The people who keep a facility clean are often overlooked—until something goes wrong. A spotless restroom can quietly support a positive guest experience, while a hygiene issue can shape how visitors, customers and employees feel about the entire business. For facility leaders, that makes cleaning more than a behind-the-scenes task. It is a people and business priority.
New Tork research points to a disconnect between what restroom users believe and what they do. More than half (56%) say cleaning is hard work and cleaning teams deserve more recognition. Yet 21% say they intend to thank cleaners when they see them but rarely do.1
Good intentions matter, but recognition must become part of everyday practice if frontline workers are to feel noticed and valued.
At the same time, cleaners are feeling real pressure. 38% of cleaners surveyed say they have left jobs because of lack of recognition and burnout. 70% report inadequate employer support, and 80% say their work has affected their mental health.2 These findings are a reminder that keeping facilities clean depends on the people doing the work, and on whether they have the support, tools and respect to do it well.
The impact reaches beyond the cleaning team. Four in five restroom users surveyed say hygiene issues make them feel worse about an entire business.3 A poor restroom experience can influence how people view a venue and may prompt customers to avoid a business or employees to spend less time at the workplace. Cleanliness is part of the experience people carry with them.
Facility leaders can make a real difference. Ask cleaning teams what gets in their way. Recognize the work in specific, sincere terms. Make sure training and practical resources are accessible. A simple thank-you matters, but it’s only one part of a workplace culture that treats cleaning professionals as skilled contributors to a safe, welcoming environment.
To help turn that commitment into action, Tork partnered with ISSA, the Association for Cleaning and Facility Solutions, to offer Frontline Excellence: Delivering Clean, Safe, and Welcoming Spaces via the Inclusive Hygiene Framework. Designed for frontline cleaning professionals in North America, the online course is self-paced, takes about 30 minutes, and is available in English and Spanish through the ISSA Academy.
The course focuses on practical skills, knowledge and confidence to deliver hygiene services that go beyond appearance and help create spaces that are clean, safe, accessible and welcoming for everyone. ISSA members can take the course free. For a limited time, Tork is covering the cost for non-members too; register with code NMFREE (to access, first create a free account; after checkout, training will appear in your MYISSA account under “My Activity”).
Supporting cleaning professionals is a cornerstone of true inclusive hygiene—ensuring facilities are designed and maintained for everyone, regardless of their needs or abilities. When employers invest in people and professional development, they reinforce the value of the work that keeps spaces ready for business. Training is one practical step. When facility leaders listen to their teams, communicate clearly, and remove barriers to their success, they create workplaces where cleaning professionals feel valued and equipped to thrive.
1. Tork Insight Survey 2026, conducted in US, UK, Germany, France, Mexico, Canada, Australia, Spain, Sweden, Netherlands and Poland among 11,500 from the general public and 1,100 facility managers
2. Tork Insight Survey 2025, conducted in US, UK, Germany, France, Mexico, Canada, Australia, Spain, Sweden, Netherlands and Poland among 11,500 from the general public and 1,000 cleaners.
3. Tork Insight Survey 2026.
