Daytime work: why and how to implement it?

Since 2014, DeCA Propreté has been a signatory of the Daytime Work Charter . A commitment at the heart of our social concerns but also of our strategy and our quality system. But why are we so involved in the democratization of daytime services? What are the benefits for our customers and for our agents? What impact on the monitoring and quality of our services? Today, we decipher for you the challenges, advantages and tips for setting up daytime work for cleaning your company.

What exactly is daytime and continuous work?

Daytime work involves cleaning premises during so-called “daytime” hours, i.e. between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. In the 1990s, the massive outsourcing of cleaning services gave rise to nighttime hours for cleaning agents. At first glance, it seems more practical to have your office cleaned after your day’s work. But was your office really cleaned? How? And above all, by whom? Since the 2010s, supported by the Fédération des entreprises de nettoyage , cleaning market players have been involved in democratizing daytime work for their clients.

And continuous work  ? Continuous work is the logical continuation of the modernization of the organization of services. It is primarily the business of cleaning companies. The latter, seeing the positive impact of daytime schedules on their agents and at their customers, are now responsible for optimizing tours and service schedules. Why? To avoid agents interrupting their professional daily lives with periods of inactivity: “I work from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., then from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and finally from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.” Not very practical!

What are the benefits of daytime work for cleaning services?

First of all, we often think of the advantages of daytime work for service agents. And indeed, there are many! Daytime work allows them, above all, to benefit from a better balance between their personal and professional lives . By working during the day, they can also more easily take public transport and benefit from an optimization of their schedules and their rounds . In some cases, daytime work also ensures greater safety for the employee by avoiding them being isolated in premises at night. The last of the advantages for cleaning agents, and not the least, is to develop greater recognition and appreciation of their work . By carrying out their services in front of the users of the premises, the technical skills of the agents become more tangible. This helps to increase respect for cleaning workers and their work .

For our customers, this also involves considerable advantages. First of all, working during the day gives them better visibility of their cleaning services . They know their agents, understand their missions and see the quality of their work. Cohabitation also allows the establishment of a real working relationship . Present on the site at the same time as the users, the agents can adapt their operation to the life of the premises  : cleaning up unexpected dirt, adjusting the order of tasks, spending more time in the most used rooms, etc. This gives our customers greater responsiveness and adaptability, which is widely appreciated. By avoiding having agents come during night shifts, our customers also reduce their electricity consumption linked to lighting, heating or air conditioning. This solution also ensures the security of access to the site because it is no longer the agents who are responsible for opening or closing the premises at the start or end of the day.

For the cleaning company, working during the day also has several benefits. The management of recruitment and replacements is significantly simplified . Absenteeism is also much less frequent during the day thanks to the reduction in the arduousness of the position. In addition, the tripartite relationship between the client, the cleaning team and the local manager is facilitated. The Sector Manager has the possibility of carrying out his quality checks in the presence of the agents and can also train them more frequently during their working hours .

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For whom and how to set up daytime cleaning of your premises?

Is daytime work suitable for all types of premises? Opinions differ on this point. For our part, we have been able to implement this system for a wide variety of clients  : offices, sales areas, train stations, public places, schools, administrations, leisure and tourism establishments, etc. In some cases, an intermediate solution is possible  : a team present during the day to clean the common areas (toilets, reception areas, cash registers, changing rooms, offices, etc.) and a team dedicated to other areas during closing times (swimming pool, cinema, public transport, factory, warehouse, etc.). This solution allows you to benefit from the advantages of continuous cleanliness and thorough cleaning.

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But how can I make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible? How can I make the users of my premises understand that agents will be coming during the day to carry out their service? And how can they get them to work together for the good of all? Certain steps can accompany the implementation of a cleaning service during the day:

Introduce each new agent to the premises manager

Inform users of the terms of the services: times of passage, names of agents, tasks carried out during each passage, contact details of the manager, etc.

Establish rules for each party: What can I ask the agent? What should I do when he shows up to clean my office? What instructions should the cleaning staff follow?

Raising awareness among users of the benefits of working during the day

Train agents in the service attitudes to adopt

Implement communication tools between the parties

At DeCA Propreté, we have set up tools that adapt to the needs of our customers . We offer to carry out a diagnosis of their needs and constraints and organize tailor-made support throughout the cleaning contract : explanatory poster, flyer to distribute on the desks, time sheet in the toilets, measurement of user satisfaction, liaison book, opening meeting, training tools for agents, etc.