In November 2024, Fresca Clean was nominated and chosen as a finalist for the category of BEST EMPLOYER through the Business Excellence Awards at the North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce. This is a prestigious honor because the finalists are interviewed and internally chosen through a board of people in business.
This topic sits close to home here at Fresca Clean because one of our core beliefs is that people should always be treated fairly and with dignity and respect, regardless of if they work in a bank or clean toilets.
Unfortunately, the cruel reality of many people in the cleaning industry is that sub-par treatment - for a million different reasons: socio-economics, race, language barriers, and education level - is the norm.
From our bird’s eye view and from the reports that cleaners attracted to us from other companies, we share some of what we have learned about the struggles of cleaners in the industry:
Many cleaners do not receive tips that clients leave for them! Yes, it’s true. They’ll never see a penny. Same with the nail industry. Shame on those bad bosses.
Many cleaners do not have access to their pay stubs. They are given an amount, but they don’t know if they are accurately and fairly being paid the hours they declare, Statutory holidays, vacation pay, tips, etc., because of the lack of transparency and control of information. They typically do not question this practice because they fear they will lose their job if they ask too many questions of their boss and they, often being new immigrants to Canada, do not understand what they are entitled to.
Many cleaning companies do not pay their employees to travel between appointments. This means that cleaners can spend huge amounts of time outside of their home for work purposes, but only get paid a small portion of those hours - that’s a no-no. People need to be paid for their time from the start to the end of their workday, especially if they are in a company t-shirt or car.
Many companies pay their people as sub-contractors, rather than employees, even though the company controls their time and pay. This is an easy way for the company to avoid paying the high overhead of employee costs such as EI, CPP, vacation pay, sick pay, Stat Holidays, and more - it allows them to pay them as a cash worker “on record” leaving people in that pool of poverty, in which they do not have access to benefits and paid time off to enjoy with their families.
Cleaners who leave deficiencies at work are often penalized financially, because a boss might say, “We had to send someone back, so who is going to pay for it.” That’s also a no-no! People cannot and should not work for free!
Unfortunately, cleaners often hear from their bosses only when there is a complaint and they hear just the negative!
Companies often do not have a biased-free evaluation system where performance is measured objectively throughout the company. This means that people are also not being rewarded fairly for the hard work they put in.
Some bosses instill their employees with fear in their people by using phrasing such as, “You need me, more than I need you,” and from a first-hand account of a cleaner who left one cleaning company and told us this at a job interview, “I am planning to find a new home because my ex-boss knows where I live and I’m afraid they will want to take revenge on me if he wants.” WOW. Abusive.
Choosing the Right Cleaning Service When you’re deciding on a cleaning service, or looking for work there, it’s important to look beyond just the service idea and the amount in your pocket at the end of the day. Ask yourself: Does this company take care of its people? Are their employees happy, motivated, and supported? Is their language neutral and inclusive when speaking about (and with) other staff members? Do they go above the basic requirements and offer extended health benefits? Do they offer a fun and creative environment?
Without giving away the secret to our sauce, here are some key ideas that hopefully encompass most of what we aim for being among the companies in the class of “Best Employer.”
1. People should be recognized for their hard work! Cleaners need to be fairly compensated and offered feedback and recognition, objectively and consistently. Yes, pay is important, but it’s not the only reason that gets people motivated and happy at work. When a team feels valued and supported, they’ll take pride in their work. When there are opportunities for work-life balance, a supportive team who understand it, people will find it a great place to work!
2. Low Turnover is Consistency You Can Count On Working for an amazing employer means that cleaners typically stay with the company longer. Clients appreciate knowing their cleaners personally and trusting that they understand the unique needs of their space. Consistency builds trust, and trust should be the foundation of any cleaning service. For the cleaners who invest their time into building that trust, they are loyal and will want to be counted on, never doing anything to jeopardize that trust.
3. Respect and Fairness Make a Difference Cleaning companies can earn this recognition by offering competitive wages, paid travel time, and a culture of fairness and respect. These aren’t just good for a team; they’re good for you, too. This translates into a committed team that truly cares about customer satisfaction.
4. A Commitment to Excellence
Service excellence isn’t only measured by how nice people sound on the phone or that they offer good discounts, but a deep commitment to excellence is found in how they treat their people. It is about finding a company that has clear expectations about what a cleaner will deliver, training and development for them to get there properly, and adequate tools and resources to do their job well once they know it. A good employer will support their staff to do their job well which can come in many forms.
At Fresca Clean, we recognize that any cleaner would be proud to bring “service excellence” to their work when they have clear expectations, training and development, feedback and recognition, open communication, work-life balance, adequate tools and equipment, a supportive environment, and empowerment and trust. These values underscore everything we stand for and reaffirm our dedication to being a company where people thrive.
Here’s to making your world a little brighter, one clean at a time!
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