A Melbourne cleaning company has been forced to repay more than $50,000 to its staff after an investigation by the federal workplace watchdog.

It was revealed that 16 employees were short-changed payments of up to $8700 during the 12 months to September last year.

Jorgensen Property Services, which operates in Melbourne's north-western suburbs, had been paying its workers a flat hourly rate that did not comply the award, the Fair Work Ombudsman has found.

The company's staff of 14 casual and two part-time workers were not receiving the minimum rate of pay, penalty rates for weekends and public holidays or overtime.

Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James said the cleaning industry employed many young people and migrant workers, who could be vulnerable if they were not fully aware of their workplace rights.

Fair Work inspectors began auditing up to 1000 cleaning contractors across Australia from July last year, checking compliance with minimum hourly rates and penalty rates.

Lawmakers and union officials on Thursday voiced concerns about the MBTA’s plans to cut nearly 30 percent of its janitorial workforce.

Contracts awarded by the MBTA Board to SJ Services and American Building Maintenance call for a cut of 29 percent, or 90 workers, of the cleaning staff starting on Sept. 1, 2014, according to SEIU 32BJ, a union backing the workers.

Members of the remaining workforce, which currently numbers 300, could also have their hours cut.

“I want to say shame on [the state Department of Transportation] and shame on the administration that would balance the budget on the backs” of the lowest paid workers in the state, said Sen. Ken Donnelly (D-Arlington).

Transportation Secretary Rich Davey told the News Service in April that the contracts have performance-based standards, instead of staffing-based standards, for cleanliness, and he expected the companies to use more advanced cleaning techniques to meet the standards. Staff reductions are allowed in the contracts.

More at source: DOTNEWS

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 In reality, a new government analysis shows that you're more likely to get sick from the highly contagious gut bug in a far less exotic locale: at a local restaurant, spread by the (unwashed) hands of a food service worker.

CDC

This transmission electron micrograph, or TEM, shows some of the structures of norovirus particles. It takes only a miniscule does of norovirus to make people sick, which is which the nasty bug is now the leading cause of foodborne illness outbreaks in the U.S., health officials said.

Workers who fail to properly wash hands or use gloves and the 1 in 5 who come to work sick with diarrhea and vomiting every year help make norovirus the leading cause of foodborne disease outbreaks in the U.S., according to a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

More at source: NBC

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Do we really need dimethyl imidazolidinedione, whatever that is, to clean our showers?

Yes, that’s a real product ingredient. But we can do most cleaning at home just fine without using products made from questionable chemicals with unpronounceable names.

Alternatives include vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda or simply water for basic cleaning of surfaces such as windows or floors. But what about those really tough cleaning jobs?

Let’s get down and dirty by answering some common questions about green household cleaning, especially for the most challenging tasks.

Q: What’s wrong with using chemical products for tough cleaning chores?

A: Possibly nothing, if you’re sure they are the best products for the job and you handle them properly. But don’t use chemical products indiscriminately.

More at source; Seattle Times

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No Pay For Overtime

Late at night, long after the grocery superstore Fred Meyer closes, there is still activity in the store. If you look through the windows, janitors are cleaning. But are they employees? Not officially. On paper, they're contractors.

Since 2004, Fred Meyer's janitors have signed their names to documents stating that they're independent contractors. They're not paid hourly. A local janitorial services company pays them a lump sum of around $1,000 every two weeks to work seven nights a week, 364 days a year. Were those janitors actual employees instead of contractors, fair labor laws would entitle them to a minimum wage and overtime pay. They are currently not paid overtime.

More at source: KUOW.org

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As the two young men moved about the building cleaning, it was hard to tell that they have special challenges in their lives.

Concentrating on their movements as they followed their cleaning routines, the two seemed like very polished workers – and in fact, they are.

One folded dirty cleaning towels into triangles and placed them together as he moved from one chore to another while cleaning a restroom. He sprayed cleaner on the mirror in the same pattern, wiping the mirror in the same motion each time. Both avoided eye contact and spoke very little.

Each has been diagnosed with autism (also known known as autism spectrum disorder). The severity of the disorder is different for each person, but the life situation of a person with autism is often misunderstood.

Those with autism do not naturally develop the ability to interact socially and, therefore, struggle with things like job interviews and conversations.

More at source: Charlotte Observer

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WILMINGTON -- One coastal city's effort to clean up and re-purpose old, abandoned properties got another financial boost.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Wilmington was one of 171 communities nationwide and one of eight in the state to receive grant money for its Brownfields redevelopment initiative.

The city must use the $400,000 grant to conduct environmental assessments.

"They're abandoned for a reason. Somebody has abandoned them and hasn't redeveloped them usually because of some environmental concern," said Phil Prete, a senior environmental planner for the city.

With the city digging up all the dirt on the sites, business recruiters said it's easier to attract developers.

More at source: Triad

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NEWS: Show your appliances some much needed attention with these spring cleaning suggestions from Northstar Appliance Repair Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Use these seven homemade remedies to clean your kitchen and have it smelling fresh – no need to leave your home for supplies.

These suggestions can remove stains, eliminate odor, and get rid of food buildup in the kitchen. Appliances take a lot of abuse and they get the least amount of attention. If you keep them clean that can help them run longer and more efficiently, cutting back on appliance repair services.

1. Remove food residue from your dishwasher by running a empty dishwasher with a cup of vinegar.

2. Remove food stains from your microwave by using 2-3 tablespoons of baking soda and one quart of water to wipe down the interior walls of the microwave.

3. Clean your condenser coils on your refrigerator. They are located behind the refrigerator. Use a small brush or handheld vacuum to remove any lint, dust, pet hair, and/or dirt.

More at source: E News

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Eric Grover
Keller Grover LLP
888.601.6939
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