Julius Rutherfoord retains Healthy Workplace Award

London specialists in quality cleaning, Julius Rutherfoord, has won the Kimberly-Clark Professional Golden Service Awards ‘Healthy Workplace’ category for the second time running.*

The ‘Healthy Workplace’ category recognises companies that have taken significant steps to provide a more hygienic office environment to help reduce sickness and increase employee wellbeing.

Marcus Heap, Sales and Marketing Director at Julius Rutherfoord, said: “We are delighted to have received this accolade for the second time in a row. You always need to ‘raise your game’ to be able to retain an award like this and it is fantastic recognition of our continued focus on promoting a healthy working culture.”

As a quality cleaning provider that prides itself on delivering the highest standards, Julius Rutherfoord is committed to ensuring that workplaces not only look clean but also have the highest levels of hygiene.

Leading by example, the cleaning provider implemented the Julius Rutherfoord Healthy Workplace Initiative in 2012, taking a number of steps to reduce risk from germ hotspots. Actions included swab testing for germs and introducing specially formulated mobile phone cleaning wipes and staff workshops to share tips to help reduce the spread of bacteria.

A significant number of healthy workplace measures have been introduced by Julius Rutherfoord, since first winning the award in 2013. It is at the forefront of new work-well-being developments. This includes adding adjustable height desks to allow staff to both stand and sit, helping to address the health implications of seating for prolonged periods. Healthy workplace kits, including tissues, sanitising hand gel and keyboard wipes are provided on every desk. To make hand hygiene even more convenient, Julius Rutherfoord has also introduced innovative ‘Purehold’ hygiene handles into all toilets. These dispense a hand sanitising gel on exit, so there’s less chance of germs spreading.

Daily fitness club activities and monthly reflexology sessions are on offer to staff and there is a staff quiet zone with soft seating. A Health and Wellbeing Champion ensures that initiatives are communicated throughout the business.

Marcus Heap, from Julius Rutherfoord, adds: “A healthy workplace isn’t just about managing germs. We’ve taken a holistic approach to improving staff well-being, including our own ‘Cleaner of the Month’ certificate. We also pay all of our head office employees the London Living Wage as a minimum and actively encourage our potential clients to adopt the London Living Wage into their cleaning contract.”

Whilst there are many unmeasurable benefits of the workplace well-being programme, Julius Rutherfoord measures the quantifiable impact. Over a three year period it has seen staff sick days reduce by 26%, during a time when staff numbers increased by 6. Average sick days per head office person has reduced from 2.8 in 2013 to 1.85 in 2015. (Against a UK average of 4.4). There has been a significant improvement in desk cleanliness with swab testing bacteria levels showing a reduction of up to 91%.

To help organisations from any industry sector improve work-place well-being, Julius Rutherfoord launched a free guide. This has eight practical steps organisations can take to promote a healthy workplace and reduce staff absenteeism. To receive a free copy of this guide visit http://julius-r.co.uk/resource-centre/file/how-to-keep-a-healthy-workplace/

For more information on Julius Rutherfoord’s services call 020 7819 6700,

email sales@julius-r.co.uk or visit www.julius-r.co.uk