Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 18th April 2024 Issue no. 1110

Your industry news - first

The original and best - for over 20 years!

We strongly recommend viewing Cleanzine full size in your web browser. Click our masthead above to visit our website version.

Cleanology research reveals real attitudes to rates of pay

Almost two-thirds of employees are concerned that cleaners should be paid fairly. According to research commissioned by London-based contract cleaning firm Cleanology, 63% of staff care greatly about the rate of pay for cleaning operatives. However, only 39% have an accurate idea of the real figures on cleaning pay.

Cleanology is a passionate advocate of the Real Living Wage and initiated the research to explore the attitudes both to wage levels and to perceptions around cleaners' pay. It discovered a great deal of confusion around the National Living Wage and Real Living Wage pay brackets, with a majority of respondents underestimating the level of the voluntary Real Living Wage and just 33% correctly identifying the statutory National Living Wage rate.

Dominic Ponniah, CEO of Cleanology, describes the research as ground-breaking, saying:

"This data should give every facilities management firm and office site manager food for thought. It shows that employees across all age brackets support the concept of fair pay for cleaners, with nine in 10 saying they would lose respect for a company that did not pay the Real Living Wage.

"While work clearly needs to be done to clarify the differences between statutory rates of pay and the voluntary Real Living Wage rates, which represent the realistic minimum needed to live, for FMs and other businesses contracting cleaners, the benefits of paying a realistic rate are obvious.

"It not only sends the right message to employees, but also positions the company as a modern, forward-thinking organisation with a strong sense of stewardship towards everyone that works within its buildings."

The research which was conducted by Sapio Research in January 2019 amongst 1,056 respondents., showed that 93% of company employees cared to some extent about the level of pay afforded to cleaning operatives, while 45% would not work for a company that does not pay the Real Living Wage.

Cleanology provides commercial cleaning, facilities management and support services across London and Manchester. A family business, established over 18 years ago, the company has built up a long list of high-profile clients; both corporate (such as the Bank of Brazil and Argus Media), and some of the world's most famous brands including Harrods, Smeg and Hermes.

The company is a certified partner of the Living Wage Foundation, with a strong belief in paying above the minimum wage to attract and retain the best people.

With a focus on quality and social responsibility, it is also highly accredited and thoroughly audited with ISO:14001, ISO:9001 and Safe Contractor, and a member of the Green Organisation for environmental innovation.

E: [email protected]
T: 0800 121 4835

11th April 2019