MS is one of the worst states for workplace cleanliness, ranking finds. Here’s why
Mississippi has some of the dirtiest workplaces in the United States, a recent ranking found.
The Magnolia State ranks third for least clean workplaces, after North Carolina and Tennessee, according to the October ranking by Stratus Building Solutions, a commercial cleaning service group.
But why did the state score so low in workplace cleanliness?
“Local laws, available resources, and even population density all influence whether employees work in a healthy setting or face daily risks,” analysts said in the report.
Here’s a deeper look at Mississippi’s F grade in workplace cleanliness, according to the ranking.
Why did MS score so low for workplace cleanliness?
The Magnolia State ranks 48 out of 50 in workplace cleanliness, with an F grade score of 229 out of 600, according to analysts at Stratus Building Solutions.
Factors of the low score include the following, according to the ranking:
- High rate of Occupational Safety and Health Administration violations, at 4.3 per capita
- High air pollution
- Paid sick leave is not mandated by the state
Additionally, the state is home to one of the cities with the highest OSHA sanitation violations in the country. Jackson, Mississippi, has the fourth-highest number of violations per capita between 2011 and 2025, at 16.26, the report found.
Do MS employees get paid sick leave?
Mississippi doesn’t have a state law requiring employers to give paid or unpaid sick leave to their workers, but that doesn’t mean that no one gets this benefit. Some employer policies and public-sector benefits do give workers defined paid sick leave, according to global workforce company TCW Global.
Which US states have the least clean workplaces?
These 10 states have the dirtiest workplaces, according to Stratus Building Solutions:
1. Tennessee
2. North Carolina
3. Mississippi
4. Virginia
5. Connecticut
6. Oregon
7. Nevada
8. Rhode Island
9. Alabama
10. New Jersey
Which US states have the cleanest workplaces?
These are the top 10 states for clean workplaces, according to Stratus Building Solutions:
1. Nebraska
2. Colorado
3. North Dakota
4. South Dakota
5. Washington
6. Missouri
7. Montana
8. Idaho
9. Michigan
10. New Mexico
How did commercial cleaning service group conduct ranking?
Analysts at Stratus Building Solutions looked at publicly available data and ranked each state based on the following metrics:
- Rate of OSHA sanitation violations per capita
- Rate of janitors and cleaning per capita
- Population density
- Air pollution
- State mandated sick leave laws
How can employees help keep their workplace clean?
Here are some tips for keeping your workplace clean, according to Stratus Building Solutions:
1. Don’t go into work if you’re sick
2. Wash your hands often
3. Keep your workspace clean
4. Wear a mask if you’re recovering from illness
5. Speak up if you see a sanitation violation
