1nergiek
Harriet Butter (56), as senior manager Workplace Management at Schiphol, is among other things responsible for the working environment of Schiphol colleagues, where 1nergiek provides the cleaning services.
She has now been working in a facilities role at the airport for 26 years. The editorial team took a look at what is involved in being active in a facilities capacity in a Schiphol environment.
“At the moment I work within HR and am therefore responsible for the working environment of all Schiphol colleagues. That means around 3,500 permanent employees working at eighteen different locations at Schiphol. At Schiphol itself, more than 71,000 people are active. Besides our own colleagues, these include employees of companies such as cleaning and security companies, but also employees of the military police, retail, hospitality and the airlines.”
With a smile: “I have a job where you never know how each day will go. That remains challenging and fascinating. Working for Schiphol is ‘never a dull moment’. It is also a very pleasant, engaged employer for whom I still enjoy working.”
“The coronavirus period and the period after were tough. It hurt my ‘Schiphol’ heart. Fortunately that period is over and as a company we took the right lessons from it, such as actively steering on the quality of work. We feel responsible for everyone who works under the airport’s ‘roof’. Among other things, they have the right to a high-quality working environment, a livable wage and a roster that also leaves room for a private life.”
“First of all: at Schiphol we have three facilities fields, namely for the passenger, the tenant and Schiphol’s staff. Physically, all three have a different working area. This means different types of contracts and dynamics. The importance of a clean and tidy environment is great for all three target groups. For example, a clean toilet, or being able to easily dispose of your waste, are important matters for all three customer groups. Clean sanitary facilities are, incidentally, in the top three of factors by which a passenger judges an airport.”
“I have another one too: ‘seeing mess means making mess’. But the first is more positive, so I prefer to use that one. 1nergiek plays an important role in keeping things clean. There are many challenges here. 1nergiek cleans the working environment for the ‘Schiphol colleague’. The great thing about this working environment is its diversity; it is not just about offices. At Schiphol, the fire department colleagues, for example, work and ‘live’ there. They stay on for 24 hours, which means that as a cleaner you actually enter their living room. That is also why we think it is right that the fire department together with the cleaner decides what needs to be done that day. We also have various operational buildings. There you will find, for example, the large trucks that clear the runways of snow. That is a rougher environment, but also one with an office and company restaurant.”
“The spaces must of course be properly clean. But I also pay attention to things such as the clothing or the trolley. 1nergiek cleaner Nina was wearing nice clothes. That is how it should be. They do not need to walk around in a three-piece suit, but it is important that they radiate that they are from 1nergiek. Being visible during daytime cleaning is also important. Everyone should know you are there. Fit in with your surroundings and ask whether people can make some space. In short, immerse yourself in the process.”
“Indeed. That is precisely why the cleaning industry must focus on sustainably deploying its people. Let’s look at sustainable employability from that angle. You see enormous ageing taking place in the workforce. And since cleaning is physically demanding, it is very important to innovate in that area. We need to treat our cleaners with care.”
“Vacuuming and standing, bending, stretching and walking all day are heavy tasks. I value modernization in this area with the right tools. You cannot have people work with outdated equipment. Especially when you know there are other options.”
“That is an important quality for a cleaner. Do not clean what is already clean, look at the environment through the user’s eyes and report defects if that helps the user or yourself keep the workplace tidy. For example, a broken waste bin is not pleasant for the user, but certainly not for the cleaner either. It makes the environment dirtier than necessary.”
“We too notice it across the board at Schiphol. There is a shortage. To still bind people to you, it can make a difference to offer an attractive working environment with good conditions. For example, we offer the option of an 8-hour workday and let the cleaners be part of our company. Every year we hold a large-scale facilities celebration, to which the 1nergiek cleaners are also invited. They really enjoyed it; everyone was dancing. That is wonderful to experience, just like an election for ‘Cleaner of the Year’. After all, there is more in life than work alone.”
“It is a hands-on company that is approachable on all fronts. There is also a no-nonsense mentality. I like that.”
“My message for 1nergiek is to especially hold on to its own identity. Definitely do not change that. As a client, you want to have something to choose from in the market for cleaning companies. 1nergiek has a profile all its own in this regard.”
A clean environment starts with people who are engaged, take responsibility and know what is needed. That is how we like to work together. Curious what 1nergiek can mean for your organization?
Work with us?