Outsourcing commercial janitorial services has become increasingly common for large facilities who are looking to improve professionalism and add value, while reducing labor budgets. While weighing how to increase operational efficiencies, keep within budgets and utilize fewer resources, many facility managers are turning to the opportunity of contracting a janitorial workforce as a viable cost-cutting solution. Outsourcing options can include individual or total facility services – janitorial, day/night porters, maintenance and management. Whether an organization chooses to stay with in-house janitorial, outsource or a hybrid of both options, there are pros and cons to deciding which solution best fits the culture of the organization and adds to the bottom line.
Pros and Cons of Outsourcing Janitorial
One of the primary considerations for outsourcing janitorial services is both immediate and long-term cost savings. A highly-trained, skilled commercial janitorial team can often clean a facility better and more efficiently than what is typically a smaller, in-house team. As part of the outsourcing, cleaning supplies, equipment and consumable goods, like paper towels and hand soap, result in immediate cost savings. An organization also benefits from not having to pay out recruiting costs, background checks, training, benefits (such as health insurance, pension, payroll expenses) and worker’s comp expenses, which are all absorbed by the outsourced commercial janitorial partner.
Another advantage to outsourcing janitorial labor is the flexibility and peace of mind that agreed upon staffing levels and schedules will be seamlessly maintained. If an in-house janitorial team member takes time off, the management may not have an adequately skilled and trained labor pool with which to cover the shift.
Quality control is considered both a pro and con for outsourcing janitorial services. The right commercial janitorial partner will provide highly trained team members, with state-of-the-art equipment and rigorous quality control measures, which is directly managed by the vendor. Facility managers who maintain janitorial services in-house have direct supervision and control to intervene over their staff if services are less than satisfactory, without having to rely on an outside company to address unsatisfactory (and possibly unsafe) issues. If the contracted janitorial company is not well managed, there can be a negative impact and loss of quality. This lack of control is often perceived as one of the biggest disadvantages against outsourcing janitorial services.
While there are many advantages for outsourcing janitorial services, there is a stigma attached to the word “outsourcing”. People associate outsourcing with people losing their jobs and lower quality service. There can be a negative morale impact that results from layoffs as part of a transition to outsourcing janitorial services.
While there are significant advantages to outsourcing janitorial services, ultimately the right solution comes with having the right team in place – in-house, outsourced, or a combination of the two.
