A white automatic soap dispenser mounted on a wall, with a clear window to view the soap level. The background is a neutral color, emphasizing the dispenser's design.


GP PRO, a division of Georgia-Pacific, announced the findings of its Annual Maintainer Mindset Survey, an ongoing benchmark study evaluating the mindsets, work habits, and operational realities of commercial facility cleaning and maintenance workers. Building on foundational research reported last year, the 2026 Maintainer Mindset Survey identified operational friction that strains workloads and job satisfaction, as well as the growing importance of smart dispensers designed to boost productivity, efficiency, and job satisfaction.

GP PRO’s 2026 Maintainer Mindset Survey reveals where frontline teams lose time and efficiency, and how smart dispensers help close the gap.

"The findings of this year's Maintainer Mindset Survey continue to dispel long-held misconceptions, including the belief that maintainers are a transient, tech-averse workforce," says Michelle Auda, Senior Director, Insights and Knowledge, Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products, LLC. "Our research reveals that these hard-working professionals see themselves as critical operational partners who are eager to embrace new tools that not only help make their jobs easier but also empower them to better support the people and facilities they care for."

Of those polled, 81 percent expect to remain in their jobs long term, with 49 percent planning to stay at the same level, and 32 percent seeing a pathway into management. Time in the role aligns with age, with 62 percent to 65 percent of participants over 35 reporting more than a decade of tenure. Job satisfaction also correlates with age: 83 percent of 45- to 54-year-olds report being "very satisfied," while only 23 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds share that sentiment. Nearly half of all participants (47 percent), however, cite better tools and supplies as key to improving job satisfaction and reducing turnover, ranking them as important as adequate staffing.

Operational Priorities

The 2026 Maintainer Mindset Survey also highlights growing operational friction, exacerbated by increasing foot traffic, labor shortages, and unsustainable workloads. The survey reveals that 37 percent of respondents describe their daily workload as either "too much" or "entirely too much" to manage. Routine, manual processes compound this burden and consume valuable time. An overwhelming 84 percent of frontline teams report conducting unnecessary dispenser checks at least daily—walking into public restrooms to manually inspect paper towel, bath tissue, and soap dispensers only to find them completely or adequately full.

When asked which inventory and refilling tasks they wish were easier and faster, participants cited the following: checking dispenser supply levels (40 percent), refilling soap and hand sanitizer dispensers (36 percent), refilling paper towel dispensers (29 percent), and refilling bath tissue dispensers (26 percent). Unproductive checks across large-scale facilities create unnecessary physical fatigue and take time from deep-cleaning tasks.

Contrary to long-standing assumptions that frontline cleaning workers resist digital adoption, the 2026 survey reveals a workforce actively seeking smart technology to bring order and predictability to their shifts. Nearly six in 10 respondents (58 percent) feel happy, and nearly half (48 percent) feel excited about using new facility equipment.

Among those polled, 59 percent of those surveyed expect a real-time supply application to cut unnecessary footsteps, reduce physical fatigue, and help them stay ahead of patron complaints. While compensation remains the top reason for switching employers, access to better tools and equipment is the second most important criterion.

Smart Systems

In an industry marked by labor constraints, the 2026 Maintainer Mindset Survey shows a direct link between equipment design, worker satisfaction, and employee retention. An overwhelming 78 percent of respondents report that simplified restocking tasks directly boost their job satisfaction—up 17 percentage points from last year's survey (61 percent).

When asked which specific design features would make dispenser maintenance quicker and simpler, frontline teams emphasized intuitive features that minimize manual labor: fewer steps in the refilling process (69 percent), at-a-glance visibility to evaluate supply levels without opening covers (54 percent), and smart dispensers equipped with automated, low-supply alerts (46 percent).