TAKE YOUR TRAINING By: Amanda Martini-Hughes, assistant editor Level A As humans, we only know what we are taught. Unless we are properly trained, tasks will be per-formed in whichever ways seem easiest. Without proper training and education, we are not maximizing our potential. When the simple, most basic ideals and funda-mentals are pushed aside or overlooked, this max-imum potential will never be achieved, at least not at the level that is possible or necessary for the facil-ity in which we are working. Why is training important; does training develop individuals into better employees? Yes. Does training validate work standards; does train-ing identify benchmarks for expectations? Yes. Then, why do so many stand by the idea of hiring someone and immediately throwing them into the fray? If the ultimate goal of a facility is to be taken care of, to not only appear clean on the surface but to actually be clean, why are training programs cut, skimped or truncated? The appearance of your facility is what can make or break you, what makes people come back time after time or what influences their staying away. To The Next You can teach an old broom new techniques. While this is true, can you say exactly what your employees are learning? Are they learning skills and habits that are detri-mental to the cleanliness of your facility; are they learning improper techniques and shortcuts? The BLS also states that the proper training of cleaning staff not only leads to cleaner buildings, but can also mean fewer accidents, faster cleaning times and a more professional cleaning staff. Proper training is essential for staff to get off on the right foot and to ensure their work is done prop-erly, safely and efficiently. The proper training of employees is essential — not just to get the job done correctly, but also to keep your cleaning crews safe and on the job. The Investment Proper training and education is critical to the over-all bottom line. “On every job, there are decisions to be made by each crew member that requires having the insight and confidence to select the correct methods and procedures for optimum cleaning that leads to a suc-cessful client relationship. The only way to achieve this is by being properly armed with training and edu-cation,” says Dave Heitner, president of Heits Building Services Inc. Training should be looked at as an investment of time and money into the employees who have a direct effect on how the entire company is perceived. Failing to invest in training jeopardizes the suc-cess of the company and, in some cases, their very survival. “Right now, a lot of companies are looking to get for more info Visit www.cmmonline.com and type in search keyword: Education . For more information on related products, visit www.cmmonline.com , select SUPPLIER SEARCH from the main navigation bar, and enter keyword: Training . Proper Training Goes A Long Way There is a myth, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), that most building cleaning workers — with the exception of supervisors — do not need any formal training because they will mainly learn the necessary skills on the job. 16 CM/Cleaning & Maintenance Management ® • February 2011
CMM – Archives Feb 2011: 16
