How to nurture a culture of health cascade building services.

How to Nurture a Culture of Health and Wellness at the Workplace

by Advice

By Chen Zhan

Source

You’re worried about homeschooling the kids, you have a 9 AM meeting you haven’t finished preparing for, your emails keep pinging, and the boss wants to see you NOW. Let’s face it, work is stressful, but your workplace doesn’t have to be — even in the midst of a pandemic. With so many businesses operating amidst COVID-19, nurturing a culture of health, wellness, and coronavirus cleanliness is crucial.

Working in Portland gives you a head start. The city ranks as one of the country’s healthiest. Employee health programs are an excellent way to take wellness a step further.

Employee wellness programs are worth the investment: When co-workers feel their best, health care costs are ultimately lower. An ideal workplace health model includes access to fitness facilities, nutritious snacks, and insurance coverage that pays for preventative screenings.

 

How to Build a Culture of Health and Wellness

Here’s how to foster health and wellness at work — whether that workplace is at home, in an office building, or even in the great outdoors:

 

Working From Home

Source

Working from home may be a temporary fix to keep us from spreading the coronavirus, or part of your normal routine. Creating a separate workspace keeps your professional life from flowing into everyday living.

Set up your home office near windows to get a daily dose of natural light. Lighting affects mood by boosting endorphins — the body’s way of coping with stress. If you don’t have a large window, buy a “happy lamp” to bring bright light to your workspace.

There’s no substitute for a routine deep-cleaning. But indoor plants bring fresh air to every room. Anthurium, English ivy, and aloe vera filter germs, dust, and airborne chemicals like formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and benzyne.

If you’re not glued to the desk, why not work while walking on a treadmill? Don a Bluetooth phone headset and place your laptop on the treadmill dashboard.

Dance to the bathroom. Simple yoga moves let you stretch and breathe during the workday.

 

At the Office

Source

The rules for your home office also apply to the company office. Set your desk up with plants and the proper lighting so you can be more productive.

Sitting for hours in one place can be very tiring. Repetitive movements from typing on a keyboard may lead to carpal tunnel damage.

How can you combat sedentary workstyles? Move around, and get up.

Foot pedal cycles, wrist and ankle weights, balance boards, stretch bands, and ball chair exercisers are a few simple physical fitness products that can keep you moving in different directions when you’re sitting still at your desk.

Stand-up desks are a popular alternative for workspaces. Standing requires movement, increases blood circulation, and burns calories. Walking around the office is a productive way for employees to move their bodies and wake up!

Muscles need oxygen. Heading to the restroom, coffee pot, kitchen, water fountain, and running the stairs increase the flow of air to the brain.

 

Outdoors

Source

Fresh air, light, and movement help oxygen flow to the brain. On warm weather days, working outside is a cool pick-me-up, especially when you’re among Portland’s fragrant plants and flowers.

If you’re in management, offer your employees a chance to create and work beside a flower garden (when it warms up). Bonus points: Planting the garden is a great team-building exercise!

A lunchtime yoga class while enjoying the sounds of nature is an excellent option in the spring and summer.

 

Establish Individual Health Goals

When it comes to health goals, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Prompting everyone to develop his or her own wellness plan gives team members the chance to control the outcome.

Start with baby-steps so as not to cause counter-productive stress. The ultimate goal is to nurture a culture of health and wellness at the workplace that spills over into the home front.

Keep your office healthy by keeping it clean. Get in touch with Cascade Building Services for janitorial and other commercial cleaning services in Portland. We use eco-friendly products to keep the planet healthy as well!

 
Chen Zhan began designing office spaces when he noticed the women he worked with donning sweaters, while the men continually turned the temperature down. He now consults with companies around the globe to improve company performance. Sometimes it’s as simple as adding some space heaters and standing desks.

Property management mistakes.

8 Mistakes Portland Property Managers Need to Avoid

by Property Management

As a property manager or building owner, are you doing what it takes to get the most out of your investment? Many property managers in the Portland area are falling prey to some surprisingly easily avoidable errors. Find out what they are!

 

Not emphasizing sanitation and sterilization

Your tenants’ and residents’ health and safety should always be your top priorities. However, during this challenging time, you must pay particular attention to how you are providing peace of mind and protection against COVID-19.

If you’re like most property managers, you aren’t trained or experienced in disinfecting procedures and you don’t have access to the equipment available to specialists like the team at Cascade Building Services.

As office buildings and other facilities reopen, it is time to put a plan in place. Our approach is simple. We use a safe and effective hospital-quality and food-safe disinfectant to sanitize key touchpoints and high-traffic areas in your office.

We also use a proven fogging disinfectant (also used by Delta Airlines!) that cleans and sanitizes EVERY surface.

Keep reading about how we help property managers fight COVID-19.

 

Spreading themselves too thin

You only have so much time and can only do so much. So how do you prioritize the most important tasks that need to get done? One of the biggest mistakes we see property managers make is to spread themselves too thin and to try to take on too much.

You have to find a partner you can trust. At Cascade Building Services, we act as a 1-stop shop, offering a wide variety of services to property managers, including:

That’s right — instead of finding, vetting, and hiring multiple contractors, we help our clients get all the property management, cleaning, and maintenance services they need. Everything is done by our in-house team of experienced professionals.

 

Haphazard cleaning and maintenance schedules

Consistency is key to providing a great experience for residents and tenants. Regular, scheduled maintenance and cleanings provide a much better experience than irregular bursts of activity.

By chipping away at maintenance and cleaning on a schedule, you can reduce interruptions to your tenants’ lives and businesses. Doing too much all at once can be stressful, noisy, and challenging to coordinate.

Remember, property management is a marathon not a sprint! Slow and steady wins the race!

 

Fixing problems instead of preventing them

As we talked about earlier, we know that most property managers are verybusy people. It can be easy to fall into the habit of fixing problems instead of preventing them. What do we mean by that?

  • Fixing leaking roofs as they occur instead of investing in roof inspections and maintenance
  • Waiting until parking lot stripes are worn away to nearly nothing instead of touching them up regularly
  • Letting dirt and grime build up on windows and only investing in window cleaning when tenants start to complain

Preventive maintenance not only makes your residents happier, but it can be a lower-cost investment in the long run!

 

Ignoring ADA requirements

Make your building accessible and inviting to all people. There are many often misunderstood (or just flat out ignored) accessibility requirements that your property must meet. For example, parking lot striping might not seem like a big deal, but it’s an ADA compliance requirement.

Making mistakes or not taking ADA compliance seriously can expose you to legal liability. 

Fully understanding how the ADA’s guidelines affect your property is essential. Examples of what you might have to consider include:

  • Ramps and railings
  • Doorways
  • Bathrooms
  • Pet and animal requirements

 

Focusing too heavily on one area

As a property manager, you may be tempted to focus your efforts on a specific area of your property. Maybe you want to increase curb appeal and invest time and money in landscaping — but at the expense of your indoor common areas. Maybe you keep your marble floors sparkling, but neglect much-needed roof repairs.

Time and again, we’ve seen property managers make the mistake of getting fixated on one area while letting another languish. Balance in all things! You mustn’t allow your desire for a great looking building to come before completing structural repairs and maintenance.

How do you find the right balance? That’s where the team at Cascade Building Services comes in. With our wide variety of property management services, we can help you create a custom cleaning and maintenance schedule. We’ll help you take care of all the little repairs and chores you’ve been putting off while still focusing on the big picture of making your building shine!

 

Not asking tenants and residents for feedback

Remember: at its core, property management is a service business. While maintaining your property is key, where would you be without happy tenants and residents? We recommend that property managers ask their tenants and residents for feedback and ideas for improvement. Consider a quarterly or yearly survey asking about:

  • Their overall impression of the building
  • Any maintenance issues they’ve had recently
  • Timeliness of maintenance requests
  • Anything that they think is being overlooked
  • Concerns they have about the building
  • New features or improvements they’d like to see
  • Whether they would recommend the building to a friend

Their answers will provide valuable information you can use to plan upcoming maintenance projects or changes to how you manage your property.

 

Missing opportunities to improve property value

Just keeping up with the maintenance needs of your property can be a huge challenge. How could you ever hope to actually get ahead and add value to your property? This is the question many property managers ask themselves. They’re too busy with the little things to ever consider the big picture.

Ask yourself,

In 5, 10, or even 15 years, will your property be as appealing to tenants as it is today?

The best time to start planning for your building’s future is right now. At Cascade Building Services we are not just the Portland area’s most trusted property managers and janitorial service company, we’re licensed contractors, too. We can help you stay on top of everyday maintenance and help out when you need emergency repairs. Plus, we can even tackle the bigger renovation projects you need to get ahead in Portland’s ultra-competitive real estate market.

Call (503) 691-0776 today to learn more.

Coronavirus sanitation blog

Our Approach to Cleaning & Sanitation During Coronavirus

by cascade building servicesJanitorial Services

Here at Cascade Building Services, we are literally on the front lines of the battle against Coronavirus in the Portland area. We are actively helping construction companies, banks, manufacturing facilities, and other essential services remain safely open for business in this challenging and complex time.

 

Be proactive, not reactive

If there was one thing we would tell every business owner in Portland, it would be this:

Don’t wait for a client, customer, or employee to test positive for Coronavirus. Start sanitizing and disinfecting your space now. This proactive approach provides peace of mind to everyone connected to your business.

 

We start with our own team

Our teams of janitorial service providers and commercial cleaners receive continuing education to make sure they are aware of best practices and CDC guidelines. We are proactively monitoring the health of our team for any signs of infection.

When out on a job, all team members are provided with disinfecting wipes to disinfect anything they touch and for their own personal protection. These wipes are returned to our facility and disposed of.

 

Our Coronavirus sanitation process

We tailor our Coronavirus sanitization and disinfection process to our clients’ needs. Each type of building and facility requires a unique approach. For example, we use a food-safe disinfectant when sanitizing anywhere food is present, including:

  • Employee break rooms
  • Coffee bars
  • Cafeterias
  • Lunchrooms

We’re also flexible and can work around your facility’s schedule — our cleaners are available day or night! We use a quick-drying commercial grade disinfectant. Our treatments are fast and your team can get back to work in as little as 30 minutes, even if we disinfect during the day.

 

Keep reading

 

Not all surfaces are equal

Our team is especially aware of the need to thoroughly disinfect key touchpoints like:

  • Doors and door handles
  • Telephones
  • Desktops and tabletops
  • Electrical switches
  • Communal supplies
  • Copiers/printers
  • Railings and handholds
  • Soap/sanitizer dispensers
  • Sink handles, taps, and flush levers

Because there are so many surfaces to clean and because these surfaces are often irregularly shaped with nooks and crannies, a simple cleaning just won’t do. Instead, we use a powerful fogging disinfectant that sanitizes even the most difficult surfaces. In fact, Delta Airlines is using the same fogging approach to disinfect their airliners.

We believe it’s especially important to clean high-touch surfaces as often as possible.

 

Once is not enough — regularly scheduled cleanings are essential

We can’t stress it enough. Disinfecting your commercial space and protecting your team and customers against Coronavirus is an ongoing battle. We are proud to help you fight it.

Based on the size of your building, the size of your team, how many people visit your facility each day, and a number of other factors, we’ll create a custom cleaning schedule to meet your needs.

Call (503) 691-0776 today for your free consultation and no-obligation quote.

 

We do graffiti cleanup, too!

In these challenging times, so many businesses are closing their doors or operating on a more irregular schedule. We’ve heard that there’s been an increase in property crime in the Portland area, including graffiti. As a property owner, you must keep your property free of graffiti.

In addition to Coronavirus cleaning and sanitation, our janitors and contractors can provide graffiti removal and repair of damage caused by vandalism. Call (503) 691-0776 today.

make-employees-happier-portland-cascade-building-services

8 Things You Can Do To Make Your Employees Happier

by Advice

In today’s day and age, it takes more than just a bare bones operation to keep employees happy. Given the humming economy and low unemployment rate, your employees have more and more employment options at their disposal. For this reason, it’s important to do what you can (within reason) to keep them happy and invested in your business.

We’ve compiled some of our favorite ways to keep and build happiness on your team. Read on to learn more! 

 

Provide a clean and healthy office environment 

One of the biggest things you can do for your employees is provide a clean and healthy environment for them to work in. Generally this includes:

  • Clean and sanitary office space –  Including desk areas, conference rooms, bathrooms, and everything in between.
  • Pristine air quality – Cleaning your office and fresh air go hand in hand. Also, make sure HVAC systems are running on all cylinders and clean.
  • Trash, recycling, and perishables – Cleared out regularly around the office. 
  • Adhering to OSHA standards and taking legal responsibility for providing a safe environment

While these seem like simple things to achieve, not every office cleans as regularly as they should — and a DIY approach is often even worse. While cleaning yourself can work in extremely small offices, it is not sufficient for a larger office.

 Just what happens when you have a clean office? You’ll likely find your employees have…

  • Better focus 
  • Less stress
  • Increased productivity
  • Less wasted time
  • Most importantly, a more positive mindset when coming into the office

 

Do what you can to ensure sick employees stay home

While lost productivity is a concern, encouraging employees to come into the office when they are under the weather can backfire.

First off, even if an employee is in the office, it does not mean they will be productive. In fact, having to drive to the office, interact with coworkers, and sit at their desk could make them feel worse and be less productive. Secondly (and more importantly), their presence will likely make their coworkers sick as well. This will result in even greater lost productivity and even more of your employees sick. 

The end result is employees who are not very happy and not very productive. We recommend that you institute personal health days or encourage employees to work from home if at all possible when they’re under the weather.

 

Make sure they’re comfortable

Employees spend at least 8 hours a day in your office. We encourage business owners to look for ways to make their employees comfortable while they’re under your care. This can include:

  • Comfortable chairs and desk 
  • An adequate workstation 
  • A comfortable and reasonable temperature 
  • Ensuring bathrooms are a reasonable distance away from desks
  • Ensuring employees feel comfortable with those working around them
  • Limiting outside noise as much as possible

Your employees not only deserve to feel comfortable at the office, but it will increase their happiness and boost their productivity. 

Snacks and beverages

Who doesn’t love a snack? Many employers are now providing snacks for their employees as a perk to fill that midday pang of hunger.

If this is something you’d like to provide for your employees, we recommend speaking with them to develop a list of snacks for the office. This can range from nuts and crackers, to more elaborate fare like popcorn from a popcorn machine.

Want to go even further and treat your employees to an end of the day treat? At some offices, you’ll find a keg of beer or glasses of wine in the kitchen. While it’s smart to ensure your employees won’t abuse this treat, if you have faith that they’ll be responsible, this is a great perk for your hardworking employees.

 

Natural light 

Nothing brightens an attitude quite like natural light. In addition to making the natural design of your space stand out, natural light brings a sense of warmth to your space that nothing can replicate.

Natural light has been shown to increase happiness in employees, productivity on your team, and genuinely make your employees healthier. 

While it can be hard to find opportunities to introduce natural light to your office, adding windows, a skylight, or easier-to-manage window coverings can make all the difference in the amount of natural light in your space.

Enough space for your entire team

A common complaint we hear from employees is that they feel like sardines in a tin. While jamming as many people into an office as possible is technically cheaper (as you don’t need as much space), distractions and claustrophobia can make it difficult to work productively. 

This is increasingly common with the recent popularity of open office spaces. While more closed off spaces make it impossible to fully maximize space, open floor plans often make business owners feel like they can maximize every inch of an office. While in 2010 the average office worker got 225 square feet per employee, in 2017 that number went down to 151 square feet. That is a straling drop in just 7 years!

We recommend at least 250 square feet for your employees to feel happy and not squished.

Flexible schedule

While work will always need to get done, giving your employees the autonomy to work slightly altered schedules to ensure they are living a balanced life is crucial to employee happiness. While employees should probably not be able to come and go as they please, allowing them flexibility can actually increase productivity.

For instance, allowing employees who are better at working in the morning to come in and leave early, while employees who are more productive in the afternoon to come in and stay later will result in better work. Letting employees leave for appointments or to take care of important personal matters will ensure their focus is on work while they’re at their job without distraction.

Giving your employees this freedom can unlock productivity you never knew you had! 

 

Taking and implementing feedback on your space

Listening to your employees and taking their feedback can be crucial for making them happier. 

Everyone needs to feel like they are being listened to. Whether it’s that the office is too loud, too cold, there is not enough space to work adequately, or any other issue, it’s impossible for your employees to feel happy if they do not feel listened to. 

While not every employee request will be possible, make sure to provide an adequate response to requests. Even if your response is“it’s too expensive,” giving them this feedback will be more effective than no answer at all. 

Give your employees a space they can feel proud of

Cascade Building Services has been helping employers provide clean and well-maintained commercial properties to happy employees for over 50 years.

We’re available to help 24/7/365 to help you keep your commercial space in tip-top shape. We are the city’s trusted source for building maintenance and cleaning — whether you need a one-time cleaning or an ongoing program.

Let us know how we can help!

How-to-motivate-employees-through-sustainability-initiatives

How to Tap into Sustainability to Motivate Your Employees

by Advice

Today’s leading companies — particularly those here in the Portland area — are tapping into green and environmentally-friendly practices to help motivate and engage employees. Your company can do the same!

Keep reading to learn how sustainability initiatives can boost employee engagement and the steps your business can take to reap these benefits.

 

The case for going green in your Oregon workplace

Beyond the important environmental benefits of going green, implementing sustainability tactics will help you encourage a stronger, happier workforce. Just consider the following statistics:

  • 51% of employees won’t work for a company that doesn’t have strong environmental commitments.
  • Among Generation Y employees, 96% are concerned about the environment and expect their employers to take steps towards becoming more sustainable.
  • 25% of employees say they will look for a new job if they discover their employer doesn’t handle environmental issues well.

At a time when finding and retaining great employees can be difficult, creating a workplace where employee engagement and satisfaction is high is essential for maintaining an effective team.

 

Why is employee engagement important?

Employee engagement and satisfaction refer to the extent to which your employees feel passionate about their jobs, are committed to your company, and take their responsibilities seriously.

Employee engagement is a major focus for companies — from large corporations to small mom-and-pop businesses. That’s because studies consistently show that the more engaged and satisfied your employees are, the more motivated they are help your business succeed.

Knowing that sustainability is very important for today’s employees, it’s no wonder more and more companies are adopting environmentally-friendly practices as an employee engagement and satisfaction strategy.

 

How to make your company more environmentally-friendly

The best way to implement a work culture focused on sustainability (and at the same time tap into this employee engagement goldmine) is to start with efforts that directly involve and affect your entire staff.

While your approach should be catered to the unique personality and culture of your company, below are 4 widely-used and well-received tactics to try.

 

1. Create a green team

Invite employees to develop a green team.

What exactly does this team do? The goal of this group is to build internal awareness of your efforts, educate employees on important environmental issues, and provide opportunities for employees to brainstorm and give their sustainability ideas.

This is a great way to gain a better understanding of what sustainability measures are most important to your staff. From there, you’ll be better equipped to develop an approach that fits the needs of your workers.

What’s more, a green team is also a great way to get your entire staff on board with your environmental initiatives.

 

2. Implement a company recycling program

Not only is a recycling program something many employees want and appreciate, it may also be required. Some metro areas and counties in and around Portland require businesses to meet certain recycling requirements.

You can find recycling requirements for the Portland metro area here. Washington County’s recycling requirements are similar and can be found here. Look at your county’s requirements closely, but most areas expect businesses to…

  1. Give employees the ability to recycle
  2. Recycle paper and containers (metal cans, plastic bottles and tubs, and glass bottles and jars)
  3. Sort and separate recyclables correctly (glass is almost always collected separately)
  4. Set out materials for recycling collection

Above all, make it easy for your employees by keeping recycle receptacles easily accessible. You may even want to place posters above bin showing what should go in each one and what shouldn’t.

While setting out bins seems easy enough, the logistics can be a little tricky. If you need some assistance managing the program, you may be interested in our recycling services. We not only manage your recycling, but make sure the program is working efficiently and that your business is in compliance with local regulations.

How to Encourage Recycling at Work

Need some assistance getting your recycling program off the ground? Check out our guide on how to set up a system that works.

Or call us at (503) 691-0776 to learn how we can help manage your recycling program

Read More

3. Provide employee commuter benefits

Portland has repeatedly been named one of the most bike-friendly cities in the US. Not to mention our great public transportation system. With this in mind, encouraging employees to take advantage of these green transportation methods makes a lot of sense and will be well received.

There are a number of things you can do to encourage employees to use a more sustainable form of transportation during their commutes. Some favorite initiatives include:

  • Providing TriMet passes or reimbursing a percentage of the fee
  • Offering a reimbursement for qualified bicycle commuters
  • Coordinating a rideshare program
  • Providing ample and secure bicycle parking and bicycle repair services

Keep in mind you can also subsidize some or all of the costs of employee transit passes as a business expense. As of 2018, the allowable limit $225 per month, per employee. Learn more.

 

4. Maintain a clean & environmentally-friendly office

You have a legal responsibility to provide a safe work environment for your employees. But many local employers expand this requirement to include providing a space that encourages a healthier, more productive team. That starts with maintaining a clean office space.

Did you know that a desk is statistically dirtier than the office toilet? Or that most water cooler nozzles never get cleaned? Gross! A clean office improves health, keeps employees focused, reduces stress, and prevents accidents.

However, it’s not enough to simply schedule a cleaner once a week. You also need to make sure your cleaning company is using environmentally friendly cleaning methods and products. That’s because the chemicals found in most cleaning products aren’t just bad for the environment, they’re dangerous for your employees health too.

Consider this list of chemicals below — all which are commonly found in traditional cleaning products:

  • Perchloroethylene — May cause cancer and harm your brain, liver, and kidneys, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  • Naphthalene — May cause cancer and is considered very harmful to the central nervous system.
  • Ammonium Hydroxide — A corrosive chemical that irritates the lungs, skin, and eyes

Keep your employees safe and encourage a more environmentally-friendly space by only using a cleaning company that uses sustainable products and cleaning methods.

But don’t let these efforts go unnoticed! Make sure to let your employees know that you care about their health and wellbeing, as well as the wellbeing of the environment.

 

It’s easy being green with Cascade Building Services

For over 50 years, we’ve delivered top-quality, environmentally-friendly cleaning services to Portland area businesses. Eco-friendliness and sustainability are important to us. So is the health of our clients and their employees. That’s why we only use products that:

  • Deliver exceptional results
  • Ensure a sustainable workplace
  • Are free from harmful odors and toxins
  • Improve indoor air quality
  • Help us provide a clean and safe work environment

Contact us today to learn more about what we can do for you.

 

2019-07-18-Bnk-Construction-038-HDR

Our 7 Favorite Office Designs

by Property Management

WORK & CO.

 

It’s no secret that the environment employees work in has a huge impact on their well-being. The right layout, lighting, and other features can make employees happier, healthier, and more productive.

But there’s not an easy, one-size-fits-all answer. Some of the best office designs are also the ones that reflect the unique culture of the company itself — whether it’s Pandora’s music-themed office or Airbnb’s internationally furnished headquarters. Your office design is a great way to showcase company values, like creativity or sustainability.

Every office is unique, but whatever your company’s culture, size, and industry, it’s hard to go wrong when your workplace is comfortable, clean, and aesthetically pleasing.

If you’re getting ready to remodel or redesign your workspace, keep reading and see if any of these 7 office design ideas inspire you!

 

1. Open spaces

PORTLAND PLAZA

 

It’s easy to see how the movement towards open floor plans has swept the professional world in the past several years. Of course, there are pros and cons to every layout, so not all companies will benefit from a barrier-free design, and many industries actually require solitary, separate workspaces. 

If you’re not on board with a fully open floor plan, a happy medium is often a great solution. If you have enough square footage in your office, consider incorporating some open spaces here and there. The right amount of empty space can make the whole office feel bigger, brighter, and more relaxing. 

Adding some communal meeting spaces also gives people the chance to collaborate, get advice, or simply move to a different setting to get a fresh perspective on a problem.

 

2. Natural light

TECH HEADS

 

Sunlight doesn’t just brighten up a room, it also brings in a long list of health benefits. Natural light has been found to increase productivity, reduce eye strain, and improve psychological health.

Unless you’re planning a full renovation, your focus will likely be on making the most of the windows you currently have. Think about installing curtains or blinds that can be easily adjusted. If you have a window that doesn’t get direct sunlight during the workday, you may decide not to cover that window at all.

Unfortunately, dirty windows also limit the flow of natural light. Getting your windows cleaned regularly (and skylights, if you have them) will remove dirt, oil, smudges, and other debris that might be coating the glass.

 

3. Plant life

SAND CREEK DENTAL

 

Like sunlight, indoor plants have many benefits for offices. Countless studies and surveys have reported that indoor plants can:

Plants aren’t just functional, though. They’re also a smart aesthetic choice. A plant that blends well with your space will improve the overall look and feel of your office. 

 

4. Art in the office 

INTEGRATIVE PEDIATRICS

 

Walls and other blank surfaces are opportunities to inspire and motivate everyone who works at your office. Art also gives you a chance to show who you are as a company and make a great first impression when you welcome guests, prospective employees, and clients or customers.

Not sure what to do with a blank wall in your office? Here are a few ideas:

  • Old photos (or new ones)
  • Interesting paint colors
  • An accent wall
  • A mural
  • Framed art
  • A display of the company’s past work and/or achievements
  • Your company’s mission or values written on the wall
  • An inspiring quote

 

5. Reclaimed materials

 

FLP Financial (a financial services company) renovated a former factory for their Connecticut office and used reclaimed crate wood desks to create a unique, industrial style space.

If sustainability ranks highly on your list of company values, it’s easy to incorporate eco-friendly designs into your office. 

  • Use reclaimed materials
  • Reuse what you can 
  • Minimize energy used on artificial lighting and heating by being strategic about windows and desk placement
  • Invest in good insulation
  • Make recycling as easy as possible for employees
  • Use energy-efficient appliances in the break room and elsewhere

You may also choose a professional maintenance company that uses sustainable cleaning supplies, especially considering that eco-friendly cleaning products are less likely to irritate your eyes and lungs.

 

6. Fun and games

PARLIAMENT

 

Ping-pong tables, dart boards, mini basketball hoops — you name it. More and more companies are adding fun, recreational activities to their break rooms in an effort to encourage employees to bond and get to know each other over friendly competition. 

Not only are games a great icebreaker for new hires, but they also encourage people to get up and move around instead of sitting at their desks all day. Even small bouts of mild physical activity during the day are great for employees’ health and energy levels.

 

7. Cleanliness

CARING SMILES DENTAL

 

As commercial cleaning professionals, we’ve seen the amazing difference that cleanliness can make. At the end of the day, a dusty, cluttered office won’t look as good no matter what decor or design style you choose. 

What’s more, cleanliness has many of the same practical benefits as plants and natural light. An office that’s clean promotes physical and psychological health, relaxation, and productivity. Considering how many hours most of us spend at work, a great office is one where you and your employees enjoy spending time and working toward your company’s goals.

 

How often do offices need cleaning?

Every office should be cleaned regularly, but the frequency really depends on the size of your office and how many people work there. For larger companies, nightly cleaning is the best way to ensure the kitchen and bathroom areas stay sanitary and fresh. For smaller companies, periodic one-time visits might be a perfect solution.

Plus, while certain tasks should be done daily or nightly (like taking out the trash), jobs like carpet cleaning can often be scheduled quarterly.

At Cascade Building Services, we do it all — no matter what cleaning services you need or how often you need them. We’ve been working in the Portland area since 1961, so we’ve handled just about every type of cleaning job out there, including janitorial services, window and carpet cleaning, floor maintenance, and recycling services. Tell us how we can help! 

Dirties-places-in-your-office-Cascade-Building-Services

7 Places in Your Office You Don’t Clean Enough but Should!

by AdviceProperty Management

Is your office really clean enough to work in? 

Most business owners pay attention to basic office cleaning tasks like sweeping and vacuuming the floors, cleaning the bathrooms, and taking out the trash. This is a good start, but with so many people sharing the same space, a basic cleaning isn’t enough.

There are countless areas in your office that are swarming with germs. Here’s a dirty little secret: an office coffee pot handle contains 34 times more bacteria than a toilet seat! 

Learn the 7 most overlooked areas of your office that need to be cleaned regularly to keep your facility productive, healthy, and safe. 

80% of infections spread via contact with contaminated surfaces.

 

1. Handles

 

The handles in your office are a hot spot for germs. Door handles are an obvious culprit, but there’s much more to pay attention to than that. Some of dirtiest handles in your office belong to:

  • Sinks
  • Refrigerators
  • Microwaves
  • Coffee pots
  • Handrails

 

2. Buttons & Switches

Just like the handles in your building, you should also pay attention to the buttons scattered around your space. 

  • Water fountains
  • Vending machines
  • Elevators
  • Light switches

 

3. Breakroom

Your break or lunch room area is one of the germiest places in your office. One study — the most comprehensive ever conducted on workplace cleanliness — found a huge number of breakroom surfaces to have a high level of bacteria contamination.

  • 75% of break room sink faucet handles
  • 48% of microwave door handles
  • 26% of refrigerator door handles
  • 23% of water fountain buttons
  • 21% of vending machine buttons

All of these surfaces can be found in a typical office break or lunchroom. Employees may be spreading germs throughout the workplace every time they heat up lunch, make coffee, or grab something from the vending machine.

 

4. Desk equipment

 

An employee’s desk surface is home to about 10 million germs at any one time!

Personal workspaces need to be wiped down and disinfected on a regular basis. Although you can hope each employee will practice these proper hygiene habits, its best not to leave the health of the entire office in their hands. 

Take a trip around your office. How many phones will you find with pockets of gunk in the receiver or in-between numbers? Are computer screens covered in dust? Are there crumbs between keyboards?  The answer is probably yes. But even if they appear to be relatively clean, there’s a lot you’re not seeing!

Phones, computers, keyboards, mouse…these are things your employees are touching on a daily basis. You need to keep them clean to help avoid the spread of germs throughout your office.

 

5. Furniture & Upholstery

Office furniture often slips under the radar when it comes to cleaning tasks. After all, if it doesn’t look dirty, why clean it? But in this case, what you can’t see can still hurt you. 

Even if your office furniture doesn’t look dirty, dust, oil, residue, and bacteria are piling up on a daily basis. These pieces should be cleaned regularly to help stop the spread of germs throughout your office. 

Don’t forget to clean:

  • Lobby seating
  • Employee lounge seating
  • Desk chairs
  • Cubicle partitions
  • Anything made from a fabric material

 

6. Curtains & Blinds

You probably already clean your windows regularly, but what about your blinds, shades, or curtains? Just like your other upholstery, these things need to be cleaned regularly. 

Window coverings collect dust super easily. The longer you wait to clean them, the more unhealthy dust will spread around your office. Prevent the spread of germs and ensure healthy air quality for your team.

 

How to fight germs in your office

 

Getting your office on a regular, thorough cleaning schedule is the first step toward a cleaner, healthier workspace. 

Talk with a local cleaning service and discuss the frequency and specific services your space needs. Make sure the cleaning company you choose has a proven track record and will do more than just sweep the floors and run a rag over your countertops. When it comes to cleaning your office, look for a detail-oriented and thorough team.

For your bacteria-free office dreams to come true, you’ll also need the help of your employees. Practicing good office hygiene is imperative. Here are some good strategies to get everyone on board:

  • Post handwashing signs in the bathroom (1 in 6 men don’t wash their hands after using the restroom!)
  • Schedule time on the calendar for monthly desk cleaning sessions, encouraging employees to clean their workspace
  • Keep cleaning supplies at the ready for employees who need them
  • Form a daily kitchen cleaning schedule, delegating responsibility to a different team every week

Taking steps to keep your space as clean as possible is important. You must take your responsibility to provide a clean and sanitary workplace to your employees seriously. However, despite your best efforts, there will always be some germs in your space — it’s inevitable in an office building! 

We’re here to help. No matter the size of your facility, we can create a customized cleaning plan just for you. Contact us now to schedule an in-person quote.

 

Keep reading more on our blog…

property-management-tips-portland-cascade-building-services

Property Management Tips You Need to Know

by Property Management

Managing a property is a lot more than simply choosing a tenant and collecting rent. Between maintaining the building, managing relationships, and ensuring tenant satisfaction, there’s a lot to manage on a day-to-day basis.

In this post, we’ll offer some tips for managing a property. This will be helpful for anyone managing a property, be it a single property you own or multiple you’re managing on behalf of an organization.

 

Set aside time for each of your different hats

When you’re managing a property or properties, there’s a lot of work to be done. Everything from listing properties and tending to tenant concerns, to hiring contractors — it all needs your full attention and requires completely different skill sets.

We recommend blocking off time to ensure each of these tasks receives your full attention. For instance, having a consistent time where you post listings will help speed up the process and make sure this task gets your full attention.

This will not always be possible (tenant maintenance requests may need to be addressed immediately, for instance), but this structure will help your property run smoothly.

 

Know your properties well

A property manager that knows their property inside and out is good for everyone. When you know your property well, you’ll

  • Easily answer questions potential tenants bring up when showing the property
  • Know the benefits of the space, aiding in the sales and marketing process
  • Answer maintenance requests more easily, as you’ll have a better idea of what your tenant is referencing
  • Know potential “problem areas” of the property, allowing you to address these issues between tenants

Having this knowledge will help you save time, money, and hassle down the road.

 

Know the law well, too

Unless you’re a lawyer by trade, it will be impossible to have a full understanding of rental and real estate laws in Oregon and Washington. We still recommend you develop a basic understanding of the laws governing rentals in Oregon.

Knowing the basics is useful for three reasons:

  • You’ll be able to answer questions asked of you from tenants. Not knowing the answer to some of these questions could give the tenant the impression you don’t know the law, and could cause them to be lackadaisical in their relationship with you as a property manager
  • You won’t be taken advantage of. Whether they intend to or not, your tenants may attempt to do something they aren’t allowed to do. If you don’t know the rules they could attempt this under your own nose.
  • You’ll know your rights as the owner or an agent of the owner. Bad tenants happen to every property manager at some point. Luckily, there are a set of protections that allow you to warn and evict bad tenants. In order to take advantage of these laws though, you need to know how they work.

 

Document everything

Make sure to keep a paper trail. Given the many different laws governing rental agreements, a good filing system to keep track of all paperwork could save you a major headache down the road.

We recommend scanning all important documents to create a digital copy of all major files in the cloud. This ensures that even in the event of the loss of physical copies due to a robbery, fire, or flood (or just misplacement), you’ll still have the files somewhere.

 

Be available and dependable

As a property manager, you should take an “open door” philosophy to management. This means making sure to always answer a tenant phone call and be there to answer questions or respond to maintenance requests.

Also, when scheduling a meeting with a current or potential tenant, always get there on time and stay on track. To do this, we recommend scheduling realistic meeting times.

While you may not work or live on the property, your tenants do. Making sure they feel like they can be heard whenever they reach out will go a long way towards gaining their trust.

 

Make timely repairs

Another great way to build this trust is through following up on maintenance and repair requests as soon as you can.

Not only will this increase the likelihood that these tenants will stay long term, it will ensure your units are kept in good condition and do not fall into disrepair. If units are not fixed in a timely manner, tenants may lose respect for the space and not keep the unit in as good of condition.

 

Develop relationships with your tenants

One of your chief responsibilities as a property manager will be to communicate effectively with your tenants and potential tenants. A great way to do this is through developing a good relationship with them.

While you don’t need to be best friends (and they probably don’t want that, either), make sure to get to know them, ask about their business, and say hello when you see them. This goodwill will go a long way when it comes time for them to renew their lease and when communicating about repair or maintenance issues.

 

Keep your building clean

Clean buildings equal happy tenants. People simply do not like living and working in dirty environments and can only take so much before finding a new solution. This means keeping your property clean and in good order will keep good tenants around.

Clean properties also need less serious maintenance, meaning clean apartments will lead to less maintenance request. This will lead to less time you need to manage the requests and less money the building owner will have to pay to fix the issues.

Other benefits to keeping a clean property include:

  • Fewer injuries: Messy floors and work spaces could lead to slip and falls or workplace injuries. Slippery stairways or poorly maintained railings could lead to even more serious injuries.
  • Better respiratory health: Without proper air filtration, dusts and vapors will circulate, reducing the air-quality and creating a potentially unhealthy situation in the space.
  • Germs won’t spread as quickly: Particularly during flu season, making sure a space is sanitary is crucial for good health.
  • Better light: When light fixtures or windows are dirty, light cannot get into the property.
  • Less cluttered work spaces: When properties properly dispose of recyclables and trash, spaces will be less cluttered and dirty.
  • Better productivity: In offices, clean spaces equal better productivity. Employees like clean spaces and are more productive when they are working every day in a space they feel proud of.

 

Hire a janitorial service that will make your job easier, not harder

Cascade Building Services has been cleaning offices and commercial spaces for over 5 decades. We offer service 24 hours a day, 365 per year, so you know we’ll be dependable and can provide service that can help your property strive.

Contact us today to learn how Cascade Building Services can help make your property all it can be.

Office-productivity-tips

6 Things About Your Office That Drive Portland Employees Crazy

by Adviceportland

Studies show the physical environment employees work in directly influences their wellbeing, work performance, and productivity. But even with the best intentions, many Portland business owners are missing the mark.

What environmental factors really matter when creating a positive, productive office environment?

You might be surprised. Take a look at the 6 most common things about your Portland office your employees can’t stand.

 

1. Noise level and bad acoustics

The quality of acoustics in your office is really important.

A loud office environment is frustrating for Portland employees. Even the most focused individual will start to crack in an environment constantly barraged with audible clutter. Loud noises in an office space are linked with a lot of problems:

  • Stress
  • Unproductivity
  • Exhaustion
  • Poor ergonomics
  • Miscommunication

Open office environments are largely to blame for the clamour of the modern-day work environment. An open office layout may inspire increased collaboration and creativity, but there’s no denying it can also be hugley distracting.

If you have an open layout, office noise reduction tactics might include spacing out your employees, adding cubicle walls or other separators between departments, or installing a white noise machine to muffle chatter and ensure privacy.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, avoid making your office too quiet. Some level of background noise is necessary and can help with:

  • Privacy
  • Productivity
  • Concentration
  • Creativity

 

2. Poor air quality

Does your office feel stuffy? Kitchen smells wafting into your workspace? The strong odor of cleaning chemicals after your janitorial team comes through?

Keeping the air in your office space fresh is important. Many people can be sensitive to odors, causing headaches or other physical issues. And there’s nothing quite like cooked broccoli or the smell of tuna or other fish to break your concentration.

Make sure you install an effective air filtration system to keep the air fresh. Oil diffusers can be helpful as well, though you should again be careful with what scents you use.

You should also make sure your cleaning crew is using safe, environmentally friendly cleaning supplies that won’t leave behind a strong chemical odor.

 

3. Too cold or too hot

No one wants to work (or even can work productively) in an office space that’s too hot or cold.

For years it was thought that colder office environments are better for productivity. But new studies are throwing all this out the window.

OSHA recommends employers maintain workplace temperatures between 68-76 degrees Fahrenheit. Many Portland employees consider 70 to 73 as ideal for the office. However, a Cornell study found temperatures as high as 77 to be optimal.

 

4. Unclean space

The average employee loses 9 working days a year due to sickness. Some of these sick days may be attributed to a lack of workplace hygiene and cleanliness. A clean office is a productive office — it’s as simple as that!

A few other happy results of a clean office include:

  • Increased focus
  • Reduced stress
  • Greater profitability
  • Less wasted time
  • Improved morale

Every office should have an established cleaning schedule. If you don’t have an in-house cleaning team, work with a janitorial company to ensure your space is properly cleaned.

How often should your office be cleaned? Large buildings likely need nightly cleaning services while smaller offices could get away with once a week. And remember that areas like kitchen and bathroom require extra care to ensure employee health and safety.

Whether you do nightly or weekly cleanings, you should also plan larger monthly or quarterly deep cleans to ensure you space stays in tip-top shape. This includes carpet cleaning, cleaning windows, and floor maintenance.

 

5. No recycling

51% of employees won’t work for a company that doesn’t have strong environmental commitments. And 25% say they will look for a new job if they discover their employer doesn’t handle environmental issues well.

There are many ways you can promote a green office environment, but one of the easiest (and most expected by employees in Portland) is a recycling program. Not only is it something many employees want and appreciate, it may also be a requirement.

Most counties expect businesses to provide recycling bins, recycle paper and containers, and separate recyclables correctly.

Depending on the size of your business, it may be beneficial to partner with a commercial recycling service. They can manage your recycling program, make sure its working efficiency, maximize recycling in your company, and answer any questions along the way.

 

6. Poor building maintenance

You can have the cleanest office building in town, but it won’t matter if it’s falling apart at the seams.

If you own your office building, regular building maintenance and property management is crucial for the happiness and safety of your employees.

There are a spectrum of maintenance tasks to keep an eye on in your office — from ceiling tile repair or replacement, blind cleaning, changing light bulbs, and more.

Anytime you have a maintenance issue arise, avoid the negative effects it can have on productivity, morale, and safety by taking care of it quickly.

Most Portland businesses hire a building maintenance company to handle these issues. You have enough on your plate as it is, don’t add building maintenance to your to-do list.

 

Happy employees are good for business

As we’ve discussed, creating a happy, healthy work environment for employees is beneficial to your company. Losing an employee due to a poor work environment is not something you ever want to happen: Dealing with employee turnover is a huge waste of time and money!

When you provide a positive work environment, you’ll reap the benefits!

  • Better employee decision making abilities
  • Increased innovation
  • More productivity
  • Better employee engagement
  • Better customer service
  • More sales (happy people sell more!)

 

How can we help improve your work environment?

For over 50 years, Cascade Building Services has been helping fuel clean, environmentally friendly, and well-maintained commercial properties (and in turn, happy employees) throughout Portland.

We provide services 24 hours per day 365 days per year. We are the city’s trusted source for building maintenance and cleaning — whether you need a one-time cleaning or an ongoing program.

Let us know how we can help!

How-to-choose-a-professional-window-cleaner

How to Choose a Professional Window Cleaner

by Window Washing

With all the rain we receive here in the Portland area, you may doubt whether maintaining clean, sparkly windows is even possible for your business. With a professional window cleaner, it absolutely is!

When you partner with a professional window cleaner and get on the right cleaning schedule, your windows will shine. Window cleaning also helps limit the negative effects of debris and dirt, so they’ll last longer, too.

It all starts by partnering with a trusted window cleaning company. Keep reading to learn what to look and how to choose the best one.

 

How often should you clean your windows? (It depends on your industry!)

Window Cleaning Industry Guidelines

 

1. Experience

Different types of glass require different cleaning techniques. There’s an art to consistently delivering clear glass with zero streaks or smears! This type of expertise can only come from years of experience.

Not only should you look at the number of years in business, but also employee experience. After all, these are the people who’ll be responsible for cleaning your windows.

Beyond results, years in business can be an indicator of trustworthiness and commitment to both good service and the community.

Finally, make sure the company’s experience is local to the Portland area. National chains may have a lot of experience, but they won’t have the same dedication to or understanding of the community and their clients as a locally-owned company.

Windows are expensive — protect your investment by ensuring you hire a window cleaner who has the experience to not only do the job well, but also avoid scratching or damaging your windows.

 

2. Exceptional service

The best window cleaning companies provide more than just clean windows — they provide a whole experience focused on your satisfaction. As you’re researching a company, find out if they offer the following:

  • Fast communication
  • Round-the-clock availability to answer questions and provide service
  • Flexibility to work around your schedule so as not to disturb during business hours
  • Customized cleaning plans to fit your needs
  • Attention to detail, like wiping down sills, tracks, and window ledges
  • Quality control process

This last point — quality control — is very important. Ask how the the company will ensure their workers are doing the job up to their standards.

At Cascade Building Services, we supervise every cleaning crew, send customer service representatives to your facility every month, and perform random work site inspections to ensure outstanding quality and service.

Additionally, find out how the company handles complaints. For instance, if you aren’t happy with the result, will they correct the issue?

 

3. High-quality products

Pay attention to the specific types of products and equipment the company uses. A professional company will not use cheap products, worn or ineffective cleaning materials, or unsafe cleaning solutions.

This is not something every customer remembers to ask when vetting a cleaning company, but it makes all the difference in the results. For example, using a worn out window squeegee will keep your windows from achieving the flawless transparency and shine it deserves.
You should also choose a company that pays attention to the impact their products have on the environment and your employee’s health. Biodegradable and eco-friendly cleaning solutions are always the best choice and can even help achieve the best results.

 

4. Customer protection

Window cleaning can be a high-risk job — especially if you have a multiple story building. Before you let any company work on your windows or property, make sure they’re licensed and insured and that all their workers are covered by workers compensation insurance.

Accidents like falling ladders, trips and falls, damaged windows, and other issues can happen. In the event of something or someone getting injured, you need to be protected. Otherwise, you’ll assume responsibility for paying for repairs and medical expenses.

You may also want to ask if there’s ever been a claim made against the company. If the answer is yes, be wary.

 

5. Happy customers

Of course, perhaps the most important indicator of a professional window cleaning company is glowing customer experiences.

You’ll need to do a little research to look up reviews. A few places to look are Google, Yelp, or even the company’s website. You can also request references directly from the company. Any reputable business will be happy to provide this information.

As you read through these reviews and testimonials, ask yourself:

  • Do customer experiences match what the company says about their service?
  • Are customers happy with the results?
  • Do customers say the company is reliable and trustworthy?
  • What do customers say about communication?
  • Are there any trends popping up, good or bad?

 

Let us know how we can answer your questions!

At Cascade Building Services, we offer commercial window cleaning services for businesses of all sizes — from small condo complexes to challenging high-rise buildings.

We believe your windows reflect your company’s image and reputation. Our goal is to maximize the perception of your business and increase employee, customer, and your personal satisfaction through consistently clean, polished windows.

If you’re interested in learning more about our approach or have questions about our services, please let us know at (503) 691-0776. We’d love to provide answers and help you achieve windows you’re proud of.

If you’re ready to get started, request a free quote today!