While some would claim that a clean, organized desk is better for productivity, safety, and conventionality, many argue that a messy, disorganized desk is a stronger vehicle for creativity.
If you’re trying to decide whether or not to implement a clean desk policy at your company, the answer depends on your business and your employees. Here are several questions that will help lead you in the right direction.
What Does a Clean Desk Policy Look Like?
There are many ways to carry out a clean desk policy. You can institute a policy that states that all employees need to have clean desks with no papers on them when they go home at night. Or, you can have a rule that prohibits personal items and says that employees need to put away everything that they aren’t actively working on. Reasons for this may vary, but an important argument in favor of a clean desk policy is one that aims to protect sensitive or classified information.
You can choose what you think is appropriate for your company’s needs, but bear in mind: What you do as an organization, how you provide your product or service, and who works for you all play weigh heavily on the decision-making process.
Do You Deal in Confidential Information?
Naturally, every business has some confidential information. You don’t want your financials sitting out unattended, nor do you want login information to live in plain sight. You also should always keep performance improvement plans under lock and key.
Some companies deal with more confidential information than others, and this info needs to stay hidden—even from the eyes of other employees or the night cleaning crew. Your clean desk policy would cover these documents and anything else that you don’t want people to see.
Do You Meet With Clients in Your Office?
You don’t have to have the same clean desk policy for each different area across your company. For example, if you have clients who visit the front office regularly, you may need a stricter clean desk policy for that area. Not only do you want to secure confidential material, but you may also prefer that desks look uncluttered when visitors arrive.
Work areas that are cluttered with personal items may give off an unprofessional look. So, you may find it is easier to make a rule that says no personal items are allowed on desks, as opposed to policing your workplace throughout the day.
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