In a workplace environment, trying to avoid tracking mud from the outside seems easy enough for most people. However, sometimes the environment outside can make even this simple courtesy difficult to do. Ignoring this possibility runs the risk of chastising employees for something they cannot 100% help while still not making things easier for your cleaning staff.
Therefore, always make a point to check the type of neighborhood your office is situated in. A lot of managers tend to just stop at the building (especially when it is the sort of building that has seen better days). But once you acknowledge the areas your employees have to go through before entering the office, you can make more informed decisions on how to minimize the effect of outside contaminants and pests.
That said, here are the top three types of cleanliness that require stronger preventive measures due to the outside environment.
1. Sewer smells.
When you live in the part of town that has a poor track record when it comes to sewers, you can expect really bad smells coming in and ruining everyone’s day. Offices near open canals or even just temporary sewer work are very likely to have those same foul smells coming through windows (especially during heavy rain).
For the most part, the best you can do is keep windows closed and see to it that employees have something bigger to wipe their feet on during rainy days.
2. Construction dust.
If there is a major construction project going on in a neighboring space, expect lots of dust coming in through the windows or gathering on nearby cars outside. Smoke or industrial gases might also be expected, depending on the nature of the current construction work.
As with smells, it might be better to keep windows closed (maybe even boarded) for the duration of the construction. Barring that, employees exposed to the dust might consider wearing dust masks to prevent allergies.
3. Wildlife invasion.
You may have seen it on a lot of internet videos but native animals suddenly appearing inside the office is still quite a serious matter. Needless to say, this sort of thing happens a lot in offices closer to the bush and farther from the city. What makes this particularly challenging is that even the most spick-and-span spaces can still attract curious creatures.
That is why such offices should always be ready to call professional animal control. There is no telling whether the species found creeping inside your desk is a local pest or a protected animal. It is best to leave it up to professionals while also simply being aware that such is expected when you live closer to nature.
While you are certainly in the right to expect a certain level of cleanliness from employees, make sure to also see if your office’s location is conducive to your policies. It can be very difficult to maintain cleanliness when the streets outside (or even some of your fellow establishments) are a bit of a mess. Be prepared to take extra steps to make sure these don’t make it inside your workplace!
