No hygiene regulations can compete with this

Hygiene is in the spotlight in these covid times. In fact, as far as I am concerned, the subject is finally getting the attention it deserves. The government is constantly calling on people to comply with hygiene regulations. By far the majority of people are more aware of their own hygiene than before. This offers opportunities for businesses, including in the food industry, to involve people in hygiene in their working environment in a positive way.

A company has more opportunities to do this than the government. After all, the group is smaller, you know the employees and they depend on the company for their income. However, creating employee involvement in matters such as hygiene and food safety is no easy task. The whole corporate culture will have to be in line with it. 

Anyone who wants involved employees, engages them in business operations, is sincerely interested in what they do, discusses results, offers training, is open to change and asks for improvements. 

However, how often does it happen that hygiene in the company is an anonymous matter? That the desired behaviour is described somewhere on paper or digital, but little is done with it. In my opinion, this is mainly due to a lack of connection with the company and its management. If employees feel involved and safe, they will ask questions and raise issues that they feel could be better. 

As a service provider I say, in a figurative sense: if an item of clothing is folded with a smile at our premises in Helmond, the customer in Leeuwarden will notice. In my opinion, the best quality control is done by an employee who loves his work and feels responsible for what he delivers. Such a corporate culture and commitment cannot be opposed to any hygiene regulations.

Michel Heerkens

Director Lavans