Survey Says What Commercial Cleaning Data Shows About Office Employees

We spend a third of our lives at work. For many of us, our
offices are our second homes. Unfortunately, some people are getting way too
comfortable at the office with their messy and bad habits! Our bad habits and
hygiene in the workplace are making life miserable for our colleagues. A new
national survey commissioned by Stratus Building Solutions shows some
shocking revelations for what our colleagues are doing what what’s getting on
their nerves.

The survey of 500 employed men and women ask about office
cleanliness, if their company employs a commercial cleaning service, and the
most disturbing behaviors and conditions they’ve seen in the office. Some of
the responses will shock you!

Read our full transcript to learn just how filthy offices can get
and what habits of yours are driving your co-worker nuts! Also, view accompanying
infographic here.

Getting Personal with Employees

The survey first learned personal information about our
respondents to have a better understanding of the context for their
responses. Our diverse pool of people helps to show us that everyone is
dealing with the same problems at work!

1. When asked, ‘What is your current employment
status?’

• 96.6% said Full-Time Employee.
• 3.4% said Self Employed.

2. When asked, ‘Do you work primarily in an office
setting?’

• 99.8% said Yes.
• 0.2% said No.

3. When asked, ‘What is your age?’

• 33.8% said 25-34.
• 33.2% said 35-44.
• 33.0% said 45-54.

4. When asked, ‘Where do you live?’

• 12.9% said California.
• 7.6% said Florida.
• 3.8% said Georgia.
• 4.8% said Illinois.
• 3.4% said New Jersey.
• 9.9% said New York.
• 3.0% said North Carolina.
• 3.8% said Ohio.
• 6.6% said Texas.
• 3.4% said Virginia
• 3.2% said Washington.
• 1.0% said Alabama.
• 0.8% said Alaska.
• 2.2% said Arizona.
• 1.6% said Arkansas.
• 1.6% said Colorado.
• 1.0% said Connecticut
• 0.2% said Delaware.
• 0.6% said Hawaii.
• 0.8% said Idaho.
• 2.0% said Indiana.
• 1.0% said Iowa.
• 1.0% said Kansas.
• 1.6% said Kentucky.
• 1.4% said Louisiana.
• 0.2% said Maine.
• 1.4% said Maryland.
• 1.6% said Massachusetts.
• 2.0% said Michigan.
• 1.2% said Minnesota.
• 0.8% said Mississippi.
• 1.4% said Missouri.
• 0.4% said Montana.
• 0.6% said Nebraska.
• 0.4% said Nevada.
• 0.4% said New Hampshire.
• 0.4% said New Mexico.
• 0.2% said North Dakota.
• 1.0% said Oklahoma
• 0.4% said Oregon.
• 1.8% said Pennsylvania.
• 1.4% said South Carolina.
• 0.2% said South Dakota.
• 1.6% said Tennessee.
• 0.8% said Utah.
• 0.6% said Vermont.
• 0.6% said West Virginia.
• 1.8% said Wisconsin.

5. When asked, ‘What is your gender?’

• 48.9% said Male.
• 51.1% said Female.

6. When asked, ‘What is your current job title?’

• 9.5% said Business Owner.
• 2.4% said Partner.
• 4.6% said CXO (CEO, COO, CTO, etc.).
• 2.8% said VP.
• 11.3% said Director.
• 29.4% said Manager.
• 15.3% said Senior Level.
• 24.7% said Entry Level.

7. When asked, ‘Which industry do you currently work
in?’

• 7.2% said Accounting.
• 5.4% said Banking.
• 6.6% said Business Services.
• 3.0% said Communications/Electronics.
• 6.8% said Computer Software.
• 4.4% said Construction.
• 6.0% said Education.
• 7.4% said Finance, Insurance & Real Estate.
• 6.6% said Government.
• 10.9% said Healthcare.
• 5.0% said Manufacturing.
• 3.8% said Non-profit.
• 4.6% said Telecommunications.
• 2.0% said Advertising/Public Relations.
• 1.6% said Aerospace.
• 1.0% said Agriculture.
• 0.8% said Airlines.
• 1.4% said Automotive.
• 0.2% said Beer, Wine & Liquor.
• 0.4% said Chemical.
• 1.6% said Clothing.
• 1.0% said Colleges, Universities & schools.
• 0.4% said Doctors & Other Health Professionals.
• 0.6% said Energy & Natural Resources.
• 2.2% said Entertainment.
• 0.2% said Farming.
• 2.6% said Food & Beverage.
• 0.6% said Hospitals.
• 2.4% said Legal.
• 0.4% said Mining.
• 1.2% said Pharmaceuticals/Health Products.
• 0.6% said Publishing & Printing.
• 0.6% said Restaurant.
• 0.4% said Waste Management.

How Employees Describe Their Office Cleanliness

Next, we had to discover how these offices were being cleaned.
Were businesses hiring commercial cleaning services? Was there a regular
janitorial service that came by? Understanding how and when offices were
cleaned, we were able to paint a clearer picture of our respondents’ situations.

8. When asked, ‘Who cleans your office?’

• 6.4% said Our office manager.
• 43.3% said A commercial cleaning company.
• 46.3% said Janitor(s) employed by the company.
• 21.7% said Employees…when we have time.
• 4.4% said No one.

9. When asked, ‘Who controls cleaning decisions at the
office?’

• 26.8% said CEO and/or Executive Team.
• 38.8% said Facility Manager.
• 29.4% said Office Manager.
• 5.0% said No one.

How Do Employees Describe Office Behavior?

It was important for us to understand how employees are affected
by the behavior of their co-workers and what else goes on inside their
office. We were surprised by some of the answers!

10. When asked, ‘Which working environment would you
prefer?’

• 54.9% said Open concept so I can easily collaborate/share
ideas.
• 45.1% said Individual office so I can concentrate in peace.

11. When asked, ‘Where do you do your best work?’

• 72.8% said At the office.
• 8.0% said Outside on a nice day.
• 4.0% said At a co-working station.
• 14.7% said When working from home.
• 0.06% said Other (any situation, around a warehouse, or customer
service).

12. When asked, ‘Has there ever been conflict in the office over
cleanliness or office temperature?’

• 56.7% said Yes.
• 43.3% said No.

13. When asked, ‘What are the top five most annoying things your
co-workers do (choose five)?’

• 27.4% said Demanding a temperature that is too hot or too
cold.
• 15.7% said Taking the last cup of coffee without starting a new
pot.
• 11.1% said “forgetting” to take their Keurig pod out when
done.
• 7.2% said “Forgetting” to refill the Keurig with water.
• 17.5% said Leaving coffee and/or water drips all over the
counter.
• 26.4% said Leaving dishes in the office sink.
• 23.1% said Parking over the Line and taking two spots.
• 8.0% said Leaving the seat up in the bathroom.
• 29.2% said Leaving urine on the bathroom seat.
• 13.7% said “Forgetting” to replace the toilet paper.
• 7.8% said Putting the toilet paper on the wrong way.
• 25.6% said “Forgetting” to flush sufficiently or leave the toilet
clogged.
• 11.5% said “Forgetting” to replace paper towels in the
bathroom.
• 24.5% said Never washing their hands after using the
bathroom.
• 10.9% said Making weird noises in the bathroom.
• 28.0% said Cooking smelly food (like fish) in the
microwave.
• 34.8% said Leaving food in the fridge until it goes bad.
• 22.9% said Leaving food in the trash can that rots and
stinks.
• 39.2% said Talking too loudly on the phone.
• 27.0% said Making a mess at their desk and leaving it in filthy
condition.
• 5.8% said Bringing in gym bags reeking of sweat.
• 6.6% said Wearing, or leaving out, smelly gym clothes and
sneakers.

14. When asked, ‘Have you ever considered confronting, or have
you confronted, a colleague about the things that annoy you?’

• 56.9% said Yes.
• 43.5% said No.

15. When asked, ‘Do you have someone at your office who never
washes their hands after using the bathroom?’

• 61.0% said Yes.
• 39.0% said No.

Employees Care About Office Kitchen Etiquette

The kitchen is a key part of any office. It’s where co-worker swap
stories around the water cooler, find their much-needed coffee, and keep
lunches and afternoon snacks. It’s no surprise that people feel strongly
about how colleagues treat the kitchen.

16. When asked, ‘Should there be a policy banning fish and other
smelly foods from the office today?’

• 54.3% said Yes.
• 45.7% said No.

17. When asked, ‘What should be the maximum amount of time anyone
can leave food in the office fridge?’

• 30.0% said 24 hours or less.
• 33.6% said A few days.
• 29.6% said 1 week or less.
• 3.6% said No more than a month.
• 3.2% said I don’t care.

18. When asked, ‘What’s the nastiest thing you’ve found in the
office fridge?’

• None.
• Week old pasta.
• I found a bandage on the floor.
• Don’t Know.
• I found a plate of sushi.
• Moldy food.
• Good.
• Spoiled milk.
• Not sure.
• Moldy juice.
• Food.
• Leftover shrimp.
• Very good.
• Leftovers.
• Spoiled salad.
• Curdled coffee creamer.
• Rotten tomatoes.
• Not sure. Something froze over and the fridge had to be defrosted to
throw it out. It was moldy and black.
• Rotten plantains.
• Milk.

What Employees Consider Appropriate Work Behavior

Having a relationship where you can talk and share with your
co-worker is important and contributes to a positive office culture. But how
much is too much? A few people think their colleagues overshare about their
personal lives. What some people are sharing with co-worker had us laughing
and cringing!

19. When asked, ‘Have you ever considered a colleague an
“over-sharer” (i.e. willing to tell you too much personal information, as in
“my kid has a rash”)?’

• 69.8% said Yes.
• 30.2% said No.

20. When asked, ‘What’s the craziest thing you’ve been told by
one of these ‘over-sharers”?’

• They don’t know.
• Good.
• About their sex life.
• Don’t Janis.
• Very good.
• Who’s having an affair.
• Not sure.
• Family.
• Food.
• Very Good.
• Been insulted by the husband.
• They had womanly problems.
• They were having an affair.
• Be polite.
• Yes.
• Health problems with co-worker’s family.

How Organization Affects Workflow

Some employees are not able to tolerate a dirty work desk, whereas
others cannot function unless their area it an utter mess. Employees report
back on how organization in the office affects their work ability.

21. When asked, ‘Do dirty or unorganized workspaces ever distract
you or hamper your workflow?’

• 64.8% said Yes.
• 35.2% said No.

22. When asked, ‘Is the dirtiest, messiest person in your office
a male or female?’

• 57.3% said Male.
• 42.7% said Female.

23. When asked, ‘Do your colleagues ever place their cell phone
with their germs all over it on shared working spaces, or even your desk,
when meeting with you?’

• 61.1% said Yes.
• 39.0% said No.

How the Habits of Co-worker Affect Work Ethic

Employees are easily distracted by more than conversations around
the office. They’re also affected by the behavior of their colleagues. See
some of the weirdest things people have seen their co-worker do.

24. When asked, ‘What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever seen
happen at the office?’

• 17.9% said A co-worker working out (lifting weights, running,
doing pushups, etc.) at the office.
• 22.5% said Co-workers getting intimate during office hours.
• 43.7% said A co-worker quitting and leaving abruptly in the middle of the
day.
• 44.5% said A co-worker getting into a heated argument with a significant
other during office hours.
• 7.2% said other:
• 2 people said None.
• 2 people said None of these.
• 2 people said Nothing.
• 1 person said A co-worker making an obscene gesture.
• 1 person said A peer on the phone while going to the
bathroom.
• 1 person said Clipping Toenails.
• 1 person said Co-worker walking around chewing their food
loud.
• 1 person said Co-worker getting into a heated argument with the
department manager.
• 1 person said Co-worker sleeping on the floor under their
desk.
• 1 person said Co-workers flirting with each other.
• 1 person said Co-worker leaving or doing what they please.
• 1 person said Crying co-worker.
• 1 person said Flossing their teeth at the desk and computer while using
the keyboard.
• 1 person said Gossip.
• 1 person said Male co-worker dressed feminine.
• 1 person said Mostly just questionable behavior, a few co-workers who
seemed like they had office affairs going on, that weren’t so secretive.
• 1 person said My boss jumping on top of his desk, dancing, and singing
“Ding Dong the Witch is Dead,” when a client’s annoying employee
quit.
• 1 person said None of the above.
• 1 person said Not really sure. I don’t usually talk with most of the
employees on a daily basis.
• 1 person said Owner showing her breasts.
• 1 person said Poor clothing choices.
• 1 person said Pretty normal at my current job. Full of guys who will
barely acknowledge you exist as you walk by in the hallway
though.
• 1 person said Urinating in someone’s cube.
• 1 person said When people think it’s appropriate to bring their
kids.
• 1 person said A co-worker cutting her toenails.
• 1 person said A gigantic animatronic elephant I thought was a real
elephant.
• 1 person said A pigeon walking down the aisle.
• 1 person said Co-workers fighting with another co-worker.
• 1 person said Nerf war.
• 1 person said None.
• 1 person said Not sure.
• 1 person said Nothing comes to mind.

25. When asked, ‘Which of these “noise pollution” office problems
are most disruptive to your productivity (choose three)?’

• 14.7% said Office mate on conference calls.
• 13.5% said Office mate on video calls.
• 30.8% said Office mate taking personal calls.
• 10.7% said Office mate hosting meetings in your office.
• 15.1% said Office mate talking to themselves at their desk.
• 36.6% said Colleagues laughing/making loud noises
• 20.7% said Colleagues playing music on speakers.
• 9.7% said Colleagues playing music in headphones.
• 14.5% said Colleagues clearing throat.
• 19.3% said Colleagues sneezing/coughing.
• 23.7% said Colleagues interrupting with questions.
• 36.2% said Colleagues interrupting with gossip/stories.

26. When asked, ‘Do any of the following colleague actions annoy,
offend or distract you?’

• 35.2% said Wearing outfits that are too
revealing/risqué.
• 50.5% said Wearing too much cologne/perfume.
• 41.7% said Letting their desk get dirty/disorganized.
• 37.2% said Bringing their morning routine into the office (flossing,
doing makeup, curling hair, etc.).
• 10.3% said Receiving flowers and other gifts on special
days.
• 19.7% said Decorating their desk with a ton of personal items (photos,
awards, tchotchkes, etc.).

When is Your Office Too Dirty?

Spoiled food and dirty workspaces are just some of the many gross
encounters that employees face every day. We had employees explain some of
the grossest things that they have witnessed in their office.

27. When asked, ‘Have you ever seen bugs or rodents inside of the
office?’

• 51.3% said Yes.
• 48.7% said No.

28. When asked, ‘Have you ever seen mold or mildew inside of the
office?’

• 31.2% said Yes.
• 68.8% said No.

29. When asked, ‘What do you believe is the dirtiest, germiest
place in the office?’

§ 10.3% said Kitchen.
§ 41.2% said Bathrooms.
§ 7.6% said Desks.
§ 22.3% said Keyboards.
§ 17.7% said Doorknobs.
§ 1.0% said other:
• 1 person said All of the above.
• 1 person said Bathroom.
• 1 person said Phone.
• 1 person said Central location phone receiver.
• 1 person said Cupboards.

30. When asked, ‘Do you use a paper towel or handkerchief to open
doors because you think your office is unclean?’

• 51.3% said Yes.
• 48.7% said No.

31. When asked, ‘How often do you believe the bathrooms are
cleaned in your office?’

• 61.2% said Once a day.
• 19.1% said Twice a week.
• 14.1% said Once a week.
• 2.4% said Twice a month.
• 2.8% said Once a month.
• 0.4% said Quarterly.

32. When asked, ‘Have you seen/heard a colleague throwing up at
the office?’

• 41.2% said Yes.
• 58.8% said No.

33. When asked, ‘Did your office manager/cleaning partner do
anything to sanitize the office afterwards.

• 72.0% said Yes.
• 28.0% said No.

34. When asked, ‘Are you allergic to dust?’

• 36.4% said Yes.
• 63.6% said No.

35. When asked, ‘Do you have an allergic reaction to overly
powerful air fresheners and/or cleaning chemicals?’

• 37.0% said Yes.
• 63.0% said No.

The Importance of Cleanliness & Work Environment to
Employees

The environment of an office is an important factor in how
efficient your employees can be. We asked respondents how they like their
office and what kind of environment works best for them.

36. When asked, ‘Would you ever consider taking a little less pay
if you could have the office at what you believe is the perfect temperature
and cleanliness level?’

• 32.0% said Yes.
• 68.0% said No.

37. When asked, ‘If you’re not comfortable with the
cleanliness/temperature of your office, do you:’

• 53.5% said Speak Up.
• 30.0% said Suffer in Silence.
• 16.5% said Secretly change the temperature.

38. When asked, ‘Have you ever considered leaving your job, or
have you ever quit a job, because the office was messy and
unclean?’

• 23.5% said Yes.
• 76.5% said No.

39. When asked, ‘Have you ever considered leaving your job, or
have you ever quit a job, because the office temperature was not the way you
like it?’

• 18.3% said Yes.
• 81.7% said No.

40. When asked, ‘Has a clean and mindful office environment ever
been the deciding factor when you accepted a new job?’

• 39.4% said Yes.
• 60.6% said No.

41. When asked, ‘How much is your productivity compromised by a
dirty and/or disorganized office?’

• 12.1% said I can’t focus at all. It completely ruins my
productivity.
• 27.6% said It’s a problem and makes my day a struggle, but I get the job
done.
• 25.4% said Sometimes it’s a problem, just depends on the
day.
• 24.9% said It bothers me occasionally, but only if it’s particularly
bad.
• 9.9% said It doesn’t bother me at all.

42. When asked, ‘How much is your productivity compromised by
noise and/or annoying colleagues?’

• 13.3% said I can’t focus at all. It completely ruins my
productivity
• 27.8% said It’s a problem and makes my day a struggle, but I get the job
done.
• 29.2% said Sometimes it’s a problem, just depends on the
day.
• 22.9% said It bothers me occasionally, but only if it’s particularly
bad.
• 6.8% said It doesn’t bother me at all.

How Outdoor Distractions Affect Workplace
Productivity

Companies take pride in up keeping their businesses not only on
the inside, but outside as well. Landscaping can be quite noisy though and
greatly impact the flow of a quiet workplace.

43. When asked, ‘Do midday landscaping (mowing and blowing) and
power washing projects distract you or hamper your workflow?’

• 35.4% said Yes.
• 64.6% said No.

44. When asked, ‘Have landscapers or power washers ever left
grass on your car, nicked your car, or left a dent?’

• 28.8% said Yes.
• 71.2% said No.

45. When asked, ‘Did they apologize for the damages and help you
repair your vehicle?’

• 51.0% said Yes.
• 49.0% said No.

Importance of Office Temperature

Employees all have different preferences when it comes to how they
like their office. That’s one thing we learned when we ask them about
effective office environments. See how some like it hot, while others are
willing to go to war over it!

46. When asked, ‘What is your preferred temperature for your work
environment?’

• 17.7% said 68 or below.
• 15.3% said 69.
• 30.4% said 70.
• 8.3% said 71.
• 14.9% said 72.
• 6.4% said 73.
• 7.0% said 74 or above.

47. When asked, ‘Please select the answer that fits you best- “I
work best in a work environment that is…”’

• 22.9% said Warm.
• 4.8% said Hot.
• 67.0% said Cool.
• 5.4% said Cold.

48. When asked, ‘If the work environment is too cold, which
statements best describe your reaction?’

§ 24.5% said Sit and Suffer.
§ 28.1% said Wrap up in a blanket.
§ 64.0% said Put on a coat/jacket.
§ 43.9% said Grab a coffee or tea to warm up.
§ 27.3% said Change the temperature.
§ 3.6% said other:
• 1 person said I have a small heater in my office.
• 1 person said Suggest adjusting the temp.
• 1 person said Speak up.
• 1 person said Turn on my space heater.
• 1 person said Use space heater.

49. When asked, ‘If the work environment is too hot, which
statement best describes your reaction?’

o 12.9% said Sit and Suffer.
o 53.6% said Turn on the fan.
o 47.8% said Drink a cold drink to cool off.
o 36.0% said Remove clothing/roll up sleeves.
o 43.1% said Change the temperature.
o 2.7% said other:
§ 2 people said Complain.
§ 1 person said Get enough others to agree so we can influence facilities
to drop the temperature.
§ 1 person said I also get extremely annoyed; I can’t stand
heat.
§ 1 person said Open my window.
§ 1 person said Say something.
§ 1 person said Speak up.
§ 1 person said Turn on the AC if it’s off.
§ 1 person said Take a walk.
§ 1 person said Talk to office manager

50. When asked, ‘Have you ever change the temperature without
permission?’

• 47.9% said Yes.
• 52.1% said No.

51. When asked, ‘Have you ever persuaded the person in charge of
the office thermostat to set the temperature the way you like
it?’

• 53.7% said Yes.
• 46.3% said No.

Bringing the Gym to Work

A long day behind a desk can leave employees feeling lazy. Many
employees try to engage in some sort of physical activity when they can.
Staying active and healthy is important. In fact, many workplaces encourage
it. Still, it’s never fun when the smell of the gym makes it way into the
office. See what these respondents said about their sweaty
coworkers.

52. When asked, ‘Do any of your colleagues work out and return to
the office during work hours?’

• 43.7% said Yes.
• 56.3% said No.

53. When asked, ‘What work out activity are they doing on their
breaks?’

• 30.6% said Running.
• 65.2% said Walking.
• 28.8% said Lifting at the gym.
• 11.5% said Playing a sport.
• 8.0% said Swimming.
• 12.3% said Other.

54. When asked, ‘Do they, or their clothes/shoes, sometimes smell
bad when they return?’

• 35.4% said Yes.
• 64.6% said No.

55. When asked, ‘Do colleagues ever leave gym clothes/shoes in a
shared public space at work?’

• 28.6% said Yes.
• 71.4% said No.

56. When asked, ‘If yes, does this sometimes annoy
you?’

• 54.9% said Yes, because I don’t like the smell.
• 42.4% said Yes, because it’s not sanitary.
• 31.9% said Yes, because I just don’t like to look at it.
• 11.8% said No, because it doesn’t ever bother me.

57. When asked, ‘Have you ever seen colleagues exercise at their
desk or in places in work other than a gym?’

• 32.6% said Yes.
• 67.4% said No.

58. When asked, ‘If yes, what do they do at their desk and public
workplaces?’

§ 47.0% said Pushups.
§ 52.4% said Stretches.
§ 27.4% said Weightlifting.
§ 33.5% said Walk or jog.
§ 15.9% said Jump rope.
§ 15.9% said Jumping jacks.
§ 36.6% said squats.
§ 26.2% said lunges.
§ 6.1% said other:
• 3 people said Yoga.
• 1 person said Cycle.
• 1 person said Desk cycle.
• 1 person said Nothing.
• 1 person said Step machine.
• 1 person said We regularly do all of this. We have daily push up
challenges. Is this supposed to be a bad thing?
• 1 person said Riding a stationary bike.
• 1 person said Twisting in chair.

59. When asked, ‘What’s the strangest exercise you’ve seen a
colleague do in the office?’

• Very good.
• Run hard.
• Good.
• Skipping rope.
• “skull crusher.”
• Yes.
• None.
• Lap stretch vertically.
• Burpees.
• Weight lighting.
• I don’t know.
• Sit ups on the chair.
• Not applicable.
• Running machine.
• Neck lifts.
• Pull ups on the door frame.
• I can’t remember.

60. When asked, ‘How do you feel about colleagues exercising in
the office?’

• 24.1% said Don’t like it because it’s annoying.
• 34.6% said Don’t like it because it’s distracting.
• 18.1% said Don’t like it because it’s smelly and sweaty.
• 42.7% said Don’t mind it.

61. When asked, ‘Have you ever been distracted by colleagues
taking off their shoes or other clothing at the office?’

• 37.2% said Yes.
• 62.8% said No.

Are gross employee habits threatening to tear your office apart?
It might be time to consider bringing in the pros! Commercial cleaning
services like those from the professionals at Stratus Building Solutions can
keep your office looking good and feeling great so employees can focus on
work, not someone’s smelly shoes or dirty dishes!

All statistics drawn from the full survey commissioned by Stratus
Building Solutions, which can be found here: Survey Says: What Commercial
Cleaning Data Shows About Office Employees