The Office Health Crisis: Why Your Building Could Be Harming Your Employees

By Jaguar Contract Cleaning Services on Feb 13, 2026 10:00:01 AM

TLDR

Poor indoor air quality, inadequate cleaning, and hidden contaminants can contribute to employee illness and absence. Regular, professional office cleaning helps reduce health risks, improve wellbeing, and support a more productive workplace.

If sickness absence feels like it’s becoming the norm rather than the exception, the problem may not be your people - it could be your building.

Introduction

Many modern offices unknowingly contribute to poor employee health through a combination of inadequate ventilation, inconsistent cleaning, and the build-up of dust, bacteria, and airborne contaminants. This is often referred to as ‘sick building syndrome’, and it’s far more common than many employers realise.

For businesses, the impact goes beyond sniffles and sick days. Workplace health directly affects morale, productivity, retention, and long-term performance.

What Is Sick Building Syndrome?

Sick building syndrome describes situations where building occupants experience health symptoms linked to time spent inside a specific building. Common symptoms include headaches, fatigue, respiratory issues, skin irritation, and frequent illness.

Symptoms often improve when individuals leave the building, indicating that environmental factors may be contributing.

Common Causes Of Illness In Office Environments

Workplace illness is rarely caused by a single factor. More often, it results from a combination of issues such as

• Poor ventilation and stale air
• Dust accumulation on surfaces, vents, and furnishings
• Inconsistent cleaning of desks, keyboards, and touchpoints
• Damp, mould, or hidden moisture problems
• High footfall and shared facilities which increases germ spread

Without a structured office cleaning programme, these risks can quietly escalate.

The Hidden Cost Of Poor Office Hygiene

Employee illness carries a significant cost. Increased absence, reduced productivity, and lowered morale all place pressure on teams and business performance.

Beyond the numbers, workplace hygiene affects trust. Employees expect a safe, healthy environment and when that expectation isn’t met, engagement can quickly decline.

How Professional Office Cleaning Helps

Professional office cleaning focuses on more than appearance. A well-planned cleaning regime targets high-touch surfaces, shared equipment, washrooms, and communal areas, helping to reduce the spread of bacteria and viruses.

Regular, consistent cleaning supports healthier air quality and safer workplaces, particularly in busy offices with hot-desking and shared facilities.

At Jaguar Contract Cleaning Services, we see office cleaning as a critical part of workplace wellbeing.

Our office cleaning services are tailored to your building layout, occupancy levels, and operational needs, helping to create cleaner, healthier environments where employees can thrive.

Concerned About Your Office Environment?

If you’re noticing increased sickness absence or want reassurance that your office cleaning standards are supporting employee wellbeing, a professional assessment can help. Request a site visit today to have your workplace reviewed by our team.

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