The office slob. The girl with the messy desk. The guy whose desk is littered with takeaway coffee cups. The old timer who hasn’t updated his corporate wardrobe since ‘79. We’ve all worked with people like this, and without a doubt, they can really drag the tone of the office down. So how do you deal with the office slob? Check out these tips for cleaning up your workplace today.

Start With A Clean Slate

Sometimes, an office slob is simply a product of the office environment. Look at your office honestly – is it conducive to cleanliness? Sometimes your office will need a good ‘once over’ and a plan for ongoing cleaning – but who wants to spend their time doing that? Call in experts like AMC Cleaning to improve the overall cleanliness of your office. You might be amazed at how quickly the office slob turns into the enforcer of cleanliness!

Focus On Workplace Impacts

Without a doubt, the presentation of the office (and your employees) can have an impact on performance. As they say ‘a rising tide lifts all boats’. In your regular performance meetings, you can discuss personal presentation, workplace appearance and OH&S impacts of slob-like appearance and behaviour on peers, customers and management.

Take Time To Chat

Sadly, the office slob might have some underlying issues that are causing their behaviour. It could be a problem at home, an insecurity or a lack of personal insight. Whilst you’re not expected to be a psychologist, you might pick up on some cues that things aren’t ok. Talk to HR if you have concerns about any of your co-workers and their mental, emotional or physical health. HR have significant resources to help employees get the assistance and support that they need.

Performance Management

No one likes to use a stick, but sometimes you’re just going to have to take the ‘performance management’ route when addressing the office slob. Of course, you may need to seek support from HR, but if you have an employee whose attire, workspace and generalised attitude is far too slob-like, then it’s an issue that can infect the whole office. You may need to address this situation as a performance issue, discussing clear expectations for your employee to smarten up or reconsider their employ in your organisation.

Rip It Like A Band-Aid

Nothing freaks out messy people more than the threat of you taking ownership of a situation and cleaning up their mess, in front of everyone. Confronting? You’d better believe it! Send them an email, simply stating that they’ve got until close of business to have a clean desk, clean coffee cup and organised email in-tray or you’ll be at their desk first thing the next morning with a plastic bag, ready to slide everything messy into the rubbish! Sometimes fear and shame are great behaviour change motivators!

Have you had to deal with an ‘office slob’? How did you deal with the situation? What was the result? Have you found these tips helpful? Share your ideas in the comments below.