Learn how to communicate, delegate, monitor, recognize, train, and care for your environmental services team, and help them balance their workload and well-being.

You are not able to understand the employee's workload except you monitor how that employee is faring with his or her work and this leads you to work towards adjustment where necessary. But what we see in most workplaces is that Managers and Supervisors have no time to monitor if employees are struggling or not, all they want is the result and productivity. We seem to forget that we can only profit optimally as an organisation when we have safe and healthy employees. Workload and overwork are the new workplace influencers of mental health burden and poor health outcomes at retirement. We need to rethink workplace management systems & approaches, things have grossly changed in the past two decades, we need to change alongside as Managers.

How can you help your team balance their workload?

As an environmental services (ES) manager, you know how important it is to keep your facility clean and safe for patients, staff, and visitors. But you also know how challenging it can be to manage the workload of your team, especially when there are unexpected changes, emergencies, or staff shortages. How can you help your team balance their workload and prevent burnout, stress, and low morale? Here are some tips to consider.

1 Communicate clearly and frequently

One of the key factors that affect your team's workload is communication. You need to communicate with your team members regularly, both individually and collectively, to inform them of their tasks, priorities, deadlines, and expectations. You also need to communicate with other departments, such as nursing, infection control, and maintenance, to coordinate your services and avoid duplication or confusion. Use multiple channels of communication, such as meetings, emails, phone calls, and checklists, and encourage feedback and questions from your team.

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Nisha Chellam M.D.

Functional Medical Physician @ Parsley Health |Using data and science to resolve metabolic, autoimmune, and gut issues.
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I find workload is a "load" when the mission is not clear. Once people have clarity of what they should do and the outcome the company needs- it's best to support the creative process in delivering the results. If someone is not able to deliver or consistently falls behind it usually is the wrong work for the wrong skill So communicate with clarity- goals, results, and processes based on regulations. Then give and get feedback.

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2 Delegate and empower

Another way to help your team balance their workload is to delegate and empower them. Delegation means assigning tasks to the most suitable and qualified team members, based on their skills, experience, and availability. Empowerment means giving them the authority, resources, and support they need to complete their tasks independently and effectively. Delegation and empowerment can help you distribute the workload more evenly, reduce your own stress, and increase your team's motivation, confidence, and ownership.

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3 Monitor and adjust

A third tip to help your team balance their workload is to monitor and adjust. Monitoring means tracking the progress and performance of your team members, using indicators such as quality, efficiency, safety, and satisfaction. Adjusting means making changes to the workload, schedule, or resources, based on the feedback and data you collect. Monitoring and adjusting can help you identify and address any issues, gaps, or opportunities that may arise, and ensure that your team meets the standards and goals of your facility.

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Dr. Ehi Iden rcsi

CEO at OHSM l Doctoral Fellow l Workplace Mental Health l Employees Wellbeing l Food Safety l Patient Safety I Healthy Retirement Consultant l Board Member, WHWB, OHRD, PSMF & President, OSHAfrica
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You are not able to understand the employee's workload except you monitor how that employee is faring with his or her work and this leads you to work towards adjustment where necessary. But what we see in most workplaces is that Managers and Supervisors have no time to monitor if employees are struggling or not, all they want is the result and productivity. We seem to forget that we can only profit optimally as an organisation when we have safe and healthy employees. Workload and overwork are the new workplace influencers of mental health burden and poor health outcomes at retirement. We need to rethink workplace management systems & approaches, things have grossly changed in the past two decades, we need to change alongside as Managers.

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4 Recognize and reward

A fourth tip to help your team balance their workload is to recognize and reward them. Recognition means acknowledging and appreciating the efforts and achievements of your team members, both individually and collectively, in a timely and sincere manner. Reward means offering them incentives and benefits that match their needs and preferences, such as bonuses, promotions, training, or flexible hours. Recognition and reward can help you boost your team's morale, loyalty, and retention, and foster a positive and productive work environment.

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5 Train and develop

A fifth tip to help your team balance their workload is to train and develop them. Training means providing them with the knowledge, skills, and tools they need to perform their tasks efficiently and effectively. Development means offering them opportunities to learn new skills, take on new challenges, or advance their careers. Training and development can help you improve your team's competence, quality, and innovation, and prepare them for future changes and demands.

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6 Care and support

A sixth and final tip to help your team balance their workload is to care and support them. Caring means showing them that you value them as people, not just as workers, and that you respect their well-being, diversity, and dignity. Supporting means listening to their concerns, challenges, and suggestions, and providing them with the assistance, guidance, and feedback they need. Caring and supporting can help you build trust, rapport, and collaboration with your team, and reduce the risk of stress, burnout, and turnover.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Maya Taleb

Hospital & Health Care Professional, MED, BSN.
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Encourage open communication about workloads, prioritize tasks collaboratively, and consider team members’ strengths when assigning responsibilities. Regular check-ins can help identify potential issues and allow for adjustments as needed.

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How can you help your team balance their workload?

1

2

3

4

5

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7

1 Communicate clearly and frequently

2 Delegate and empower

3 Monitor and adjust

4 Recognize and reward

5 Train and develop

6 Care and support

7 Here’s what else to consider

Environmental Services

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How can you help your team balance their workload?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Communicate clearly and frequently

2 Delegate and empower

3 Monitor and adjust

4 Recognize and reward

5 Train and develop

6 Care and support

7 Here’s what else to consider

Environmental Services

Rate this article

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