clear violations of ethics. However, there are many gray areas that are not so easy to classify as correct or incorrect behavior.

Here are some examples of problems your cleaning company and employees might have:

1. There is a box of old phones, calculators, and small electronics labeled trash. Your employee must pick it up and throw it away. Since the box is labeled “junk”, is it really theft if an employee takes something out of the box for his own use? After all, the company you’re cleaning doesn’t want these items anymore.

2. One of your janitors is working alone in a building. The employee is vacuuming behind a copier. Hidden back and covered in dust is a $ 5.00 bill. This bill has obviously been around for quite some time. What happens if the clerk picks up the $ 5.00 bill and puts it in his pocket? After all, no one is around to find out and it only costs $ 5.00.

3. One of your employees is cleaning in a computer room and unplugs a computer so he can plug in his vacuum, causing a major computer problem for the customer. Such a mistake could cause an employee to hide her mistake and play dumb. But as your employer, you must encourage honesty, no matter how serious the offense.

4. You have just received a check from a customer and you see that you not only paid your current invoice, but you also paid the previous invoice again. They have a lot of money and you work so hard for yours, is it really that bad to cash the check? They will never miss it.

You and your employees will know what is and what is not legal. Having a written ethics policy to cover those gray areas will guide employees in the non-illegal, but tempting situations they may find themselves in. An ethics policy can consist of a few paragraphs in the employee handbook. And making sure your employees know where you stand on ethical issues from day one on the job can help prevent problems.

What kinds of situations should your policy cover? This will vary by company; however, you may want to include some of the following:

* Conflicts of interest (for example, working for two cleaning companies and disclosing customer information to the competitor)

* What to do with the property (money, jewelry, etc.) that is on the floor, on the bathroom counters, etc.

* Do not read information on desks or check files or desk drawers

* Proper disposal of chemicals

* Do not take out anything that is in the trash

* Never allow friends or family to enter the building when they are working.

* Always treat building tenants, employees, and visitors with respect.

* Treat other employees of the cleaning company with respect.

Research shows that if a company has a strong sense of integrity, there is a positive influence on its results. And in the field of cleaning, it is extremely important that your customers know that you set high ethical standards for yourself and your employees. Remember, you will reap what you sow. “Treating customers and employees with respect will result in lower employee turnover and loyal customers. This is the key not only to the survival of your cleaning business, but also to its growth and financial well-being.

Copyright (c) 2007 The Janitorial Store

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