Occupational Status - Has cleaning become more appealing during the pandemic?

There has certainly been a shift in the perception of cleaners at Westminster, but what effect has it had on the actual cleaners themselves and does this mean it’s cool to be a cleaner now? 

Firstly, a foreword on the virus…

What is this mysterious virus with the number 19 in its title? Well, it’s part of a family; not the kind of family that asks to borrow money or treats you as a taxi driver. The family, as I’m sure you know by now, is the coronavirus family. This group ranges from the common cold to its much more annoying cousins, such as SARS, MERS and, obviously, COVID-19. The COVID-19 strain is new to human beings. 

From what I understand, mutation has been a crucial part in the stealth performance of COVID-19. Apparently, in some cases, it takes around 30 years for human cells to mutate, but it can take a virus as little as a few minutes. So, you won’t be pleased to know that COVID-19 has an alleged high mutation rate. This reminds me of that Alanis Morissette song, Ironic, whereby all the things in the song aren’t ironic at all, but just plain bad luck. In the case of COVID-19, this is just the natural order of things. This is, indeed, life. 

The delightful new addition to the coronavirus family started, we think, in a town called Wuhan in China. I know what you’re thinking - aren’t they the guys who built the only self-made structure visible from space? Yes, you’re right, they’re great people, but they also have one thing in common with the rest of the world; they are human and us humans are great vessels for the coronavirus family. 

The original spread of the virus, however, was still based on luck. Most mutations at this stage are innocuous. The virus had to mutate in a ridiculously specific way in order for it to turn into COVID-19, and then it had to be passed on to a human. 

I can’t really stress enough how low the chances are of that combination of things happening. So, let’s just say we were quite unlucky and to a large extent could have done nothing to prevent the origin of the virus. If we did these genetic mutations would have found a way through eventually just like all the ones that came before it.

When the first few cases came to light, COVID-19, like its brothers and sisters, appeared as a respiratory virus and was confused for the common cold, amongst others. Clearly, if it had spotted at this point we could have contained it. In addition, the virus has an incubation time in the body. This means that whilst it’s spreading and multiplying within us, we don’t know we have the virus and therefore continue to do all the things we normally do whilst being a carrier.

Considering this, by the time the virus had moved through its incubation phase within a large enough sample of people for it to be deemed consistent and significant, imagine how many of those people had travelled to other parts of China and to other countries? Imagine how many had interacted with people who were touring China and then returned to their native country? The answer is obviously unknown but the chances are high considering what we now know. 

I had a conversation with a colleague last week about what causes feelings of anger within us. I argued that it’s a combination of fear and the unknown. So, when we are about to tell someone that this is a “Chinese” virus (and, yes, it is true that it originated in China), just take a second to consider if that is fear or uncertainty talking? In reality, the geographical origin of the virus could be considered irrelevant, although I appreciate that is a whole other argument, because the chances an addition to the coronavirus family are always based on the speed of virus mutation and the ease in which humans pass it on. 

Okay, now for the bit that we could have prevented. When this all kicked off at the start of the year, we were referring to COVID-19 exclusively as the “coronavirus.” This means, at this early stage, we knew it was part of the coronavirus family and therefore could spread as readily as the common cold. However, with this knowledge, most world leaders delayed lockdowns, and the UK delayed longer than most. 

When the first lockdown did eventually occur, it did, of course, temper the spread of the virus. However, given the virus’ incubation period, the time it took to get a test in the UK back then and the time it took for results to be published, we were more than likely still behind the curve at this point. 

At the time that our release from the first lockdown was announced, I said to my partner, “It doesn’t feel like we are ready for this; people are still dying”. At the time, I hadn’t studied the virus and my comments were based on instinct. 

At first, we kind of tiptoed into the darkness, ensuring we didn’t trip. We had table service in pubs, supermarkets were controlling the number of people that could enter, and the general public seemed super conscious about visiting other people and followed the rules closely. However, the rules then seemed to be relaxed more and more, as people just wanted their normal lives back. Hotels began to take in non-essential guests and shopping centres allowed people free rein to mingle.

Later, as infection rates started to rise, masks became compulsory. However, by this point people were growing tired of not being able to act normally, resulting in an immediate rebellion against wearing masks. I have to say, I haven’t always supported the wearing of masks, but my reasons were not based on frustration against the system. I believe that wearing masks can make some people complacent and, in turn, ignore the two underpinning factors that stop the spread of a coronavirus - keeping your distance and washing your hands. In short, a mask, whilst beneficial, should not replace those two things and isn’t a license to do so. Also, whenever my partner or I wear our masks, it frightens our daughter and she cries (although she does continue to cry when I take mine off, so perhaps it’s just my face that’s scary). 

Of course, all of this wasn’t helped by movements against masks mainly linked to ‘freedom.’ That’s right, ‘freedom.’ I don’t want to wear one, so why should I? Solid argument, I know, but in the hope of millions more not dying over the next few years, pop the god damn thing on, will you? 

As a result, COVID-19 started to spread again and local lockdown measures were introduced. Still the virus carried on spreading and people kept on dying (don’t forget the incubation phase means the data is almost always old unless predicted) until eventually we have entered another national lockdown. At this stage those who sought ‘freedom’ against wearing a mask have won! They don’t have to wear one in the comfort of their own home, to which they’re now confined under government order. Not to mention the inevitable impact on our economy and the nation’s mental health. Freedom indeed, but at least you’re not wearing masks. 

Let’s consider if there are any positives to be taken from this mess? Well, my area of focus is obviously facilities management. When looking at change over the last few months, one thing that has been clear to me is the enhancement in the occupational status of Cleaning and Security Operatives.

Indeed, in March 2020, the Leader of the Opposition and the Prime Minister stated in the House of Commons that they would like to thank cleaners for all they had done when the Leader of the Opposition stated “I’d like to pay special mention to one group that are hugely ignored, forgotten and decried as unskilled workers – cleaners. All around the country and in this building, (they) are doing their best to keep our places hygienic and safe. “In his reply, the Prime Minister said: “I agree with him very much about what he said about cleaners, they do an extraordinary job and they deserve all the protection and support we can give them in this difficult time.” 

Other media articles have also begun to recognise the contribution of cleaners in fighting the pandemic. Also, the scale of cleaners needed has risen in some areas to support schools in trying to protect people against COVID-19 which has further highlighted how crucial the function has become. This new appreciation for cleaning offers an interesting opportunity to explore how perceived social recognition may shape cleaners’ own perceptions of their occupational status.

Social recognition and its links to the jobs we do can be defining elements of a persons identity, and some of the occupations that command a lower stature or status point often mean that employees are unhappy in their work and find themselves having to reaffirm the good points of their occupation, thus making it more likely that people will want to move on quicker that other, more social acceptable roles.

My feeling is that it is plausible that cleaners who perceive greater social recognition for their role in the pandemic will rate cleaning as having a higher occupational status and, in turn, will be less inclined to leave the profession.

That said, what I can’t tangibly measure is if that connection has delivered higher employee retention rates. It’s my intention to survey our cleaners and try to establish if there is a link between occupational status and employee retention within our cleaning team. Clearly, a wider study would be more beneficial so if anyone who runs a cleaning business is up for allowing me to send a survey to their cleaning employees that would be amazing. I’m hoping that this study will benefit the industry and allow us to show everyone how the world’s view of cleaners has changed and what it means to them. 

Chris Gibbs