Build a strong bond with your employees
Interview with Jim van Heyningen, director of DSO Cleaning Services
Our guest in this podcast is Jim van Heyningen, director of DSO cleaning services, a company that specializes in office cleaning. A characteristic of employees in the cleaning industry is that they are very involved in their work and their team, but at the same time they are suspicious of the employer. This is because the cleaning industry is faced with an ever increasing price and workload. Customers expect more and better work in less time and for less money. This is often at the expense of the cleaning staff. Breaking this mistrust is one of the most difficult tasks for the employer. Jim explains that this is only possible if the employer shows a genuine and close commitment to the people and listens carefully to them. To avoid material uncertainty among his employees, Jim strives to offer his employees a permanent full-time contract within a year and a half. He also ensures that all his employees undergo vocational training. This contrasts with most cleaning industry employers who only hire cleaners for a few hours a week, leaving most cleaners employed by two or three employers.
To make the work varied, Jim makes arrangements with his clients to have other branches in the company carried out by the cleaners. This can be, for example, chores that have to be done in the company building, replacing the receptionist during lunch, shopping, etc. This gives the cleaner a face in the customer's company and makes his or her work more appreciated and respected by the Staff members.
Due to its strong involvement with its employees, DSO cleaning services has a turnover of less than 1%, absenteeism due to illness of less than 3%.