Office cleaners holidays

For many office cleaning companies and  cleaning companies the worst part of the job is dealing with the HR side, what happens if a cleaner wants an extended holiday?

You have to decide whether or not you want this employee to return and if you want to agree to this request. The choice is to either agree this which will keep the contract in force or to bring the contract to an end. This ultimately comes down to whether or not you want to hold this position open for them.

If you want the employee to return and you think that you’re able to cope without them for this period of time, possibly by arranging a temporary replacement, then you can agree this between you. Your employee is entitled to be paid for their time away for any portion of this time that is covered by their annual leave entitlement. Any additional time off is unpaid leave unless you come to some agreement to pay extra on a discretionary basis.

If you agree a temporary cessation of work then the contract continues as normal and they return to work on the agreed date. If you are not able to agree this break then you need to tell your employee that and be clear about what you’re saying. Explain to the employee that you can’t hold their job open so they will have to resign if they no longer wish to be bound by the contract. Tell them that they can contact you on their return and you will see if you have any suitable vacancies for them but you cannot guarantee that you will be able to rehire them so there should be no expectation of the contract continuing.

Office cleaning checklist

Office cleaners and office cleaning companies usually have to supply a cleaning specification or checklist which make up the service level agreements.

Depending on what type of building and what type of work needs to be carried out the checklist can vary -Here is a basic example

General Daily Cleaning Duties
Daily	NOTES	DONE
Bathrooms	Clean and disinfect all bathrooms
	inside and outside toilet
	mirror, counter top and edges
	paper towel dispenser, wipe door handle's inside and outside
	Mop floors
	polish all stainless steel
	sweep floors
	replace toliet paper
	disinfect all sinks
Hallway Area(s)	Clean, sweep and mop all general locations with tile throughout office
	Counter tops and edges should be dusted/wiped down
	Clean glass doors, all windows and window seals
	Dust, disinfect and wipe down hall walls
	Sweep and mop stairways entrance
Office Area(s)
	Sweep and Vacuum all offices
	Wipe and disinfect work desk and phones (Data room, Fax and Copier Room
	Wipe and disinfect all cabinets, computers, keyboards, etc
	Wipe and disinfect tables
	Empty garbage cans (If garbage cans need cleaning please clean)
	Wipe/dust all windows and window seals
	polish all stainless steel and wood
	clean all picture frames door jams etc
Laboratory Area	throw out trash
	Sweep floor
	Mop floor
	Clean and disinfect table and counter top
	Clean and disinfect the outside of refrigerator
Waiting Area	Clean and disinfect all counter tops and chairs
	dust all shelfs
	clean in and out windows
	vacuum carpet
	throw out trash
Exam Rooms	Sweep and Vacuum all floors
	Wipe and disinfect all countertops and cabinets etc.
	clean and disinfect all sinks, mirrors, exam tables and chairs
clean doors	clean in and out side of all doors
	wipe door handle's inside and outside

Here at ICS we offer a cleaning specification and then adjust to suit the clients requirements. In our time we have seen checklists that are not far off war and peace in length which may cover everything but probably will not be practical on a day to day commercial contract. In our experience a balance between what is possible, what is required and some room for additional works as and when required forms the ideal checklist specification.

Increasing your office cleaning business

There are many office cleaning companies and  cleaning companies but successful cleaning companies are always thinking about how to attract new customers. So draw up a list of what you’re currently doing and what you could try in future, and make sure you are always actively marketing your business and its products and services. For example, you could:

Offer free estimates and advice on services
Let potential new customers know who you are and what you offer
Aim to provide the best possible experience on the first sale
Offer options and solutions to increase convenience
Position yourself as a leader next to your competition – give prospects reasons to buy from you
Aim to price your products or services according to their quality – avoid under-pricing them.
Getting more from existing customers

Of course, once you’ve won new customers you need to keep them. Your regular customer base is critical to your business' survival and growth. It generally costs more to attract new customers than to look after the ones you have.

To retain your regular customers you need to seize chances to build and maintain your relationship with them on each interaction or sale. Whether by email, newsletter, word of mouth or your product or service, you should try to cement your customers' relationships with your business.

Typically, this is done by:

Regularly communicating with customers, by phone or online, possibly with regular newsletters or online updates
Focusing on their needs and wants
Being specific, honest and clear about what you can offer
Getting to know your competitors, understanding what they are offering that is attracting customers, and adapting your business accordingly.

You can also gain new business from existing customers through your selling techniques. For example, you could:

Encourage people to buy now, by offering lower prices for immediate/bulk purchases or bookings
Use coupons that are easy and cheap to design and can be easily distributed
Offer a prize in a competition to encourage people to get to know your business, at the same time gaining media coverage
Consider offering advice or another service that is useful to your customers
Offer gifts, free trials and estimates – these can be great ways to advertise and have customers remember you
Offer your regular customers incentives for referrals
Reward your customers with loyalty schemes
Ensure your staff are fully aware of your customer base, products and services and are inspired about your business
Day-to-day interactions can improve your understanding of, and help you respond to, your customers' needs and wants. This information can strengthen your products or services, your customer relationships and your return on investment as a result.

Office cleaning and closing the deal

There are many office cleaning companies and  cleaning companies out there so how can you distinguish yourself and then close the deal with a potential client?

Even if you manage to gain the client's commitment to signing an order, there may be a period of negotiation required to agree on the details.

Remember not to get carried away by the fact that you have potentially secured a new contract - you may still have to walk away if the deal doesn't suit your profit margins or your ability to deliver.

Negotiating on price
It is tempting to end up in a negotiation on the final cost of the deal, as it is almost certainly one of the elements that the client will try to negotiate on. However, it is rarely advantageous to give ground on price.

Provided you have set your price realistically, taking into account the cost of creating and delivering your product or service, lowering your price may:

result in a low profit margin that affects your ability to deliver to the required standard
create an expectancy that you will lower it further
suggest that it was too high in the first place
For more information, see our guide on how to price your product or service.

If the client insists on a price reduction, offer to give them a discount based on more cleaning services. You could also offer to agree on a particular price if you can alter some elements of the proposed package, eg lessen hours.

Take your time
Whatever happens in the negotiation, remain assertive but polite at all times. Don't be put off by comments designed to destabilise your position, eg 'that's far too expensive'. Outline the benefits and why it is worth the cost.

Consider all sensible offers but don't agree to a condition too quickly - this can make the buyer think you are desperate and that there could be more room for manoeuvre.

See what out clients have to say about us in out office cleaning testimonial page

Office cleaning jobs

Office Cleaning Vacancies and cleaning jobs In London Essex Kent at ICS Cleaning

Cleaning jobs in London

We are always on the lookout for exceptional cleaners to deliver our outstanding cleaning services in London.

You must have an excellent attention to detail, be extremely fastidious and  be able to work to high standards everyday.  Previous experience required.

Please tell us of any qualifications and if you have been CRB checked.

Apply now by filling in our cleaning job form

Cleaners Required Central London - various shifts

We are looking for a cleaners for a possible immediate start to clean in central London.

You must be presentable, trustworthy, and hardworking, have cleaning experience, have a good command of English, be able to get to Central London, be able to clean high standards.

If you believe you can do this job to the highest standards please email back stating you are interested in the Cleaner job in London W1 08.00 start , your name, age, address, telephone number, cleaning experience and why you think you can do the job.

Apply now by filling in our cleaning recruitment form




Mobile Cleaners and Cleaning Manager required in London

We require mobile cleaners in London to deliver our outstanding cleaning services across London.

You must be reliable and have an excellent attention to detail and have previous experience, either have a driving license, or be able to get around London by public transport.  Working hours will be outside office hours including evenings, late night and early mornings.

You must be presentable, trustworthy, and hardworking, have cleaning experience, have a good command of English, be able to get around London, be able to clean high standards.

The work will be OUTSIDE normal working hours, anytime from 19.00 to 08.00 and will depend on what needs to be done, normally 3 to 4 hours per shift possibly more, so you need to be flexible.

If you believe you can do this job to the highest standards please complete our job form stating that you are interested in the Mobile Cleaner job, please put your name, age, address, telephone number, cleaning experience and why you think you can do the job.

Please tell us of any qualifications and if you have been CRB checked.

Apply now by filling in our cleaners job form

Manager required for head office

We require manager to help deliver the highest cleaning standards to our clients. Based in Ingatestone.

If you are interested please find more here

How to do office cleaning well

Office cleaning companies and all cleaning companies have to perform well otherwise they will end up losing clients to someone who is prepared to do it correctly.

One thing to keep in mind is the proper cleaning procedures for varied pieces of equipment and furniture found in many offices.

For instance, computers and other electronics are practically guaranteed to be a part of any office. Since these items are most used, they tend to be the dirtiest. This is why it is important they are thoroughly cleaned. Computer screens can be wiped with soft microfiber cloths while the keyboard should be blown with compressed air and swabbed with alcohol to kill germs. Other electronic devices such as fax machines, hard drives and telephones can be cleaned and disinfected in the same way.

Furniture should also undergo deep cleaning and disinfection on a regular basis, typically about once a month. The tops of desks, shelves and other surfaces need to be wiped down with an all-purpose cleaner. All materials usually sitting on these surfaces need to be thoroughly dusted before they are replaced on the newly cleaned surfaces. Chairs need to be wiped down according their upholstery whether leather, vinyl or fabric.

There are other things to keep in mind with office cleaning such as shortcuts to keep dust from building and keeping wipes and paper towels handy for unexpected spills. In the interim of deep and thorough office cleaning, you should also perform smaller cleaning tasks such as disinfecting phone mouthpieces and other havens for germs. Keeping an office clean involves more than vacuuming and taking out the trash when you want to do an exemplary job.

Motivating office cleaners

One question that reoccurs from clients is, are we are going to have the same cleaners throughout the contract.

Any cleaning company who insists it will retain the same staff are either not being realistic or are being untruthful. The cleaning industry has many cleaners who are transient for many different reasons. Many office cleaners and commercial cleaners come and go, that is a unavoidable fact.

This does not mean that the cleaning standards should suffer. We here at ICS train and recruit all their own cleaners, they work alongside our experienced supervisors who ensure they realise and meet the client's expectations. This ensures regardless of if a cleaner suddenly leaves the cleaning service remains at the high standards the client requires.

In spite of employing many cleaners in such a transient industry ICS Cleaning does have many cleaners who have been working for us for many years. By ensuring they are carefully recruited, then full trained and fully backed up by our supervisors and managers means our cleaning staff feel they are working for a company who offer them a good job. We also motivate our staff by making sure they get their full entitlements and they are paid above way above the industry standard once they have met our high standards. We figure if someone is good, carries out the work professionally, they should be treated well and invested in, which means our staff feel valued and hopefully stay, we dont have to keep recruiting and training new staff and our client often get the answer yes to their initial contract.

To find out more why not get a free online cleaning quote now, or contact us today to get one of our cleaning surveyors round to visit your premises to see what we can do for you.

How to choose an Office Cleaning Company

There are many office cleaning companies and cleaning companies out there but if you are looking to choose a new cleaning company or replace your old cleaners how should you go about choosing?

If you need a new office cleaning company have a read through here to help you decide.

There are plenty of cleaning companies on the market offering you variety of choices which you have to review according to your requirements.

Before considering the office cleaning company you wish to hire you have to determine the cleaning needs you want to receive. For example, how big is the space you want to be cleaned, how often do you want the cleaning to be performed, especially how much money are you ready to spend and when do you wish the cleaning to start - to get an idea try getting an online quote or phoning them.

Some of the companies can begin the same day you sign the contract but there are others which may need longer to recruit and train up staff which maybe a factor depending on your timeline.

Then you might meet with several companies to talk about the services they provide and to see what they will include in the package they offer. That's how you will be able to compare and to choose the most suitable to your criteria cleaning services and to select the most affordable price.

One thing you should always ask for when you choose one of the cleaning companies is do they have adequate insurance cover. If the company doesn't have any you put yourself in serious risk because something might be damaged during the cleaning process and if the cleaning services provider isn't insured you can't be sure you will receive the money for the damages.

Another thing you should think about is to ask for cleaning check list or specification which includes the areas to be cleaned and the tasks that will be performed.

Another very important factor is reliability; does the cleaning company have the infrastructure and ability to be able to cope with your cleaning requirements? Does the cleaning contractor have enough staff and managers to cover when your regular cleaners go on holiday? Can the cleaning company cope if a cleaner leaves suddenly? A one man band may offer a personalised service at a low price but what happens when they need to go on holiday themselves or an emergency comes up?

If you already have a cleaning service in place there maybe some TUPE implications and you should choose a company who have experience in dealing with TUPE transfers and UK employment law. Another consideration: can the cleaning company cover all the relevent all health and safety aspects. Choosing a company that does not know how to deal with these matters is essential to ensure you meet UK law requirements.

ICS have full public liability and employer's insurance and can start as soon as you make a decision, employ independent health and safety and employment law consultants and we also have invested in our infrastructure to ensure we have the right managers and staff to be able to cope with whatever cleaning requirements you have, please contact us further information

See what out clients have to say about us in out office cleaning testimonial page

The Green Cleaning Company - offering eco friendly office cleaning

We are one of London's leading cleaning companies delivering outstanding, value for money office cleaning and commercial cleaning services at very competitive prices.

Set up on the simple premises of treating clients and cleaners better whilst eliminating any unnecessary overheads means we deliver extremely cost effective office cleaning services. All types of companies, from one cleaner to multiple office cleaner sites, have chosen and stuck with ICS the green cleaning company to ensure their cleaning is carried out to the very highest standards.

We recruit hardworking, reliable office cleaners and contract cleaners, who are backed up with dedicated and experienced cleaning managers, all of whom are led by a hands on Director with vast industry knowledge.

We are committed to creating a cleaner environment using low emission cleaner vehicles, biodegradable and environmentally friendly office cleaning products and methods and all at no extra cost.

ICS Cleaning prides itself on offering a fantastic eco friendly office cleaning service that is greener & cleaner than our competitors without costing more.e

How do we achieve this?

Here at ICS cleaning we don't like waste, waste leads to lost time, lost energy and inefficiency and unnecessary costs. By continually improving all aspects of our cleaning services we can offer a more efficient service whilst cutting back on waste which means we can deliver a better service which is also greener and cheaper.

The following are ICS initiatives which reduce waste and improve our service leading to a more eco friendly office cleaning service.

Microfibre cleaning systems – By introducing microfibre cleaning systems into the commercial cleaning regime, the use of chemical cleaning fluids can be reduced by 70-80%. Cleaning fluids and sanitisers should still be used in hygienic areas to kill germs, however, general use areas such as offices can be cleaned effectively with a microfibre system.

Alternative fuel / hybrid electric vehicles – ICS uses LPG dual fuel vans. LPG gives a 10-15% carbon dioxide reduction in comparison to petrol and is on a par with diesel. LPG also delivers 80% lower nitrous oxide emissions than diesel, along with zero particulate emissions. Hybrid vehicles are powered by a combination of petrol or diesel and electricity. This cuts down on the amount of fuel needed, meaning drivers will produce fewer emissions.

Reducing deliveries – ICS encourages less frequent deliveries of cleaning materials and consumables to customers’ sites. Fewer deliveries means a reduction in the fuel used and the emissions produced. However, adequate storage space is required at the site. Customers may need to provide alternative storage as traditional cleaners’ cupboards are often inadequate.

Eco-friendly carpet cleaning – ICS uses the dry carpet cleaning system which is Green Seal® certified. The green seal demonstrates that the product promotes a cleaner, healthier environment, causing less pollution, reducing waste and conserving resources. This system uses a natural product moistened with water, detergent and a small amount of safe-to-use-solvent. When compared with high flow wet extraction systems, the reduction in chemicals and water used is 97%.

Eco-friendly window cleaning – ICS uses the reach & wash system of window cleaning using the ionic cleaning action of pure sterile water. Cleaning is carried out without the use of any chemicals or detergents.

Recycling – ICS use and supply 100% recycled toilet rolls and hand towels. We also recycle printer cartridges, mobile phones and general waste. We encourage all customers to recycle and provide a mixed recyclables collection service through our Waste Management.

Save paper – Stopping its use is the best way to save paper, encouraging employees and customers to think before printing emails is an easy way to reduce paper use. Paper that is used on one side should be re-used for making notes and for fax machines. Repackaging and recycling our containers means we reduce our waste.

Green Cleaning - the way forward..

Green Cleaning - the way forward....


Eco friendly office cleaning and commercial cleaning and the use of environmentally sustainable cleaning products are making big gains in the commercial cleaning industry, but there are still substantial opportunities for companies to improve.



Since ICS Cleaning led the way, Green cleaning is becoming a predominant theme in the industry. 

Clients who choose ICS receive not only an exceptional cleaning standard day in day out at very competitive rates they also get, for no extra cost, an ethical cleaning company who use green cleaning methods.

Simply by changing over to ICS our clients instantly get the benefit of improving their green credentials and getting a great cleaning service as well.

As a leading green cleaning company ICS have been using biodegradable green cleaning products to deliver office cleaning and commercial cleaning services for several years.
In addition we use LPG vans, recycling all our packaging, use only recycled and sustainable paper products.  With our numerous other initiatives means ICS are at the forefront of offering clients a green cleaning service which is competitive and of an exceptionally high standards.



Find out more by getting an online cleaning quote now!
 

How to hire the best cleaning company?

How to hire the best office cleaning company

If you need a new office cleaning company have a read through here to help you decide.

There are  plenty of cleaning companies on the market will offer you variety of choices which you have to review according to your requirements.

Before considering the office cleaning company you wish to hire you have to determine the cleaning needs you want to receive. For example, how big is the space you want to be cleaned, how often you want the cleaning to be performed, especially how much money are you ready to spend and when do you wish the cleaning to start. Some of the companies can begin the same day you sign the contract but there are others which may need longer to recruit and train up staff.

Then you might meet with several companies to talk about the services they provide and to see what they will include in the package they offer. That's how you will be able to compare and to choose the most suitable to your criteria cleaning services and to select the most affordable price.

One thing you should always ask for when you choose one of the cleaning companies is do they have adequate insurance cover. If the company doesn't have one you put yourself in serious risk because something might be damaged during the cleaning process and if the cleaning services provider isn't insured you can't be sure you will receive the money for the damages. Other thing you should think about is to ask for cleaning check list which includes the areas to be cleaned and the task that will be performed. You should know which of the activities are included in the price and which of them are additional and you have to pay for them more.

We advise you also to ask for references. The references are the best way to find out how quality are the company's services, because all the good providers have enough satisfied clients which are the best way to examine the reputation of the contractor you are dealing with.

Another important factor is reliability, does the cleaning company have the infrastructure and ability to be able to cope with your cleaning requirements? Does the cleaning contractor have enough staff and managers to cover when your regular cleaners go on holiday? Can the cleaning company cope if a cleaner leaves suddenly? A one man band may offer a personalised service but what happens when they need to go on holiday themselves or an emergency comes up?

ICS have full public liability and employer's insurance and can start as soon as you make a decision, we also have invested in our infrastructure to ensure we have the right managers and staff to be able to cope with whatever cleaning requirements you have, please contact us for references or further information.


Find out more by getting an online cleaning quote now!

Or Book your cleaning site survey online

Or phone us 01277 356600

Green clean your office

ICS uses eco friendly cleaning products and environmentally friendly practices to deliver its cost effective high standards of cleaning which can help you green up your office but here are a few simple things you can do to help out the environment.

IT is responsible for about 1 billion tonnes of CO2 emmissions, with one pc capable of producing the same CO2 levels as an airline passenger travelling from London to Cairo. Just switching your pc off at night can help save vast amounts of CO2 emissions and save you up to £70 per pc per year in costs.

Another usual suspects is printing, according to Xerox the average office worker prints out 1200 pages of information a year with nearly 45 per cent for one time use - do you really need to print out emails, why not try forwarded them on instead.

In the spirit of scrooge, why not try emailing your christmas card this year rather than adding to the 1 billion cards thrown away each year.

Why not also consider changing your cleaning company for a greener cleaner company (shameless plug!) and help out there as well?

If you are interested in using one of the best and greenest cleaning companies in the UK, why not get a free online quote now ICS will provide you with trained office cleaners who are regularly supervised and monitored by our managers. ICS's office cleaning systems are designed to get it right all the time and are proven and tested.

Find out more by getting an online quote now!

Ways to Find London Office Cleaning Companies

Office cleaning companies can be found in several different ways to locate these companies, using the phone book, the local newspaper, the Internet, and others. All of the methods that can be utilized may have benefits and disadvantages involved, and if you are considering an office cleaning company you should be aware of how each method works. Using the local newspaper can be a method that is hit or miss, because there may either be no cleaning services currently listed, or you could end up with a low quality no customer service company that is fly by night. Using the phone book to find an office cleaning companies may offer better results and higher quality cleaning services than using the newspapers, because the cleaning companies listed have been around long enough to invest in advertising. This means they may be more stable and rooted down. Unfortunately, this method also takes a significant amount of time, and the companies listed may have gone out of business since the phone book as printed. The best way to find office cleaning companies now is by using the Internet, and this method offers many benefits with no disadvantages at all.

The Internet can be a valuable resource, a quick online search can reveal many of these companies that can provide the cleaning services you require at a price that can be afforded in almost any company budget. Many cleaning services have their own specific websites to allow potential customers to contact them and find out about their cleaning services offered. This can be a convenient method of getting an estimate or an online cleaning quote.

There are many different ways to locate an office cleaning companies, and the final method you choose will depend on many different factors. Almost all offices have computers, but contact can be made by phone or standard mail as well, if you prefer. Many people prefer the Internet, because it is the fastest and most convenient way to contact the office cleaning companies that are being considered. There are business owners that prefer using the phone method, as well as contracts on paper instead of electronically, to ensure that every aspect is completely covered.

If you are looking for an office cleaning company to help your business with cleaning needs, look at all the available methods and decide which ones work best for your specific company and needs. For some that may be three times a week, while for others it may only be twice a month. Decide whether you have computer and Internet access, and whether you want to use this popular and easy way to find an office cleaning company that can meet your cleaning and price standards. There are many of these companies available, so there is a lot of choice, and these companies can really help your business offices look their absolute best.

Cleaners are our most important asset

We manage to employ great office cleaners by paying above industry rates and then more importantly we retain our cleaners by fully supporting them and paying performance bonuses, full holiday entitlements and encouraging them to progress though our company.

Cleaning can often be an isolated job, working outside normal working hours, with the only comments heard upon the work your doing being negative.

At ICS we started with a few contracts which we all had to get stuck in and help and we understand all too well the the working environment the cleaner can find themselves having cleaned all types of premises ourselves. Having had plenty of experience ourselves we know where to help out with advice and we make sure to pass on straight away all comments and feedback - everyone likes to know that their work is being appreciated, particularly when you don't often see the people you are cleaning for.

We make sure our cleaners know they are working for people who know the industry inside out and they know they are fully supported. This we have found makes for happier cleaners, and happier workers do better jobs than unhappy ones.

If you require office cleaners in London or office cleaners in essex or kent or the south east please do not hesitate to contact us today. ICS Cleaning - London's cleaning company

Labels: office cleaners