Building a happy, dependable workforce

Sharing Experience: Mark Robinson, WPM

The reliability, work ethic and attitude of your team makes or breaks reputations. That’s why spotting talent and potential – and understanding the path to keeping it – is one of the smartest moves we make as small or medium sized businesses.

We all strive for team members who are dependable, detail-oriented and respectful in customer spaces. Like most SMEs, we can’t compete with the likes of Tesco, Lotus or Balfour, however we do win with the inbuilt advantages of flexibility and inclusion.

Hiring in the cleaning industry is fast-paced, but that doesn’t mean it should be rushed. We have a structured approach to hiring and take time to employ the right people. Showing them why they should then stay saves money, reduces stress and improves the business’s reputation.

Cleaning work is physically demanding and staff churn is traditionally high. At WPM, the culture is about respect, teamwork and support. When staff feel valued, they perform better and stay longer. It’s a source of satisfaction that our average employment retention for all employees is four years, seven months, with the longest serving at 17 years ongoing!

The best employees don’t just clean well, they represent us with every mop, vacuum and smile. Being a fair, respectful employer is the minimum they can expect in return.