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Writer's pictureDesiree Galloway

"Outsourcing vs. In-House Cleaning: What Are the Risks and Liabilities?"

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In the realm of commercial cleaning solutions, businesses often grapple with the decision between outsourcing cleaning services and maintaining an in-house cleaning team, each pathway presenting its own set of risks and liabilities. We will explore the intricacies of outsourcing versus in-house cleaning in this article, shedding light on the potential risks and liabilities associated with each approach.


Waste is the product of business - how it's cleaned up depends on the business itself


Every successful business implements an efficient housekeeping policy for its employees to follow. These policies typically outline expectations such as maintaining tidy and clutter-free desks, addressing messes in breakroom appliances, and ensuring hazard-free walkways. While these policies are often general and specific to employees' job functions or areas of responsibility, the extent of janitorial responsibilities varies based on whether the company employs janitorial staff directly or outsources these tasks to a professional cleaning company.


If the company has hired talent for cleaning internally, it must have policies, procedures, and training programs in place that abide by local government and federal regulations, along with OSHA standards. It must also invest in the equipment and inventory necessary to carry out cleaning tasks.


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Small business owners and sole proprietors, often constrained by limited resources or a preference to avoid investing in non-revenue generating departments, encounter the same risks. Many opt to outsource their cleaning requirements by engaging a trusted cleaning company that showcases the capability to meet their needs while taking on the responsibility and associated risks.


Liabilities of Outsourcing Cleaning


Despite the benefit of having a third-party assume the responsibility of a companies cleaning needs, there are risks that come with hiring external cleaning vendors. Commonly discussed drawbacks of relying on third-party vendors include:


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  • Quality control issues

  • Lack of direct oversight

  • Vendors internal onboarding practices

  • Communication challenges

  • Scheduling consistency and predictability

  • Contractual obligations

  • Inadequate insurance coverages

  • Data security concerns


As we covered in the article "Why Are Your Prices Higher Than "The Other Guys?", the market for commercial cleaning services is volatile due to rates that depend on the individual businesses standards for how it decides to operate. These rates directly affect its ability to hire and train staff, and develop as an entity. Choosing a vendor based on lower rates alone is often what leads to poor service quality and problems similar to the list above.


Liabilities of In-House Cleaning


While in-house cleaning boasts the benefits that come with direct supervision and control, it also comes with its own set of costs, risks, and liabilities, such as:


  • Employee management issues

  • Training and development costs

  • Compliance with labor laws and regulations

  • Additional insurances

  • Equipment maintenance expenses

  • Potential negligence liability lawsuits

Businesses with in-house cleaning talent usually invest large amounts of funds to properly staff entire departments to oversee these activities due to the risk posed to both it's employees and customers.


Conclusion


As we've discussed, the choice between hiring in-house or outsourcing largely hinges on the unique demands for cleaning services within a business and the resources at its disposal. The topics addressed in this article aim to illuminate crucial factors that might be overlooked during the business development phase. Ultimately, it often boils down to an investment decision. I encourage you to carefully evaluate your specific needs and circumstances to arrive at an informed decision.


How does your business handle its cleaning needs? What was the determining factor for your decision?


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