Happi Staff07.18.20
In the Age of COVID-19, the dirtiest of secrets was uncovered today by The New York Times. Janitors say they are ill-prepared to tackle critical cleaning issues as coronavirus spreads throughout the US. In the article, custodial staff said they forced to purchase their own supplies, used dirty rags to clean surfaces and were not told if a co-worker tested positive for COVID-19.
The revelations come as many travel and hospitality companies tout the in-depth cleaning procedures they have put in place to reassure customers, even as cases of coronavirus surge in many parts of the country, and custodial staff falls ill across the US, from Los Angeles to Texas to Mississippi, according to The New York Times.
Furthermore, workers complained that they lack the time and the training to do the job right. For its part, ISSA, an association dedicated to the professional cleaning industry, has introduced several programs designed to elevate cleaning procedures and the cleaning profession.
Still, the article details the plight of many workers, including Martha Lorena Cortez Estrada who, while working at a Miami office tower, was forced to bring her own Clorox and make her own masks.
"Our brooms were worn out; we were mopping with just water and no disinfectant," Ms. Cortez, 58, told The Times.
Moreover, as the US tries to open up, customers can never be sure how often a surface is cleaned or disinfected. Recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are general, according to critics. Meanwhile, OSHA is investigating only a small fraction of virus-related complaints, according to a spokesperson. And in a survey of flight attendants, only 44% said their planes were thoroughly cleaned and disinfected between flights during the day.
Still, custodians have more bargaining power than ever before, with better hours, higher pay and in some cases, more respect. Walt Disney Co. rehired all 2,500 of its full-time janitors in Florida and provided iPhones to staff so that they can quietly report guests without masks.
Furthermore, workers complained that they lack the time and the training to do the job right. For its part, ISSA, an association dedicated to the professional cleaning industry, has introduced several programs designed to elevate cleaning procedures and the cleaning profession.
Still, the article details the plight of many workers, including Martha Lorena Cortez Estrada who, while working at a Miami office tower, was forced to bring her own Clorox and make her own masks.
"Our brooms were worn out; we were mopping with just water and no disinfectant," Ms. Cortez, 58, told The Times.
Moreover, as the US tries to open up, customers can never be sure how often a surface is cleaned or disinfected. Recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are general, according to critics. Meanwhile, OSHA is investigating only a small fraction of virus-related complaints, according to a spokesperson. And in a survey of flight attendants, only 44% said their planes were thoroughly cleaned and disinfected between flights during the day.
Still, custodians have more bargaining power than ever before, with better hours, higher pay and in some cases, more respect. Walt Disney Co. rehired all 2,500 of its full-time janitors in Florida and provided iPhones to staff so that they can quietly report guests without masks.
