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All workplace environments need to be hygienic and safe for both employees and visitors. A well written Workplace Hygiene Policy is the best way to ensure a clean workplace is maintained.
Here, we've explained exactly what to include in your policy and how to find a free template to make sure it's as effective as possible.
A Workplace Hygiene Policy covers the cleanliness, appearance and habits of appearance. Because hygiene can be a sensitive topic for business owners and HR professionals, having a policy helps ease the awkwardness. The main role of a Workplace Hygiene Policy is to let employees know what is expected of them.
Any workplace should have a Hygiene Policy set up. They are an effective way to set up provisions to protect employees from hazards at work, minimising injuries and illnesses occurring in the workplace.
When a new member of staff is hired, make sure to go over the Workplace Hygiene Policy with them. This document is usually included in the employee handbooks. By highlighting these areas, you can help approach the difficult subject of hygiene with your employee.
An effective Workplace Hygiene Policy should cover hygiene, cleanliness, and appearance. Some of the headers should include:
Employees stand for the company they work for. They are usually who the customers interact with first and who represents the business. This is why employees need to show flawless hygiene.
Here are some of the reasons why an effective Personal Workplace Hygiene Policy can transform a company:
Lawyers usually do not write up a Workplace Hygiene Policy. These types of policies are usually written by HR personnel. If you don't have experience writing these types of documents, use a search engine to find a personal hygiene policy in the workplace example or template.
The key to writing a Workplace Hygiene Policy is to make sure it's clear what is expecting of those reading it. Identify the behaviour and hygiene you want to see, often with examples.
Share these expectations in team meetings or newsletters, and include them in your staff handbook, so that new hires know what is expected of them. Explain the reasons why this is expected of them. Even if it seems obvious to you, make sure to include the negatives that will happen if they don't adhere to the policy.
Try to put up posters around the workplace that help enforce and remind people of the Workplace Hygiene Policy. It's important all these messages are cohesive.
If you are unsure how to construct a document like a Personal Workplace Hygiene Policy, a template can be a great way to get an idea on what to include. Here is a selection of websites that allow you to view or download a Workplace Hygiene Policy for free.
Can an employee be fired for bad personal hygiene?
Yes, an employee can be dismissed for having poor personal hygiene. It's important that an employer makes this dismissal not too harsh or unreasonable. The hygiene issue has to be so bad it disrupts the workplace, their job and your company as a whole.
What do I do if an employer has bad personal hygiene?
This is an awkward conversation for all parties. The person will probably feel deeply embarrassed so approach the topic with caution. Here are some tips with resolving the situation:
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