In the last few years, halls in Loughborough have incorporated a ‘Reward Board’ system in which students receive stars if their flat is found to be clean and tidy by cleaning inspectors.
Many of us have probably not used a reward style starboard system since primary school, and so it could leave some students feeling like they are not treated as adults. But why is this idea in place, and does it work?
According to staff, the cleaners are now much happier than they were before the system. It makes cleaning easier and the relationship between staff and students has improved. Staff said there has been “a year on year improvement”, going on to comment that some halls are now “the best they’ve ever been”.
Staff view the approach as beneficial to both students and themselves. The cleaners need to clean the halls, and although students may find it annoying or an invasion of privacy, it has apparently improved the relationship for all involved.
However, many students are still furious about fine warnings, believing the amounts charged are too much. Many members of staff that we spoke to said they do not like fining students, they “didn’t want to fail kitchens, failure is a last result”. In many cases, students have 24 hours to clean up mess before they receive a fine of up to fifteen pounds.
The idea seems fair enough, but many students feel they are being hassled; in some halls, common reoccurrences vary from failure to taking rubbish out, the piling up of kitchenware on draining boards, to fines from the opening of fire doors and damages. Many of these occurrences are a matter of general hygiene.
Often, staff said “we will bang on [bedroom] doors” because “we don’t want to fine you”. They believe “the easiest thing is to have a conversation with someone”. In the past staff have been upset when students have blamed them for damages in their flats; a prime example was staff being blamed for causing chips on the kitchen surface due to excessive scrubbing, which they said can’t really be done.
Overall, the starboard system seems to have taken effect: staff said that many students actually get upset when they don’t receive a star, which shows that even at the age of young adults maybe simple reward systems like this still work. The fine threats appear to be working also, regardless of the supposed underlining problem of students not wanting to clean their flats.
It appears the controversy surrounding the system will always exist. But cleaners are much happier than they were five years ago, and it appears to be beneficial to students too. Staff commented on the situation as being one where there is “always a glass half full”.
