Choosing a company to clean your office or facility is one of the most important operational decisions your organization can make. It is the start of a long-term service relationship that touches employees’ daily working lives. The quality of the cleaning company’s managers matters just as much as the quality of the staff who work on site, whether the company assigns new staff, rehires members of the existing team, or does both. These are the people your employees interact with every day. Their work directly affects cleaning standards, the quality of routine and periodic cleaning, and how employees experience the service in their workplace.

Initial Screening Criteria

1. Cleaning service contractor license. A valid license issued by Israel’s Ministry of Labor.
2. Current insurance coverage. A valid policy covering professional liability, third-party liability, and employers’ liability.
3. Financial stability. The ability to provide a financial guarantee or other form of security to ensure proper service delivery.
4. Payroll software. Software approved by the tax authorities and configured to comply with employment terms and applicable laws in the cleaning industry.
5. Digital time and attendance tracking. A system for recording working hours and providing attendance reports for review.
6. Safety program. A program that includes safety surveys, on-site safety observations, training, and ongoing monitoring.
7. Regional office. A local office where cleaning staff can go in person to ask questions and resolve work-related matters.

Professional Criteria

1. Proven experience. A track record in the areas where your organization operates, with examples of relevant clients.
2. Proven operational infrastructure. A reliable supply chain for cleaning products, paper products, washroom supplies, machinery, and specialized equipment. Look for a practical approach to innovation, including the use of AI in work processes and supervision.
3. Staffing and workforce support. Active recruitment, a human resources and employee welfare team, cleaning staff with a range of specialties, local cleaning supervisors, and regional service managers.
4. Training and mentoring. A formal training program that leads to certification for managers, supported by on-site supervision.
5. Service delivery procedures. Written specifications for daily, weekly, monthly, and other periodic cleaning tasks, individual work plans for cleaning staff, supervision and reporting procedures, and digital tools for documenting work and viewing data online.
6. Voice of the Customer. Customer satisfaction surveys and quarterly business reviews (QBRs) with the client.
7. Legal knowledge and compliance. A thorough understanding of applicable employment laws and industry regulations, reflected in how the company manages its employment practices.

Core Values and Commitments

1. Fair pricing. Pricing that is agreed upon, transparent, and clearly justified. It should enable the cleaning company to meet all its obligations to employees, maintain professional management and operations, respond to labor market conditions, invest in continuous improvement, and earn a reasonable profit. It should also give the client high-quality service at a competitive price over the long term.
2. Sustainability and ESG. Exclusive use of environmentally friendly cleaning products to contribute to efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect the health of both the client’s employees and the cleaning staff.
3. A trusted advisor. A reliable, honest service provider and advisor who respects the way the client operates, remains available, responds promptly when issues arise, and commits the resources needed to keep the client satisfied and provide a positive service experience.
4. Cleaning staff rights. Strict protection of cleaning staff’s employment rights, including safeguarding their retirement benefits.
5. Innovation in cleaning. An ongoing commitment to finding new ways to improve service quality, reduce costs and improve efficiency for the client, and ease the physical demands on cleaning staff.

Questions to Ask Before Signing a Contract

Before signing a cleaning contract, ask the service provider these questions.

• What happens if a member of the cleaning team is absent?
• How do you monitor cleaning quality?
• Who will be our designated point of contact?
• What is included in the service, and what costs extra?
• How do you handle urgent requests or service issues?

The answers will help you understand how the company operates day to day and what level of service you can expect throughout the contract.

What Sets Cleaning Companies Apart?

Many companies appear to offer similar cleaning services, yet there can be significant differences in how they deliver them. The quality of the work, team availability, accountability, supervision, day-to-day service, and legal compliance all affect the results you can expect and the operational and legal risks you may face over time. Reviewing the criteria above can help you make an informed decision and choose a provider that meets your organization’s needs.

Why Choose Tavas? At Tavas, we’ve spent 40 years mastering what we call the science of cleaning. Cleaning is our sole focus, and we’re at the forefront of innovation in the field. With six branches nationwide, we provide a wide range of cleaning services at any scale to a distinguished roster of clients across Israel.