September 16, 2015—Every year during the second full week of September, businesses and organizations around the world celebrate the hard-working individuals who help keep their facilities clean, healthy and safe. Since 1981, the International Executive Housekeepers Association (IEHA) has sponsored International Housekeepers Week (IHW), which will be held this year on September 13-19.
IEHA recently announced a list of five ways organizations can boost morale and recognize cleaning staff during IHW or at any time to show genuine appreciation for their difficult but critical work. Whether a company plans to hold a different event each day of the week or just take a single day or two to recognize the efforts of cleaning professionals in their building, IEHA’s list of celebration ideas include:
1. Provide breakfast or a lunch. From donuts at breakfast to a catered lunch, celebrate cleaning staff by buying them food. Managers throughout a building can also work together to bring in food for a potluck picnic or dinner. Eating together helps establish a better sense of unity among various workers throughout the building, so the more people who can be involved with the effort, the better.
2. Hold a “spirit” day. Give housekeeping staff an opportunity to break their typical regiment by holding special days throughout the week where they can dress in special attire. Example days might include an 80s Day, Bad Hair Day, Hat Day, Hawaiian Day, etc. At the end of each shift, have staff members vote on the individual who did the best job representing the theme. The winner can be recognized with a prize, such as a gift certificate to a local restaurant.
3. Publicly show appreciation. From posters located throughout the hallways to table tents in the cafeteria, leave reminders in all the places where cleaning staff work to let them know how much their work is appreciated. Use electronic communications like e-mail blasts and acknowledgements in the organization’s newsletter to remind people of IHW and to take a few moments to thank the cleaning staff.
4. Offer gifts or paid time off. From a small lapel pin to a paid hour off work, the smallest of gestures can go a long way. Other possible gifts might include travel coffee mugs, blankets or travel chairs.
5. Hold a cleaning-related competition. Many organizations hold events through the week that culminate into a “Cleaning Olympics” held the final day of IHW. Organize cleaning staff into two teams and have them compete in events such as bed-making races, toilet bowl tosses, mop relays and more. If desired, this could become a yearly event for a facility, with a large trophy that is passed along each year to the winning team.
Janet Wiggins, Master CEH, IEHA president, commented:
A cleaner’s work is often difficult, tiresome and largely unappreciated. Yet it’s a critical task in any building type. Whether you work in a building or manage a cleaning staff, IHW gives everyone the opportunity to take a moment to stop the cleaners who help maintain our indoor environments and say ‘thank you’ for all of their effort…by showing your appreciation through IHW events, you help cleaning workers take pride in what they do.
