Running a business means you need to provide clean and safe premises for your employees to operate from. This can be a significant task to manage on your own, so you may need to look into a building management contract. Here are some of the areas you may need to negotiate with your provider.

Hygiene Management

Following the emergence of Covid-19, hygiene management in offices has become more complex. In addition to negotiating toilet cleaning, sanitiser, and handwash with your building management provider, you should focus on Covid-19 mitigations too. For example, if someone in your office does test positive, do they offer deep cleaning or fogging services? Similarly, if wearing masks is a policy, can they offer appropriate waste disposal services? By focusing on thorough hygiene management, you can keep your workforce healthy and reduce sickness-related absences.

Routine Cleaning

Consider how often you expect routine cleaning to take place and when you want it to happen. For example, if your routine cleaning involves the use of chemicals, you may not want it to take place too close to opening hours. Some employees may be sensitive to chemicals, which means cleaning too close to opening can leave them feeling unwell. If you are going to use cleaning services outside of opening hours, can the building management provider offer assurances that their cleaners have a clear criminal record? Always make sure you balance your dedication to office hygiene with keeping your business safe.

Aesthetic Maintenance

Some aspects of building management focus on aesthetics as well as cleanliness. For example, if you have a lot of windows throughout your building, keeping them clean can prevent the spread of diseases and mould. It can also create an excellent first impression, as those arriving at your property will see clear sparkling windows and not dirty ones. Additionally, you should find out if the company you're looking into can tackle weeds and algae outside your property. In addition to reducing the chance of visitors slipping and falling, this can help your property look pristine.

On-Call Services

Every business owner faces cleaning and hygiene emergencies. One example is a toilet that's overflowing. If your employees can't access a toilet due to blockages, you're not providing a safe place for them to operate from. As a part of your building management contract, try to negotiate emergency on-call services as a part of the package. You may find that it's more cost-friendly to pay for them on an ad-hoc basis rather than as a part of your package.

For more information on building management, contact a professional near you.