Career Pathway Journey Case Study – Area Supervisor, Tracy Evans

07/09/2021

“I started cleaning (for Spotless) in 2011. I chose this line of work after years in Industrial Relations (Federal Government in Australia) because, here in New Zealand, I was raising my children solo, and wanted to be in a job that let me be at home when they left for school, and when they came home at the end of their day. They were teenagers, but I still wanted that level of supervision to make sure they were coping with day to day events. Evening work was the perfect solution.

I started cleaning for Spotless and enjoyed the time alone (quiet) and was very proud of “my” sites, especially the Ministry Of Justice Timaru Courthouse which is beautifully fitted out with many types of local timber. I also loved cleaning at Timaru Boys High School where I cleaned the gym and PE Department classrooms and this was a hive of activity early morning and afternoon (my children had grown up and left home by now) and I got to see many students enjoying sports as well as the School Balls and other functions being set up, as well as International Students coming and going through the years. At work, I take great pride in transforming a site from it’s daily (or weekly) “used” state, to fres and clean, ready for the next days work. At the Courthouse, this, to me, was also about making the environment pleasant and functional for people usually under great stress.

3 years ago, I started in the Area Supervisors role which encompasses the traditional Supervisors role (making sure sites have correct cleaning supplies on hand and sorting issues such as appropriate and necessary PPE and chemicals and consumables), as well as the Administrative role including hiring workers, supporting them by submitting their time sheets and leave requests to Payroll, liaising with clients to make sure we are not only carrying out our contracted terms to a very high standard, but that their needs and expectations are being met on a practical day to day level.

I like that for every problem, there is a solution but it can often times be hard to figure out exactly what that solution is. I have the same theory as I do when cleaning…the bigger the mess (situation), the more satisfying it is when you successfully clean (or sort) it out. Not that I want this to happen all the time, but it is definitely a job where you have to think on your feet and instigate active/proactive solutions because our clients should only see the end result…a clean business for their clients and a hygienic workplace for their staff.

It’s a line of work that combines both solo work, which means you have to use your own pride, work ethic and initiative, as well as team work. To me, that’s the best of both worlds. I like to work alone but the back up and support is essential to enable the job satisfaction that comes from a job well done.”

 

 

 

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