Really? To me, that wouldn't count at all. Storage that isn't conveniently located to the work space will not be used. Just a fact of life. Fix that, and then work with them to get everything tidied up, and you might see more cooperation. The other thing is to review a) Safety standards--if the mess creates a safety hazard, it needs to be cleaned up or could result in fines if OSHA comes to call. b) Security--identify high-theft items, or items that may contain confidential/sensitive business information need to be stored appropriately. c) Business rules. I've worked places where the boss said desks were to be clean and orderly before leaving each day. This means that it is a priority, even if it means other jobs don't get done. End of story. In either case, clearly prioritizing the objectives resolves complaints either way come review time.