Making the "Return to Office" Worth It: The Role of Facility Hygiene

If you are a facility manager or business owner in 2023, you are likely navigating the complex dynamics of the "Return to Office" (RTO). Across the country, companies are issuing mandates or strong encouragements for teams to come back to their desks this fall.

But as many leaders are finding, issuing a mandate is the easy part. The hard part is managing the morale and expectations of a workforce that has spent three years controlling their own home environments.

At Vaakawi, we are seeing a clear trend among our top-tier clients: they aren't just unlocking the doors; they are using facility excellence to "earn the commute."

The New Employee Expectation
Your employees have gotten used to their own standards of cleanliness at home. They control the temperature, the air quality, and the bathroom hygiene. Asking them to return to an office that feels dusty, smells stale, or has neglected restrooms is a recipe for resentment.

In 2023, cleanliness is no longer a background utility; it is a frontline component of employee retention.

A Clean Office is a "Cared For" Office
When an employee walks into a lobby with gleaming floors, sits at a dust-free desk, and sees a porter in a crisp Vaakawi Violet and Orange uniform sanitizing the breakroom, it sends a powerful psychological signal: “My company cares about my health and comfort.”

Conversely, overflowing trash bins or stained carpets signal the opposite.

How Vaakawi Supports Your RTO Strategy
We are helping companies nationwide transition back to in-person work by elevating the standard of care:

• Daytime Visibility: We are deploying more Day Porters than ever before. Seeing cleaning happen in real-time alleviates anxiety and provides a concierge-like experience for staff.
• Odor Elimination, Not Masking: A "stale" building smell is the first thing people notice after a long absence. We focus on deep cleaning textiles (carpets and upholstery) and using enzymatic cleaners in restrooms to remove the source of odors, rather than just spraying air freshener.
• High-Traffic Focus: With more people back in conference rooms and huddle spaces, we adjust our frequencies to ensure these collaborative zones remain pristine throughout the day.

The Office Must Be Better Than Home
If you want your team to be excited about collaborating in person, the environment needs to facilitate that. A clean, healthy, and bright workspace is the foundation of a productive culture.

As you welcome your teams back this September, make sure your facility is ready to greet them with its best foot forward.

Need to upgrade your janitorial plan to support a full office? Contact Vaakawi today.