LATEST: GERMANY
LATEST: UK
General mood less positive
Skills make for a sustainable future
ECJ’s Katja Scholz in Germany tells us about the autumn survey of the contract cleaning sector.
In the UK, Lynn Webster reports from an event focusing on business responsibilities in key areas.
Hot off the press, the Federal Association of Contract Cleaners (BIV) presented the results of its current autumn business survey in October, showing the overall mood in the sector along with market forecasts and sales expectations. This survey focused on the initial impact on companies of the ‘Citizen’s Income’ and the non-existent efforts of the federal government to reduce red tape. In spring the survey was still dominated by the war in Ukraine, but discussions surrounding the four-day week and greater trust in politicians encouraged a more optimistic mood in the sector – in contrast to the previous autumn, when the economic consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the global materials and supply chain bottlenecks resulting from the pandemic and the effects of price inflation took centre stage. And this autumn? The mood in the contract cleaning trade has darkened, compared with this spring. Barely a quarter of the companies surveyed - 24.7 per cent compared to 40.5 per cent in spring - have positive business expectations for the current year, barely half see their business situation as unchanged and a further quarter view expectations for the coming year as more mixed or even negative.
With so much media traffic and business responsibilities around the economy, climate change and ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) specifically, these were the theme of the recent Cleaning & Support Services Association (CSSA) autumn members event. We were fortunate to have some eminent speakers; firstly on the UK Economy, including consideration of the UK’s unique circumstances; Brexit (of course) putting the brakes on investment; having five Prime Ministers in the last seven years with such political instability leading to the destruction of investment initiatives; a permanent shortage of labour resources exacerbated by an aging population retiring early (especially post pandemic); individuals unable to work whilst awaiting treatment; chronic underinvestment and an overall diminishing brand value. Then Rob Holdway, an environmental consultant and MD of Giraffe Innovation, focused on sustainability and the impact this has, has had and will have on the cleaning industry. Consideration was given to not what this means to so many different people but the benefits of what it does; what it can bring in terms of technology, cultural, social and ethical aspects. Holdway provided a useful summary of where the cleaning industry may be, with his research highlighting where many organisations are undertaking positive initiatives including carbon footprint commitments, plans and reports - although perhaps these can lack details and transparency of supporting data. Food for thought continued with details of the rising sea
Impact of the Citizen’s Income On the companies’ rating scale of 1 to 10 (where 1 = no concern and 10 = great concern), the resulting score of 8.8 shows quite clearly the employers’ concern that the Citizen’s Income is increasingly competing with waged employment. Many are already noticing the initial effects of the increase in Citizen’s Income announced for January 2024. Of these, 28.4 per cent state several employees have already handed in their notice or intend to, citing specifiD’Allemagne, Katja Scholz apporte des nouvelles d’une humeur moins positive dans le secteur du nettoyage.
cally the Citizen’s Income as the reason, while individual cases of this are occurring among a further 40 per cent at present. “The fact that the new Citizen’s Income should exacerbate workforce shortages among seven out of 10 companies in the sector with the largest number of employees in Germany should immediately set alarm bells ringing for the politicians,” says BIV master Thomas Dietrich, in response to these figures. “The balance between challenge and support as well as between social equity and incentive to work must be constantly kept in mind by the politicians – otherwise, a dangerous development threatens the labour market, the economy and the overall performance of our businesses.”
Failure to cut red tape The aim of the present government in Germany is to cut red tape. They would like to bring about a turnaround to counteract the bureaucratic burn-out suffered by many companies and to advance the process of digitalisation. Although the government is at present working on draft legislation to this end, the burden of red tape has not yet been reduced but has in fact even increased during Covid and the Ukraine war. This is exactly how companies in the contract cleaning sector view the present situation: on a scale of 1 = no progress to 10 = great progress, the average rating stands at a very low 1.8. Along with the generally gloomy mood, business expectations for the coming year remain very mixed. Fewer than 30 per cent have a positive view of next year, while 32.5 per cent actually have negative business expectations. It is to be hoped that the mood in the contract cleaning sector as a whole takes a turn for the better in the coming months.
Aus Deutschland bringt Katja Scholz Nachrichten über eine weniger positive Stimmung in der Reinigungsbranche.
12 | November 2023 | ECJ
Dalla Germania Katja Scholz porta notizie di uno stato d’animo meno positivo nel settore delle pulizie.
Au Royaume-Uni, Lynn Webster fait rapport sur une manifestation professionnelle qui était consacrée à des questions économiques et climatiques ainsi qu’à des objectifs environnementaux, sociaux et de gouvernance.
levels; shocking data about the microplastics in the ecosystem (10,000 per litre at the Arctic, 14 million tonnes accumulated on the ocean floor with an increase of 200,000 to 500,000 tonnes each year) with consideration of the impact of deforestation and eutrophication. Socially there are some great statements - some valuable commentary on aspects of fair pay, charity engagement and training (but are they clearly making an impact?); engaging with the practicalities of conservation and management of resources, staff wellbeing and keeping employees safe. Issues related to air quality was an uppermost topic. Around 90 per cent of city dwellers in Europe are exposed to pollution at concentrations higher than that deemed harmful to health. Fine particulate matter in air has been estimated to reduce the life expectancy in the EU. Photochemical ‘smog’ is caused by the emissions of nitrogen oxide and volatile organic substances that generate round level ozone in the presence of sunlight. Other air pollutants include dust particles and sulphur dioxide. Smog and air pollution subsequently increase incidents of asthma and other respiratory and cardiovascular related health conditions. What does all this mean to our cleaning sector leadership and the skills in place for a sustainable future? We each do what we do. We do what we can for the benefit and sustainable efficiency of our business. This aligned to our purpose, reviewing the evidence and with each of our own idiosyncrasies provide a coherent strategy for the future.
Lynn Webster aus Großbritannien berichtet von einer Branchenveranstaltung, die sich mit Geschäftsverantwortung rund um Wirtschaft, Klima und ESG-Ziele befasst.
Dal Regno Unito, la corrispondente Lynn Webster ci parla di un evento del settore che si concentra sulle responsabilità aziendali verso l’economia, il clima e gli obiettivi ESG.
