Cleaning professionals have taken on a critical new role since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Responsibilities extend far beyond cleaning to now include keeping us healthy and safe when we venture outside of our homes. Recent media coverage has noted that, in response, children are sending janitors handmade thank you cards, and a hospital patient even credited his housekeeper with saving his life.
In order to see whether this affinity for cleaning professionals is widespread, GP PRO conducted a short consumer survey. The infographic above highlights the findings.
Michelle Auda, senior director of Insights at GP PRO, says, “Historically, janitors completed their work more or less in the shadows without much notice. Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, however, these hardworking men and women are now front and center, performing tasks that are critical to our wellbeing, battling threats we cannot see, and giving us the peace of mind to resume many of our regular daily activities. It’s encouraging that, as evidenced by our research, more than half of consumers are taking notice, stating that their perception of janitors has increased since the pandemic began. As COVID-19 continues to lead to new behaviors, threats and related emotions, I believe it’s more important than ever to empathize with others, especially our frontline workers, to gain new understanding and appreciation. I anticipate that as we continue to navigate this pandemic, consumer empathy for and perception of janitors, who are critical frontline workers, will grow even more.”