Here’s a question worth asking any cleaning company before you hand them a key: who, exactly, will be in my building after hours? The answer often comes down to two letters — W-2 — and it matters more than most facility managers realize.
W-2 vs. subcontractors
Many cleaning companies keep costs down by staffing jobs with 1099 subcontractors — independent workers hired job to job. It’s cheaper for the company, but it means less control, less accountability, and higher turnover. The person cleaning your office tonight may not be the same one who was vetted, trained, or even there last week.
Background-checked and badged
Every KO cleaner is a W-2 employee who has passed a thorough background check and carries a photo ID. They’re on our payroll, trained to our standards, and accountable to us — not a rotating pool of contractors we’ve never met. When you see a KO crew in your building, you know who they are and that they’ve been vetted.
Why it matters for security
For any facility — and especially medical offices, schools, and buildings with sensitive data — the security case is straightforward. W-2 status means consistency (the same trusted crew), real liability coverage (we carry the insurance and workers’ comp), and a clear chain of accountability if anything goes wrong. Subcontractor arrangements blur every one of those lines.
Our standard: 100% W-2
We don’t subcontract, ever. Every person who cleans your facility is a background-checked KO employee — no exceptions. It costs us more, and it’s the entire point.
Want a cleaning partner you can actually vouch for? Schedule a free walkthrough and meet the standard.