During the COVID-19 pandemic, facility managers scrutinized their cleaning efforts to ensure that surfaces were properly disinfected to prevent the spread of the virus. When occupants were allowed to return, cleaning frequencies — and cleaning budgets — increased to keep them healthy.
As the pandemic subsided, so did cleaning spending and frequencies, eventually returning to pre-pandemic levels. However, facility executives shouldn’t get too comfortable regarding their cleaning budgets. There’s a good chance for increases again soon, although for a very different reason.
California lawmakers are proposing Assembly Bill 2364, which would impose workforce production limits on janitorial duties. Originally, the bill defined that a janitor's shift could not exceed an average of 2,000 square feet per hour. This would be a drastic change as the current rate is between 5,000 and 6,000 square feet.
Amendments to the bill removed these defined production limits, replacing them with new language that provides the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement the authority to establish a council that will set janitorial standards.
Even though the bill no longer defines the production limit, opponents to the bill assume a new limit will be set and it will likely be lower than the current rate. Also, as BOMA points out, defined “production rate limits also do not consider the different nature of cleaning a fully occupied office versus a hybrid space.”
If this bill passes, whether facilities have in-house custodial departments or outsource the work, facility executives can expect to pay higher costs associated with cleaning. Either more janitors will need to be hired, or departments and contract cleaning companies will invest in autonomous equipment to fill the staffing void. Either way, these costs will be paid by the facility.
Although this bill is limited to the California legislature, facility executives across the country would be wise to keep an eye on its progress. The results will likely influence other states.
Dan Weltin is the editor-in-chief for the facility market. He has nearly 20 years of experience covering the facility management and commercial cleaning industries.
