Is it time for offices to clean up their act?

23 November 2022

Joshua Carter, Head of Key Accounts at BRITA VIVREAU highlights why hygiene is so important in the office, and looks at ways in which facilities managers can reduce germs in the workplace...

A recent national study has revealed that low levels of general cleanliness in office buildings has stopped more than a third of employees returning to their workplace , leaving them feeling frustrated with the ongoing issue of hygienic negligence – despite heightened awareness of bacterial and viral contamination in the wake of Covid-19.

Employers across the UK have been investing in efforts to encourage workers to leave their home offices in droves and head back to the office, with many opting for a more relaxed, hybrid-style approach to full- and part-time roles.

But if people are being given a choice, it seems that many workers are opting to stay at home where possible – perhaps because they perceive their home environment as more hygienic, clean and convenient.

Hygienic agenda

If workers are to be encouraged to leave their home offices and go back to shared spaces, facilities managers must prioritise the hygienic agenda beyond pandemic-focussed messaging.

And yet there are so many benefits to working in an office environment. When asked about the office amenities they most value, nearly 40% of workers we surveyed cited shared space for socialising and collaborating , and more than a third (36%) mentioned hot and cold beverage amenities. In addition, 76% of workers admit that it’s harder to maintain healthy habits when working from home .

That’s why it is crucial for facilities managers to present the office as an environment that embodies these healthy habits with clean, hygienic spaces offering sociable areas to take a break, hydrate, collaborate and create those all-important ‘water cooler moments’ that cannot be replicated in a remote working scenario.

Of course, as people cautiously return to their offices – albeit at a reduced capacity – increased usage of shared facilities like drinks stations brings with it the inevitable increased risk of contamination from regular surface contact and through airborne droplets (from sneezing, or coughing).

No matter how thorough an existing regular cleaning schedule may be, people using these drinks stations may well contaminate the equipment between cleans.

Important priorities

Hot drinks facilities and water dispensers are no doubt a priority when it comes to implementing the highest standards of hygiene. These areas, and the people responsible for keeping them clean, can benefit from the support of reliable equipment with in-built, automatic self-disinfecting features that can provide peace of mind and consistent levels of hygiene.

Some systems, such as BRITA VIVREAU’s Extra C-Tap, benefit from convenient extra hygiene measures like ThermalGate™, which heats the outlet tap at regular intervals to protect against contamination from sources such as physical contact and exposure to airborne droplets – with no manual effort or chemical additives required.

Not only stylish but also sustainable, the C-Tap will help reassure employees that hygiene remains their facilities managers’ priority in the workplace. Plus, with up to five water types at the touch of a button, it’s easy to offer great tasting water throughout the day – supporting employee wellbeing by encouraging good hydration.

People will return to the office more confidently if they are aware that their employer is tackling cleanliness issues head-on, utilising market-leading technology that creates a hygienic experience (and top-quality hydration) that cannot be replicated at home.

If you would like to discuss a BRITA VIVREAU water dispenser further, contact Joshua Carter on 07483092545 or jcarter@brita.net or visit https://www.brita.co.uk/water-dispensers to find out more.

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