People outside of the legal industry often imagine law offices filled with paper files and lawyers racing to find the critical document. In many cases, this vision is accurate.
Law firms need to function efficiently. It is not a time-saver to have unorganized files, unorganized equipment, or cluttered areas.
Cleanliness and orderliness in your law office will have many benefits, including increasing productivity, impressing clients and keeping employees healthy.
Let’s look at the advantages of a clean office and how to keep it clean in the future.
1. Clean Law Office Benefits
A clean and tidy environment in the law office is a great thing. There’s no need to rebut.
A clean office increases productivity and morale. A psychological reaction to clutter can cause chaos and a lack of focus. It can be more difficult for your brain to function when it is overwhelmed by clutter and confusion. If your space is messy and cluttered, it may be difficult to move efficiently between cases and tasks.
A clean office will help every lawyer work more efficiently and effectively. If paperwork piles up, equipment malfunctions, and you can’t find what you need in the right moment, frustration increases, and productivity drops.
According to studies, the average person spends 4.3 hours per week searching for papers. This is not only a waste of time, but also affects your ability to work effectively and positively.
Your clients will be impressed if you are on top of your game and have a clean office. If lawyers are scattered and unorganized, clients can see it. But if your office is clean, you’ll always be on your best foot.
A messy office is embarrassing for clients and a lawyer does not want that. A disorganized lawyer would be a risk to their case. There are not many.
The staff’s health is another benefit to keeping law offices clean. Lawyers and legal assistants who are well will not have to call in sick. This allows them to focus on their clients and work more efficiently. Germs can spread to high-touch areas and desks if the air filter isn’t changed in years.
Cleaning your equipment and desks regularly will keep your resources in top working order. Dust can cause a decrease in the lifespan of your computer’s keyboards and computers. Equipment that has been damaged or worn out can lead to increased costs.
2. Declutter
Although it can seem daunting, decluttering is one of the best things you can do for your law office. Destroying old files, paperwork, or other unnecessary documents can immediately improve productivity and morale.
Take out anything you don’t use often or aren’t needed when decluttering your legal office.
You don’t have to get rid of everything. An example of this is cluttering up your desk with cords can cause eyes to become irritated and pose a danger. It is possible to simply take a look at all the cords and decide which ones you don’t need. Furniture is the same. Do you have millions of leather chairs that are rarely used in your law office? You can either get rid of them, or keep them safe until you need them.
You can keep your old case files safe in a safe place, such as a spare office at your law firm or a secured storage unit until you are able to dispose of them. Personal belongings should not be restricted as they can hinder productivity and take up valuable space on your desk.
A clean law firm will improve productivity and efficiency, as well as impress clients.
3. Keep a regular cleaning schedule
One employee or a small firm can manage a daily cleaning schedule. Cleaning is important, but there are likely 82 other tasks that you must complete.
The size of your law firm, how many employees and how much foot traffic you receive will determine the frequency of cleaning. Cleaning should be done daily if there is a lot of client traffic and meetings. You might consider a bi-weekly, or even monthly cleaning schedule if you work in a small business with little foot traffic.
A law office must be maintained in good condition.
Window washing and glass cleaning
Vacuuming, mopping or waxing floors
Restocking and cleaning the restrooms
Clean the receptionist area
All equipment and services should be swept.
Emptying garbage
Clean furniture
Sanitization
Ramcowichita says that if cleaning becomes too difficult or you are tired of spending your time cleaning, it is worth hiring a professional cleaning company. They’ll take care of everything so you can concentrate on other pressing issues.
4. Take COVID-19 precautions
More than vacuuming and dusting, there are other factors to consider. A whole new set cleaning rules has been established in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Law offices have many options to reduce the spread of germs, COVID-19. Keep high-touch surfaces and areas like telephones and doorknobs clean. Many law offices provide gloves and masks for staff who wish to use them. They also move their personal desk spaces so that they are not within six feet of each other.
According to the CDC website they recommend doing the following:
High-touch surfaces should be cleaned and sanitized at least once per day
Personal protective equipment (PPE), is available
Train employees on how to clean properly
Social distancing protocols should be followed
Regularly wash your hands
5. Keep Your Law Office Clean
Clean law firms will undoubtedly lead to greater productivity, less frustration, and a healthier work environment. This will also help you impress your clients. These tips will help you create a pleasant and productive working environment. Consider hiring an office cleaning company if you are unable to keep up with the upkeep of your workplace.