Puhastusekspert Participated in the Autumn Seminar 'Clean Goal'

For the 15th time, Puhastusimport organized an autumn seminar, in which we were delighted to participate. The day was filled with joyful reunions, meetings, and warm greetings. As Tauri Tallermaa noted, it felt like a large family gathering. Beyond the pleasant interactions, the seminars themselves provided numerous valuable takeaways.

We would like to share some particularly valuable insights with you:

According to Tauri Tallermaa, the greatest impediment is a lack of knowledge. This is something we have frequently encountered in our work. Therefore, let us strive for awareness and understanding!
Christian Geisinger from Germany emphasized that successful cleaning requires careful consideration of what, how, and with what to clean, based on the surface material. It is essential to understand both the surface type and the nature of the dirt to make informed cleaning choices.
Pirjo Falten from Omniva shared insights regarding recruitment. Labor shortages and high turnover are also significant challenges within the cleaning sector. According to Pirjo, the total recruitment cost for a single new employee amounts to 2.5 monthly salaries. How substantial is this figure within the cleaning service industry?

What can be learned from Omniva’s experience?

When onboarding new employees, it is crucial to convey accurate messages. Campaigns have been implemented to introduce the actual job content, utilizing concise texts and simple language. How well-informed is the general public about contemporary cleaning services and the nature of the work involved?
During recruitment, it is essential to focus on the desired target audience.
Employee satisfaction is paramount. Two years ago, Omniva employees encountered significant negativity. A crucial change involved reorganizing the direct managers’ roles to enable them to engage in one-on-one communication with their subordinates. Now, managers have the time to inquire, ‘How are things going?’ How overloaded are our cleaning operations managers? Do they have the opportunity to ask cleaning service personnel how they are doing?
It is crucial to make new employees feel highly valued.
Employees desire to feel cared for. The specific interpretation of this can vary for each individual. How aware are we of what fosters a sense of being valued among employees?
In the cleaning sector, it is crucial to articulate one’s work objectives clearly. What emotions do we evoke in our clients? Cleaning is a service that contributes to well-being; how often and how effectively do we communicate this?
At Omniva, five core principles were formulated at the management level and consistently applied, reiterated like a mantra. This approach is essential for shifting opinions and perspectives.

From Kadi Kenk’s presentation at Teeme Ära SA, we would like to highlight the following:

Collaboration, positivity, celebrating achievements, information sharing, a proactive ‘let’s-do-it’ attitude, and consistency collectively foster an environment where individuals are motivated to perform at their best!
It is important to start with small, manageable tasks and complete them. This principle also applies to implementing changes within the cleaning sector.
Change must be driven with passion, and the leader’s conviction is paramount! Obstacles will always arise. Maintain a positive vision and always articulate the ultimate objective.
A plan facilitates progress and demonstrates to others that thorough consideration has been given. However, a plan is rarely executed perfectly from start to finish.
During the journey of change, there will inevitably be ‘bad news.’ It is crucial that someone within the team maintains morale and high spirits during such times.

Helena Väljaste prompted reflection on the concept of being present in the here and now. Research indicates that for at least half of our waking hours, we are not truly ‘present,’ neither at work nor at home. Our attention drifts, and we contemplate other matters. Concurrently, the feeling of happiness is directly contingent upon the quality of our presence. If we operate on ‘autopilot,’ achieving happiness becomes exceedingly difficult.

In summary, the cleaning sector can foster happiness and success if we are knowledgeable, maintain a clear objective, and remain focused on our tasks. Furthermore, prioritizing team care, mutual listening, and recognition is of utmost importance.