What is a Tea Lady? Can Tea Lady Help You?

Listen up, ‘cause we’re about to spill the tea on office tea ladies, and how they can be beneficial to your office environment!

The office life can be a little disheartening at times with all the stress of doing paperwork, meeting with clients and suppliers, and maintaining that work-life balance.

Understandably, we barely have enough time to spend cleaning our own homes, much less the office. 

Most offices employ their own office cleaning lady that works alongside desk employees while doing the cleaning, sanitizing, and organizing around the workplace.

These hardworking cleaners are often associated with the same company that they report to work everyday, and are part of a cleaning agency that trains them in proper cleaning and etiquette. 

Read on to find out more about how your business can gain more productivity and efficiency by hiring an office cleaning lady:

What is a Tea Lady?

A “tea girl” is a colloquial term often used in British culture to refer to a person, usually a woman, who serves tea or other refreshments in an office or workplace setting.

A tea girl or tea lady may also involve other duties such as cleaning, organizing, and general upkeep of the office environment.

It’s important to note that the term is considered dated and potentially offensive, as it can perpetuate gender stereotypes and undervalue the work done in these roles.

In modern workplaces, titles like “office assistant” or “hospitality staff” are more commonly used, and these roles are not gender-specific.

No, she won’t be making you tea and coffee all day, although she may when asked. ‘Tea lady’ is the term used for professional cleaners who are employed specifically to clean offices and commercial spaces. 

Tea ladies are employed typically through an agency or cleaning company, who handle all their background checks, working capabilities, and other terms and conditions of their employment.

They are trained to arrive at the office on time, and take out cleaning duties based on what the employer would like the tea lady to do around the office. 

What does a Tea Lady do?

The main duties of an office tea lady are mostly centered around general cleaning and upkeep of the office. Their duties include sweeping, vacuuming, wiping down surfaces, and other similar tasks.

An office tea lady would be responsible for the cleanliness around the office, as well as organization of her supplies. Her tasks also include:

• Dusting high areas and cobwebs
• Sanitizing surfaces
• Sweeping, vacuuming, and mopping floors
• Cleaning of glass fixtures and partitions
• Disposing of trash receptacles
• Cleaning the bathroom
• Cleaning around the break room and office pantry

An office tea lady does the cleaning duties around the office so you can continue to work in a clean environment, while you can confidently present to your clients an organized office that will get your meeting going smoothly.

Example Of Tea Lady Job Description

Job Title: Office Tea Lady

Job Overview: We are currently seeking a dedicated and friendly Office Tea Lady to join our team. This role is responsible for maintaining cleanliness and orderliness in the office, especially in the kitchen and pantry areas.

The Tea Lady will also ensure that the pantry is always well-stocked with necessary items.

Responsibilities:

1. Maintain cleanliness and hygiene in the kitchen, pantry, and other common areas.
2. Restock pantry with necessary supplies as needed.
3. Assist in setting up and tidying up the meeting rooms before and after meetings.
4. Ensure all kitchen equipment is cleaned and stored properly.
5. Perform general cleaning duties around the office to maintain a tidy environment.
6. Follow all health and safety regulations.
7. Report any issues or damages in the office premises to the management.
8. Provide excellent customer service to all staff and visitors.

Requirements:

1. Previous experience in a similar role is preferred, but not essential.
2. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
3. Ability to work independently and efficiently manage time.
4. Basic knowledge of cleaning practices and procedures.
5. Understanding of health and safety regulations.
6. Positive attitude and strong work ethic.
7. Physical stamina, as the role may involve standing for long periods and lifting heavy items.

Note: The job description is subject to change based on the needs of the office.

Why Hire a Tea Lady for the Office?

We all have our own roles and responsibilities in our company, and it’s often difficult to juggle multiple tasks at the same time.

Add the stress of maintaining your office cleanliness to the mix, and you may end up overwhelming your employees. On the other hand, you can’t let the workplace turn into a pigsty, as that would be unsanitary!

A professional cleaning lady would be able to handle the cleaning tasks for you, so you can focus on your work instead. They are well-trained by their agencies to tackle even the grimiest of all cleaning duties. While you may not know how to properly clean every part of your office, an experienced cleaner can, and will be able to do the task much quicker.

Hiring an office tea lady is a convenient way of keeping the workplace clean. Build rapport with your tea lady, as she will be taking on the cleaning tasks for your company, and she will most likely be employed under your company for the period that you avail of cleaning services from her agency. 

How to Vet a Tea Lady?

Vetting, or conducting a background check on the office tea lady you plan to hire is usually done by the agency, but don’t hesitate to ask for background checks and bio-datas from your applicant to know if they are a good fit for your company.

Like any other employee, gauge whether the office tea lady will be doing a good job of cleaning your office by conducting an interview, and working with a reputable cleaning company or agency to ensure that the person you will be hiring is legitimate and has undergone training for proper cleaning techniques and proper etiquette around the business setting. 

Otherwise, a good cleaning company would be able to match you with a cleaning expert that can provide you with satisfactory service, as they have already conducted their own background checks on the individual, and deemed them skilled and trustworthy.