50 million under severe storm threat today as one Texas town digs out after a deadly tornado

More than 50 million people across a large swath of the US are under a severe weather threat Friday, one day after storms cut a deadly path across Texas and Florida.

Three people were killed in Perryton, Texas, when a ruinous tornado slammed the town Thursday, the fire chief told CNN. The storm also sent up to 100 people in the Texas Panhandle town to the hospital with injuries ranging from head wounds to abrasions, the Ochiltree General Hospital interim CEO told CNN.

And a person in Florida died after being trapped under a tree that fell on their home, Escambia County officials said.

The county, which includes Pensacola, was hit with flash flooding emergencies overnight, leading to high water rescues, the National Weather Service in Mobile, Alabama, reported early Friday, citing local rescuers.

More at source: CNN

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Cleaning workers urge Parliament: 'Europe should lead by example'

Cleaners demonstrated in front of the European Parliament, fed up with night shifts, not feeling safe at work, not getting enough sleep and the difficulty of juggling their working hours with their personal lives.

On Wednesday (June 7), trade unions and workers from Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark and more, gathered in front of the European Parliament to demand better working conditions in the cleaning industry.

To the rhythm of Bob Marley's song "Get up stand up", demonstrators chanted "Justice for cleaners", "Respect for cleaners", and "when we fight, we win".

During the demonstration they handed out yellow fists symbolising the gloves of the cleaners who had gathered there.

Indra is from Indonesia but works in the Netherlands, from where he came by bus with other colleagues who also work in the cleaning industry.

More at source EU Observer

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The Importance of Comprehensive Cleaning With a Commercial Janitorial Service for COVID Disinfection

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses must take extra precautions to protect their employees and customers. Regular cleaning and disinfection have become a necessary requirement to maintain a safe and healthy workplace. 

However, not all cleaning services provide the same level of protection against the virus. That’s why it’s essential to invest in Covid Cleaning Services Here’s a look at the importance of comprehensive cleaning to combat the continuing threat of COVID.

More at source: Boss Magazine

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1. COVID-19 continues to be a serious concern.

It is unclear when the threat of COVID will be entirely solved, but it is essential for businesses to take proactive measures to continue to protect their employees, customers, and the general public. One way to do this is by partnering with a commercial janitorial service that specializes in COVID disinfection. A comprehensive cleaning regimen that includes deep cleaning and sanitizing high-traffic areas, as well as frequently touched surfaces, can help to eliminate the spread of the virus and provide a safe environment for everyone.

The International Janitorial Cleaning Services Association is proud to announce three new insurance programs for our members. They are janitorial business insurance, surety bonds, and group health insurance for yourself and your employees.  For the group health insurance, we have partnered with Allstate Benefits to provide medical coverage as well as dental and vision benefits for members with at least 2 employees in most states (although 100 employees are required in New York). They have several options for coverage as well as some fantastic rates. Our janitorial business insurance is now through Thimble. They offer great coverage without the surprise fees that our previous vendor had. We have also partnered with the Bond Exchange to help our members find affordable surety bonds when you need them. You can pay for your bond upfront and save money or, if you prefer, they also offer low monthly payments to fit almost any budget.   Learn more about these programs @ https://ijcsa.org/insurance

US Department of Labor recovers more than $114K in back wages, damages for 100 employees denied overtime by Orlando-based hotel cleaning agency | U.S. Department of Labor

APDC Cleaning Services Inc. failed to pay workers employed across 4 states

Employer:   APDC Cleaning Services Inc.

                     5824 Precision Drive, Orlando, FL 32819

Investigation findings: Investigators with the department’s Wage and Hour Division found that a Florida hotel staffing company failed to combine hours worked by 100 employees at several locations paying them straight-time rates for all hours worked, including overtime hours. By doing so, the employer failed to pay the required time-and-a-half overtime premium for hours over 40 hours in a workweek, a Fair Labor Standards Act violation.

Back Wages and Liquidated Damages:        

$57,177 in back overtime wages

$57,177 in liquidated damages       

                                        

Quote: “The hard work done by hospitality industry workers allows guests to enjoy their accommodations. Often, they work long hours and deserve to be paid all their legally earned wages, including overtime,” explained Wage and Hour Division District Director Wildalí De Jesús in Orlando, Florida. “When employees work at more than one location, their employers must combine hours worked at all locations to calculate overtime wages properly. The Wage Hour Division is committed to safeguarding workers’ rights to get paid their rightfully earned wages.”

Background: Operating at 19 hotels in Florida, Georgia, Missouri and South Carolina, APDC Cleaning Services Inc. provides workers for various jobs, including cleaning and maintenance positions at hotels and other hospitality worksites.

The FLSA requires that most employees in the U.S. be paid at least the federal minimum wage for all hours worked and overtime pay at not less than time and one-half the regular rate of pay for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek. Learn more about the Wage and Hour Division and workers’ rights, including a search tool to use if you think you may be owed back wages collected by the division.

More at source: Department Of Labor

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'Swedish death cleaning' TV series aims to help you organize your home – and your mind

"The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning" is now a TV series streaming on Peacock. It follows three Swedish death cleaners – Ella Engström, an organizer; Johan Svenson, a designer; and Katarina Blöm, a psychologist – as they assist Americans in Kansas City trying to tidy up their lives, materially and emotionally. (The familiar voice Amy Poehler narrates, and she serves as executive producer.)

"It's a very deeply rooted way of handling your life in Sweden to not burden other people and also not live excessively," Svenson says.

More at source: USA Today

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Redditors blast $16/hour job where you might have to clean poop

People online are criticizing the pay associated with a job posting for a cleaner who would “agree to clean dog poop, human poop and vomit.”

A janitorial and building management company’s job posting was shared on Reddit recently. Hundreds of comments from people condemned similar employers paying around minimum wage for employees working with biohazards.

According to the Alliance Maintenance Ltd. job posting for a full-time building cleaner in Burnaby, BC, the hourly wage is $16.

While the pay is above the current minimum wage in BC ($15.65), Reddit users criticized the company and others that pay around this range because of the high cost of living in the region. 

More at source: Daily Hive Canada

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Government JANITORIAL Contractors Indicted in San Antonio for Wire Fraud, Money Laundering

SAN ANTONIO – A federal grand jury in San Antonio returned an indictment last week charging four members of a San Antonio family with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.

According to court documents, Kenneth Flores, Christopher Flores, Antonio Flores Jr., and Irma Flores, are alleged to have conspired together to defraud the United States by eliminating competition and fixing contract awards and prices on Army contracts for the housekeeping and janitorial services at Army Hospitals and Medical Centers.  The alleged scheme involved a corrupt partnership between the Floreses and co-conspirator government employees Karisa Waysepappy Kelley and John Jordan “Chip” Mathes, involving millions of dollars in work on Army healthcare housekeeping and janitorial services contracts in return for bribes and kickbacks, eliminating the Flores’ competition in the process.

The defendants made their initial court appearances Monday, April 10, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard B. Farrer of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas.

The four defendants are each charged with one count of conspiracy, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted on all charges, they each face a maximum penalty of 45 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

More at source: Department Of Justice

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US tornadoes: Clean-up begins after at least 32 killed in storms in South and Midwest

Residents across a wide area of the US raced to assess the destruction from fierce storms that were the possible cause of dozens of tornadoes from the South and the Midwest into the Northeast which killed at least 32 people.

The storms tore a path through the Arkansas capital and also collapsed the roof of a packed concert venue in Illinois, shocking people throughout the region with the scope of the damage.

Confirmed or suspected tornadoes in at least eleven states destroyed homes and businesses, splintered trees and laid waste to neighbourhoods across a broad swathe of the country. 

More at source: New York Times

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Janitor trapped for days inside Orange County Courthouse holding cell files lawsuit

She went without food and her medicine for diabetes.

She was also forced to drink water from part of a toilet.

The lawsuit is asking for damages in excess of $50,000.

More at source: WFTV

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