Claudia St. John Talks Employee Retention Trends in Video Interview

Employee retention remains one of the biggest challenges facing facility cleaning managers, consistently ranking among their top workforce concerns in Facility Cleaning Decisions' Management Studies. In this exclusive interview, Claudia St. John, Founder and CEO of The Workplace Advisors, explores why turnover persists in the cleaning industry and why the issue extends far beyond employee appreciation. She discusses the realities of frontline cleaning work, the impact of isolation from the broader organization, and why many employees view cleaning positions as a means to supplement their income rather than a long-term career.

St. John also examines how the rise of the gig economy intersects with today's labor market and explains why gig work isn't necessarily pulling workers away from commercial cleaning. Throughout the conversation, she shares practical strategies for creating stronger workplace connections, fostering a sense of community, and building a culture of recognition that can improve employee retention for both commercial cleaning companies and in-house facility cleaning operations.

The full interview can be read here.

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posted on 7/15/2026