Case Study: How Cleanstar Sweeps Away Silence with Whistleblowing

Cleanstar, a leader in Ecuador’s cleaning and maintenance industry, found that some issues were being swept under the rug as employees hesitated to report concerns out of fear of retaliation. However, by embracing FaceUp’s whistleblowing system, Cleanstar gave its workforce the tools to dust off their fears and speak up about issues like harassment, theft, and corruption. This shift helped polish the company’s ethical practices and ensured that Cleanstar could clean up problems before they grew—building a stronger, safer, and more transparent work environment.

About Cleanstar 

With 14 years of experience, Cleanstar has built a spotless reputation as Ecuador’s leading provider of cleaning, maintenance, and specialized services. Backed by a team of over 1,000 employees and 40+ administrative staff, they serve clients across all 24 provinces. Cleanstar’s commitment to quality, adaptability, and confidentiality ensures that every task is handled with the utmost care and professionalism. 

• Industry: Cleaning and Maintenance Services
• Size: 1,000+ employees
• Location: Ecuador

Challenges Faced Without a Secure Reporting System

Even with its success and high-quality services, Cleanstar wasn’t immune to some internal challenges. It became clear that employees were reluctant to report  problems through email, fearing retaliation or job loss. A lack of a secure, confidential reporting system made it difficult for Cleanstar to address workplace concerns, ultimately making a mess of the company’s ability to maintain a fully transparent and safe working environment.

"We tried reaching out to our workers via email, but to them it didn’t feel trustworthy. They felt one had to be daring to report anything out of fear of being fired."

Key Challenges:

• Fear of retaliation and of job loss
• Lack of a secure, anonymous reporting channel
• Limited insight on workplace issues like harassment and theft

“The biggest challenge was gaining the trust of people so they were willing to make a report.”

Prioritizing Anonymous Reporting for Employee Safety

Cleanstar needed a solution that prioritized anonymity and made employees feel safe to report their concerns. After searching online, they found our platform and trusted FaceUp to help them achive positive results by creating a confidential and secure reporting environment.

"The most important factor was to ensure anonymity for all employees."

This key feature allowed them to gain employees' trust, encouraging them to speak up without fear.

Success with Seamless Implementation and Ongoing Support

Working with FaceUp proved to be a seamless process. The dedicated support provided by FaceUp ensured that Cleanstar could effectively manage incoming reports and address employee concerns promptly.

"Working with FaceUp means having real support and resources to guide you through receiving reports via the platform.” 

The platform enabled Cleanstar to reach all their 1,000+ operators and manage reports from ranging from workplace harassment, theft, and corruption.

"We started getting reports of workplace harassment, theft, corruption, etc. that we weren’t aware of before."

Results

The implementation of FaceUp resulted in excellent outcomes for Cleanstar. They gained awareness of previously hidden issues, and they also managed to build a culture of zero tolerance toward mistreatment.

“The best outcome for us has been being able to provide support for more than 1,000 operators.”

Summary of Results:

• Increased Trust: Employees now feel confident to report misconduct. 
• Visibility on Workplace Issues: Valuable reports on harassment, theft, and corruption.
• Cultural Change: Employees know they can report safely and be taken seriously.

"The biggest success was gaining the confidence of our employees that their reports would not go unnoticed and that the information would reach senior management and be resolved." 

Client Testimonial

With FaceUp, Cleanstar could mop up issues with ease, knowing that their team had a safe, secure way to raise concerns without fear of retaliation. Thanks to this partnership, their workplace culture became as tidy and transparent as their services. Cleanstar’s own words more perfectly capture the shining success of their partnership with us at FaceUp:

"FaceUp is both reliable and effective. The platform manages anonymous reports securely, giving each individual the confidence that they won't risk their job by speaking up."

Cleanstar highlights the importance of choosing a reliable whistleblowing solution to build a transparent and trustworthy workplace. With FaceUp, they enhanced their ability to address concerns, ensured employee safety, and established a culture of integrity across their organization. But guess what? You can too! 
 

Cleanstar transformed their workplace with FaceUp’s whistleblowing solution. Whether you're looking to enhance transparency or strengthen workplace integrity, FaceUp is the solution that can help you do it. Book a demo today and see firsthand how FaceUp can make a difference for your team!

A Special Thank You to Ética Integral and Cleanstar

We extend endless gratitude to Jaime Gomez Balderrama, Founder and Managing Partner of Ética Integral, for his invaluable partnership and support. To the Cleanstar team, we truly appreciate your collaboration and trust in us. We would especially like to thank Patricia Choez, General Manager of Cleanstar. Your leadership and dedication to promoting a culture of transparency and integrity are truly inspiring! Together, we’re making a meaningful difference, ensuring that every voice can be heard in a safe and supportive environment. Thank you!