FM newsroom – cleaning, facility management. A new study commissioned by Germany’s Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs highlights the growing relevance of daytime cleaning in the contract cleaning industry. While adoption remains limited, the findings suggest significant benefits for employee well-being, client satisfaction, and long-term workforce stability.
A Sector at a Crossroads
Daytime cleaning is gaining visibility in the cleaning industry, appearing more frequently in surveys, studies, and procurement discussions. The latest investigation—conducted by the Institute of Labour Economics involving nearly 270 contract cleaning firms—sought to understand how working hours are currently distributed across the sector and how prevalent daytime cleaning has become. The investigation took place in 2023, as the European Cleaning Journal reports.
While cleaning services are still mostly scheduled for early mornings, evenings, or overnight, daytime cleaning is increasingly preferred for certain settings such as offices and industrial facilities. However, it remains less common in locations like retail environments, airports, train stations, and public administration buildings.
The Benefits: From Employee Health to Client Satisfaction
According to the study, around 75% of cleaning companies report a positive attitude toward daytime cleaning. Many acknowledge that this approach better aligns with employee preferences and increases overall job satisfaction. Furthermore, two-thirds of companies actively welcome tender requests for daytime services and would prefer public sector procurement to follow this direction.
While daytime cleaning may require more hours and potentially incur higher upfront costs, it eliminates the need for night shift premiums. Though more research is needed to quantify the financial trade-offs, the potential for long-term cost neutrality—or even savings—is clear.
From a health perspective, the advantages are even more compelling. Night shifts and off-hour work are linked to increased rates of cardiovascular issues, mental health disorders, workplace accidents, and absenteeism.
The contract cleaning industry already records a higher-than-average number of sick days compared to other sectors. Shifting more work into daylight hours could help mitigate these risks.
Workforce Challenges: Ageing Employees, High Turnover
The study also reveals deeper challenges within the workforce. Nearly 50% of cleaning personnel are aged 50 or older, while fewer than 20% of staff in most companies are under 30. High staff turnover is especially prevalent in firms with mostly night or early morning shifts, suggesting that daytime cleaning could improve employee retention and attract younger workers.
However, the transition is not without obstacles. Daytime cleaning can interfere with office workflows or create noise-related disruptions, particularly in sensitive environments. Overcoming these barriers will likely require new agreements between clients, employees, and cleaning staff, and potentially higher service fees.
What Needs to Change?
To accelerate the adoption of daytime cleaning, two priorities stand out. First, its economic advantages need to be more clearly defined and supported by data. Second, public sector procurement policies should adapt to encourage this model, recognising its long-term benefits for health, productivity, and workforce sustainability.
Ultimately, the study confirms that while daytime cleaning is not yet widespread, it holds great promise for the future of the industry. With more than 80% of companies acknowledging its importance, the foundation is already there—it’s now a matter of policy, planning, and partnership.
