The janitorial industry is known for its high turnover rate, which averages around 200%.
A high turnover rate means new employees must continually be trained. This comes at a high cost. Most importantly, service quality also suffers due to a lack of consistency and knowledge.
There are effective steps cleaning companies can take to reduce their turnover rate. We know these steps work. Our janitorial partner, BMS, boasts one of the lowest employee turnover rates in our industry.
1. CREATING CAREER GROWTH PATHS
Motivated employees will almost certainly leave if there’s no path forward. From day one BMS employees know that promotion is a possibility. Almost all management staff has been promoted from within. Their average management tenure is around eight years.
2. GIVING AND RECEIVING FREQUENT FEEDBACK
Giving and receiving feedback more than just once a year is critical in this business. BMS conducts quarterly staff reviews. These reviews are a two-way communications tool.
3. FOCUSING ON EMPLOYEE HEALTH AND SAFETY
Cleaning is physically laborious. Certainly, the wrong chemicals pose health problems. BMS has robust safety and sustainable/healthy cleaning programs, with third-party validation. Employees appreciate that they care.
4. PROVIDING AMPLE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
Through BMS University, the company offers over 100 training classes. These include language and management training to provide staff with opportunities for learning and growth.
5. OFFERING PERFORMANCE INCENTIVES
Recognition and a “thank you” go a long way. BMS provides employee recognition and various financial incentives for high performers. They also provide tuition reimbursement for those seeking educational opportunities.
6. PROVIDING WORKLOAD BALANCE
Productivity rates in the cleaning industry have a significant impact on morale. Hence, BMS developed and utilizes a highly specialized cleaning model for optimal efficiency, productivity, and sustainable performance that also doesn’t spread staff too thin.
A GREAT MARKER FOR LOW TURNOVER RATE: ISSA CIMS GB WITH HONORS CERTIFICATION
The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association, ISSA, regularly reviews and certifies BMS’s management processes. Most noteworthy, ISSA has given BMS its highest Cleaning Industry Management Standard (CIMS) certification, “ISSA CIMS GB with Honors”. Companies that hold this level of certification tend to have lower turnover rates than their peers because they maintain the high achievement standard.