It is essential to the success of a business that a law or accounting office be clean and well-organized. This profession deals with a large amount of paperwork. One misplaced document could mean the difference between productivity and inefficiency.
Cleaning a law or accounting office is a little bit different. Here are some tips for making the task easier and more systematic.
Clean Desk Policy
No matter what industry or type of business you are in, maintaining a clean office starts with having an orderly desk. For law and accounting firms, it is important to keep desks clear of stray documents.
Keep in mind that many legal and financial documents can be confidential. Leaving them around can be bad for business. Inadvertently, guests and cleaning staff could catch a glimpse of certain details which should remain private.
It is best to maintain a tidy desk at all times. Do not allow documents related to work to be kept in areas that are easily accessible. Lock up any items you need to stay extra secure. Computers need to be password-protected and have biometric signatures. They should also be shut down when the day is over.
Be stricter with this rule if there is a scheduled cleaning.
Reliable Cleaning Companies
There is no real difference in cleaning between a law office or an accounting office and any other place of business. Cleaning floors, carpets, windows, toilets, and other areas of business is still necessary.
It is important to choose the right cleaning company. You need to hire people who adhere to strict safety and security protocols. For your peace of mind, find office cleaners who are police-vetted, have ID badges, and wear official uniforms.
Commercial cleaners are responsible for the safety of all office documents.
Recycle old documents responsibly.
When you hire commercial cleaning services, they usually take care of trash separation and disposal. It’s best to shred official documents yourself, even if your cleaner has excellent credentials and an impressive track record. This will reduce the chances of confidential information being leaked.
Sort documents you don’t want to shred. Sorting items properly is appreciated by most recyclers. You may find the following types of paper in your accounting or law office besides shredded ledger papers:
White Paper
The paper is either uncoated or uncoated soft white and includes envelopes.
Office Paper
Office paper is a mix of paper that contains 60% newspaper or magazine and 20% white or lightly colored paper. Office paper also includes envelopes, writing pads, and other forms of paper.
Mixed Paper
Mixed paper can be a broad term, but it is usually post-consumer material from offices, schools, and printing firms.
Most of this paper will be recycled to make cards, magazines, newspapers, and other products.
Include the whole team. The entire team must be involved in keeping a law office or accounting firm clean and organized. You’re still dealing with a lot of paperwork. Even if a few people are not diligent in managing their files and desks, the situation can quickly spiral out of control.
Encourage your team to adopt a clean-up culture so that everyone can do their job more easily. It is important to apply this not only in the main areas of business but to every part of the office.
Reduce Paper Usage
As mentioned previously, people in the accounting and legal professions are required to deal with a large number of files, forms, and other types of documents. This does not mean that all documents must be printed. Printing is sometimes necessary, but not always.
Many technological solutions can reduce the need for paper. Billing software, case file manager, and file-sharing software are all examples. Also, some applications allow for electronic depositions.
You can save time and money by reducing your paper consumption. This also improves storage efficiency, and more importantly, it reduces your carbon footprint.
Prepare a Cleaning Checklist
A cleaning checklist will make cleaning your accounting or legal office so much easier. It is useful for your staff and cleaning staff alike, especially when certain areas need special attention. Legal offices, for example, receive a large number of calls. The telephone receivers need to be cleaned more thoroughly.
It is best to give specific instructions in writing. Although it is more effective to explain them in person, a list can prevent confusion. Notify the cleaning company if you do not want certain furniture moved or if any gadgets or appliances need special cleaning.
In the end, keeping an accounting or legal office clean is beneficial to both your business and clients. A clean office will allow you to work more efficiently and ensure confidentiality. It will also protect the reputation of your business.