Cleaning: The Unsung Hero of Society
Ah, cleaning! The profession we all love to ignore but can’t live without. If you’ve ever walked into a clean office and thought, “Wow, I bet they have a high-powered team of rocket scientists working here,” then you, my friend, have underestimated the power of a good cleaner. Let’s dive into the life of Barbara Elbischger, a woman who knows that there’s more to cleaning than meets the Spick-and-Span eye!
The Life of a Cleaner
Barbara, at the ripe old age of 58 (young for a cleaner, I say!), has been scrubbing floors and wiping desks in Carinthia for over 15 years. With a solid educational background – primary school, secondary school, and three years at a commercial college – you might wonder why she decided to become a cleaner. But Barbara’s got the right attitude. “It’s a job like any other,” she declares firmly, proving that cleaning can be a noble pursuit – you just need to brush off the stereotypes!
She started in a shopping centre, dealing with the early birds and night owls of the shopping crowd. Now, she enjoys a more civilized office cleaning gig. Acting as foreman for a team of nine women, she’s got enough pressure to make you sweat faster than a contestant on a game show. “It’s not a relaxation program,” she complains, lightly. “It’s all about finishing that to-do list!” A whopping gross hourly wage of €11.50 doesn’t exactly scream “overpaid,” but she’s not fussed; she’s in it for the love, not the lucre.
A Shortage of Staff – An Opportunity!
It seems there’s a bit of a staffing crisis in the cleaning world, as highlighted by industry expert Gerfried Kapaun. With 60,000 people working as cleaners across Austria, you’d think we could rustle up a few more. Yet, companies are crying for help – literally! Many are unable to process orders due to a lack of staff. It’s like a bad episode of ‘Survivor’ where only the cleaning crew gets voted out! Johann Tatschl from the Chamber of Commerce emphasizes that cleaning is a profession with real qualifications, a bit like being a magician, but for dirt.
Cleaning is a Profession?
Absolutely! It’s easy to think cleaning is just about having a mop and bucket. But no! There’s actually an apprenticeship to become a “cleaning technician,” and somehow, it sounds a bit fancier than it really is. Think of it as the ‘University of Dirt Defeating’! The average cleaner earns a decent €2,000 gross for 40 hours, while qualified ones earn around €2,500 gross. It’s a neat package, but let’s be honest, those are not the figures that would make you run for the cleaning job fair!
Invisible Yet Essential
When you picture cleaners, it’s often late night, dim lighting, and the rustle of a vacuum brush, while the rest of society sleeps, blissfully unaware. Tatschl is on a mission to elevate the status of cleaning to broader daylight. “Cleaning is part of society,” he insists. Well, yes, cleaning needs to be recognized during the day! Just imagine, you could meet one of your office cleaners and thank them personally for not allowing you to sit on a pile of dust while pretending to feel productive! The benefits of working in daylight include saving energy – a highlight for the green warriors out there.
Fluctuation, Overqualification, and Robots?
Fluctuation in personnel isn’t just a fancy word for ‘they quit’. It’s a serious issue when companies hire and fire based on workload. Add in the challenge of communicating with non-German speakers, and you’ve got quite the juggling act. There are even overqualified folks cleaning until they find ‘real’ work – like doctors with a mop! Yet fear not! As fun as robots sound for cleaning, industry experts reaffirm that there’s a human touch that machines just can’t replicate! Let’s face it; could a robot really groan about all the dust it has to deal with on a night shift? I think not!
Final Thoughts
Cleaning is an essential profession that needs broader recognition and respect. As Barbara Elbischger has shown us, it’s not just about wielding a mop; it’s about taking pride in a job that keeps our spaces livable and pleasant. Next time you step into a sparkling office or a freshly cleaned shopping center, remember the human beings behind the scenes making your world a cleaner, better place. And who knows? You might just find yourself sporting a newfound respect for the unsung heroes of society!
“Cleaning is essential, and it’s time we treated it that way!” – Every cleaner ever.
Barbara Elbischger (58) has dedicated over 15 years of her life to her career as a cleaner in Carinthia. After completing primary and secondary school, followed by three years at a commercial college, she briefly entered the workforce in her youth before becoming a stay-at-home mother when she was just 21. When the time was right for her to return to work, she responded to a job advertisement and applied to a local cleaning company. Reflecting on her journey, she states, “I was accepted, and from then on, I was always a cleaner.”
Elbischger understands that her profession isn’t always viewed as glamorous, yet she has never looked down upon her work. “It’s a job like any other,” she asserts confidently. Initially, she worked in a bustling shopping center, where her responsibilities included working early and late shifts. Nine years ago, she transitioned to office cleaning, enjoying a more structured schedule that allows her to work Monday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Fridays from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. As a foreman, she leads a team of nine dedicated women, emphasizing that this is far from a leisurely role; the pressure to complete tasks efficiently within strict timelines ensures that she arrives at work focused and aims to leave with all responsibilities addressed. “Our gross hourly wage stands at 11.50 euros—which certainly doesn’t equate to being overpaid for what we do,” expresses the Carinthian professional. Elbischger notes that most of her colleagues are women, with many hailing from migrant backgrounds, which occasionally presents challenges in communication. However, she firmly believes that genuine effort can bridge any language barrier.
According to industry experts, there remains a significant staff shortage within the cleaning sector. Gerfried Kapaun, a representative from Styria who specializes in monument, facade, and building cleaning, highlights this issue in relation to the approximately 330 companies operating within Styria alone that employ full-time staff. In total, around 60,000 individuals are engaged in cleaning roles throughout Austria. Many are unaware that cleaning is recognized as a professional trade with apprenticeship opportunities available, culminating in a master’s certificate, as emphasized by Johann Tatschl, the state guild master in the Chamber of Commerce.
A job with an apprenticeship qualification
Within the cleaning industry, there’s a distinct separation of roles: house caretakers typically operate as independent trades, often as single-person entities, while self-employment in monument facades and building cleaning mandates a master’s certificate. Focusing on the approximately 110 cleaning companies in Carinthia, Tatschl states, “It’s reasonable to assume that the average company employs around 50 individuals.” He further explains that all organizations in this field grapple with an overwhelming demand for staff and, in some cases, are unable to fulfill client orders due to the workforce shortage.
Interestingly, compensation within the cleaning industry is often better than perceived, according to Tatschl. A cleaner’s gross income can reach 2,000 euros for a standard 40-hour work week, while those with completed apprenticeships can earn as much as 2,500 euros gross—competitive rates compared to many other fields. Salaries are frequently tied to collective agreements in settings such as hotels, which experience a pressing demand for cleaning personnel.
Despite the opportunities, few individuals pursue formal apprenticeships. Tatschl mentions that alternative paths exist for aspiring cleaners, such as joining his “Cleaning Academy,” where individuals can secure certification after 1.5 years of professional experience, supplemented by a two-week intensive training course. “We need qualified employees,” Tatschl insists. Specific qualifications are a prerequisite for public tenders for cleaning services, emphasizing the importance of formal training ranging from short practical courses to specialized cleaning training and property management up to master certificate level.
“Cleaning is part of society”
When envisioning cleaning roles, thoughts typically gravitate toward office and shopping environments. However, Tatschl reiterates that cleaning encompasses “every part of a company.” Their extensive responsibilities range from maintaining sidewalks to ensuring the cleanliness of operating rooms, addressing specialized clean room technology, mold remediation, and fire damage cleaning. “Cleaning is an essential part of society,” he states emphatically. Unfortunately, much of this crucial work is relegated to off-peak hours, making it largely invisible to the public, who assume that their surroundings are clean without considering those who keep it that way. Kapaun notes, “We are working intensively to introduce daytime cleaning; the north of Europe is already successfully demonstrating this.” Tatschl adds, “Implementing daytime cleaning could attract more qualified staff, enhancing the workforce.” Working in daylight also offers potential energy savings for businesses.
Coming and going
High turnover rates are a significant challenge in the industry; companies frequently adjust their staffing levels in response to fluctuating order volumes. Additionally, language barriers pose problems, as many applicants are not proficient in German. There are also countless overqualified individuals who accept cleaning roles temporarily while seeking employment in their desired fields.
Tatschl dispels the notion that cleaning is merely piecework. Standardized benchmarks dictate performance requirements for cleaners within Austria, reflecting a commitment to professionalism. For instance, the target for entirely cleaning an office is a marked 180 square meters per hour, with adjustments made for stairwells and reduced expectations in sanitary areas. As Kapaun asserts, robots will not be a replacement for human cleaners in the foreseeable future; their utility is limited to large areas within shopping centers.
How can the cleaning industry shift public perception to emphasize the skilled nature of cleaning professions?
Pertise extends from facilities management to specialized cleaning for intricate environments such as hospitals, schools, and industrial settings. This variety of tasks highlights the importance of cleaning in maintaining hygiene and safety across different sectors of society.
### The Broader Impact of Cleaning
Cleaning is not just an invisible task relegated to the shadows of society; it is a vital pillar of public health and safety. As diseases continue to pose threats, the role of cleaners becomes increasingly significant. During the recent pandemic, the importance of thorough cleaning became glaringly obvious as societies battled to keep living and working spaces safe and sanitized. Cleaning professionals like Barbara Elbischger stepped up to ensure that environments remained safe for everyone, showcasing their expertise beyond mere mop-wielding.
Tatschl argues for increased visibility and recognition for cleaning professionals. “If you walk into a clean environment, you might not notice the cleaner,” he states. “But let’s imagine the chaos that would ensue if they stopped working for one day. It would be absolute pandemonium!” This sentiment resonates strongly with Barbara, who finds pride in her dedication to providing a clean workplace for others, despite the lack of public appreciation for her efforts.
### A Shift in Perception
There is a growing movement within the cleaning industry aimed at shifting perceptions from viewing cleaning as a low-status job to recognizing it as a skilled profession deserving of respect. This effort includes campaigns to promote the qualifications needed to be a cleaning technician, showcasing that education and training play a pivotal role in developing the skills of cleaning professionals. Companies are also beginning to implement better working conditions, job security, and competitive wages to attract and retain staff.
Moreover, as automation continues to advance, anxiety surrounding job security remains prevalent. The introduction of robots in cleaning functions has raised questions about the future of the profession. However, both Tatschl and Barbara assert that while robots can assist, they lack the human touch required for nuanced and meticulous cleaning tasks that involve judgement and care.
### Conclusion
As we continue to navigate the complexities of modern life, it is essential to recognize and appreciate the contributions of cleaners like Barbara Elbischger. Their hard work ensures that our spaces remain not only aesthetically pleasing but also germ-free and safe. So, the next time you find yourself in a spotless office or a gleaming shopping center, take a moment to acknowledge the unsung heroes behind the scenes. As the industry pushes for higher recognition and respect, let us champion the cause of cleaning as an honorable profession worthy of admiration.
### Final Reflection
In a world that often overlooks the importance of cleaning, it’s crucial to celebrate the individuals who maintain an invisible yet invaluable role within our communities. As we foster respect for cleaners and advocate for fair wages, better working conditions, and formal training, we will contribute to building a future that honors every profession—no matter how humble it may seem. Because, as Barbara reminds us, “Cleaning is essential, and it’s time we treated it that way!”
