Last year, I wrote the article “Effective Training of Today’s Diverse Workforce” for SERVICES, and it included numerous examples of how technology can improve training. Since this is the 2013 technology issue, this article will update some of the changes I have witnessed since that article first appeared.
In July, the Department of the Treasury used its administrative authority to grant employers an additional year to implement key elements of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) employer mandate. Essentially, the mandate stipulated that employers of 50 or more full-time equivalent employees must offer affordable health care coverage to full-time employees or pay a penalty.
Sometimes it seems like the pace and demands of life increase by the day. We work longer hours, shoulder heavier burdens, multitask, and try to get more done in less time with fewer resources. While these challenges apply to almost all market sectors, in our current economic environment the facility services industry has been hit exceptionally hard.
One of the most common types of dashboards now in use, and the type many building service contractors are most likely to encounter working with their clients, are called sustainability dashboards. These dashboards are designed to measure, monitor, and report on the key performance indicators (KPIs) for a facility.
Google's Zero Moment of Truth (ZMOT) is when a potential buyer picks up his or her laptop, smartphone, desktop computer, or tablet and starts searching for products and services. They educate themselves about their various options, which companies offer those options, and which business is most informative in their purchase decision.
As much as the industry has changed, many cleaning contractors find that the old-fashioned way of marketing—making cold calls, often by walking into facilities they wish to clean—is still an effective way to secure new customers. However, many cleaning contractors do not like this or any type of cold calling, and many more simply do not have the time to do it.
