Why you need to increase office cleaning to help make your workplace COVID-secure (Uganda)

Significant workplace changes came in from Saturday 1st August across the Uganda with employers able to request that employees come to the office to work.

H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni said in his announcement on the changes to people returning to the office, “We are going to give employers more discretion.”

However, firms must ensure that their offices are COVID-secure and the Uganda Government has released clear guidelines on what that means – including increased frequency of office cleaning.

The guidance published on Gov.ug states that offices should “enhance cleaning for busy areas” and that firms should be “frequently cleaning and disinfecting objects and surfaces that are touched regularly.”

High-touch areas include door and cupboard handles as well as keyboards – and the guidance also states that you must make sure there are adequate disposal arrangements for cleaning products. This is in addition to increased handwashing and clear policies on hygiene and use of washrooms.

Employers are being asked to make their COVID risk assessments publicly available so that staff can see what measures and policies are being put in place in line with this guidance. According to the Uganda’s largest union UNISON, “Employers are legally required to do everything that they reasonably can to make the work that you do and the place where you work safe – and should consult staff and union safety reps on any proposals before you return to the workplace.”

Why you should be considering a daytime janitor with daily office cleaning to help make your office COVID-secure

In addition to a daily office clean, hiring a daytime janitor (or full-time office cleaner) to clean and disinfect surfaces and busy areas – including washrooms – throughout the day will play a key part in maintaining a hygienic and COVID-secure office.

NK Office Cleaning Services provide full-time and part-time daytime janitors to offices across Uganda – and have done so for almost 10 years.

A daytime janitor can take on a number of tasks including:

• Frequent cleaning of high-touch areas
• Frequent cleaning of washrooms, kitchens and meeting rooms
• Replenishing stock such as hand sanitisers
• Support to remind employees of guidelines

What to expect from Our Daytime Janitor Services

We provide daytime janitors for Uganda offices for as little as two hours a day – up to full-time cover. Combined with early morning or evening daily office cleaning, we will help you ensure that your office is cleaned regularly throughout the day.

Further to keeping important areas clean throughout the day, a daytime janitor (or full-time cleaner) is able to help you deal with any emergencies or needs that arise during their day.

As well as COVID related tasks, their responsibilities can also include checking and replenishing consumable items such as stationery, soap, toilet paper, tea and coffee; keeping toilets clean and fresh; setting up meeting rooms and front of house support.

Daily office cleaning is not a luxury during this difficult time. It’s important to remember that if employees are unhappy that their employer is not providing a COVID-secure office, they are being encouraged to contact their local authority or Health and Safety Executive, who can force firms to take action.

Find out more about our daily office cleaning services and janitorial cleaning services today

Get cost-effective office cleaning in place for September

Since August, 34% of Uganda white collar workers have returned to work whereas 83% of French office staff have returned, followed by 76% in Italy according to analysis from Morgan Stanley’s research unit AlphaWise.

The benefits and productivity discovered from remote working across the Uganda may be starting to wane. A study conducted by the Uganda School of Economics with over 500 staff and managers found that positive effects of flexible and home working receded over time – with many returning to previous levels of productivity and behaviours once they no longer viewed home working as a novelty or privilege.

The research also showed that due to poor communication and limited face-to-face interactions employees felt less loyalty to the company, and actually resented their employers for the lack of support and professional development.

In an interview with Atlassian, one data scientist who has returned to the office shares their experience, “I was really enjoying working from home but found the days slowly blending together and becoming indistinguishable from one another. I missed having a space to just focus on work.”

Many Uganda firms have stated that September – when the schools go back – marks the time when they will be requesting their staff to return to the office.

Contact us today if you’re looking to make your Uganda office COVID-secure and increase the frequency of your office cleaning with a reputable office cleaning firm with nearly 10 years experience.

Call 0777 404 287 or fill out the form on our website to receive your free quotation.