Green cleaning issues filled the agenda the Building Service Contractors Association International (BSCAI) 2008 Annual Convention & Trade Show held on April 25^th through the 28^th at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Florida.

The premier convention and trade show for the janitorial, contract security and building services industry-this event featured educational sessions, roundtable discussions, professional networking opportunities and a trade show floor chock full of top industry vendors. About 1,300 professionals and exhibitors attended, including nearly 200 new BSCAI members.

Green cleaning and other eco-friendly industry topics pervaded the majority of the educational sessions and the government affairs panels, and many exhibitors featured green products and services. Mark Pertuzzi of Green Seal led a session on the evaluation and certification of environmentally-responsible service providers. Green cleaning guru Stephen Ashkin, President and Founder of The Ashkin Group, led the closing general session, "The Current State of Green Cleaning".

Ashkin will also lead BSCAI's "Green Cleaning 101" Webinar on May 15 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. EST. To register, visit www.bscai.org, click on Webinars and select the Register link.

Other highlights of the convention included a keynote address by Bill George, Harvard Business School professor and author of True North: Discover Your Authentic Leadership. George discussed leadership challenges in the 21^st century and engaged attendees in a question-and-answer session. George also led the highly-anticipated CEO Summit, which returned to the convention for its second year. Building service industry CEOs and senior managers gathered for the all-day session to share leadership experiences and discuss ways to improve themselves and, in turn, their companies.

"The 2008 convention was a great success for BSCAI. The enthusiasm and entrepreneurial spirit were contagious," said BSCAI president, Ernest Clark, Jr., CBSE, Mister Kleen Maintenance Company. "This event is a prime example of why the industry relies on BSCAI. It is where the building service community comes together to learn, meet new people and walk away with an experience that cannot be found anywhere else in the industry."

PMI's New Blue Cube Saves Water

By Matt Ellis

PMI is now offering an innovative water reduction system called the Blue Cube for use in commercial restrooms. PMI President Michael Diamond says the product can cut water use by 40 gallons per urinal per day because it is not necessary to flush the urinal after use.

The system utilizes environmentally-friendly bacteria that break down waste so the urinal does not need to be flushed with water. It also gives off a fresh scent eliminating the need for environmentally un-friendly air fresheners.

"We are pleased with the success of the Blue Cube so far," said Diamond. "We plan on introducing it to more clients in the coming months."

The Blue Cube can save 10,000 gallons of water per urinal each year. The total adds up quickly when you consider the number of urinals in a building.

Financial controls of income received are often taken for granted. Not a month goes by without news of a previously trusted employee siphoning money from an employer's accounts for personal gain. There is no business that is immune from this type of criminal conduct. Recent cases reveal that businesses of all types, law firms, municipalities and unions are all susceptible to the criminal misdoings of a trusted employee. The main reason for this is that businesses generally need to improve upon the safeguards in place to protect from this type of behavior. 

Photo courtesy: freefoto.com

Employee misconduct could not only prove to embarrass a business, but it could also prove to be financially crippling. There are several basic controls that employers can utilize to protect itself from the potential of this type of criminal behavior. Employers should regularly conduct audits and periodically evaluate their cash-handling procedures. No one person should be in entrusted with the "keys to the cash register."  As your company grows and takes on new forms of payments, such as wire transfers or credit cards, more than one person should know the procedures of these payment systems. This will enable effective review and auditing.

If you suspect that one of your employees is involved in criminal conduct, an employer is within its right to inquire into that employee's conduct. The Connecticut Supreme Court upholds an employer's right to investigate suspected employee misconduct and further held that if the employer is mistaken, the employer may be found immune from claims of liability. 

Further, it is highly recommended that employers periodically evaluate and test internal controls and procedures. Review employee patterns and require that vacations be taken, not only for the benefits of employee health and morale, but to ensure that the business at hand is as it seems. This is common practice in financial institutions, perhaps for good reason. Financial institutions use employee time off as a type of checks and balances, ensuring that when an employee is out of the office, there is no significant change in the financial climate of the institution. If there is a significant change, this may be an indication of possible wrongdoing. This is an example of a basic control that could prove to be quite valuable in the long run. 

Connecticut employers should re-evaluate their financial controls to ensure that adequate safeguards are in place to protect them from the potential of employee misconduct.

Glenn A. Duhl is a management employment and litigation lawyer at Siegel, O'Connor, O'Donnell & Beck, P.C.. You can reach him at 860- 280-1215 or by email at: gduhl@siegeloconnor.com.  He represents management in preventive employment law and litigation of all employment matters.  Please visit: www.siegeloconnor.com

The information contained in this article is general in nature and offered for informational purposes only. It is not offered and should not be construed as legal advice.