cleanthoughts An Outquote On Outsourcing Publisher Matt Gallinger mgallinger @ ntpmedia.com Associate Publisher Micah Ogburn mogburn @ ntpmedia.com Editorial Director Rich DiPaolo rdipaolo @ ntpmedia.com Managing Editor Aaron Baunee abaunee @ ntpmedia.com Account Executive Susan Pierce spierce @ ntpmedia.com Art Director Marty Harris marty @ grandviewmedia.com Director of Business Operations Michael Perkins mperkins @ ntpmedia.com Ad Materials Manager Rebecca Wilson [email protected] CMI ® Administrative Manager Sharon Hillis shillis @ ntpmedia.com ext. 3159 ext. 3179 (516) 404-4532 A A prominent fixture in the CM e-News Daily ® lineup as of late, stories of custodi-al outsourcing are appearing everywhere. So, what does one do to avoid falling vic-tim to the privatization of custodial services — or, how does one take advantage of the opportunities this trend presents? By learning everything you possibly can about product application, workloading techniques and management best prac-tices, you show your desire to be the solu-tion to the cleaning and maintenance needs of the facilities you service. More often than not, price is the deciding factor in instances of outsourcing. However, proving your worth to the com-pany or organization for which you clean by showing the value of your services can go far in ensuring your continued employment. I am not a facility decision-maker, but if I was given the choice to either hire a clean-er with little industry knowledge that entered this field because “it seemed sim-ple enough” or a custodial professional with an extensive training background and doc-umentation validating his or her expertise, I would undoubtedly choose the latter. A well-educated employee will demand higher wages. But, you would be hard pressed to find a facility manager or a building owner who fails to realize the value of the educated employee. There are numerous arguments against custodial outsourcing, includ-ing notions that: The quality of work performed will be less than what the facility previously received Hardworkers’ jobs will be given to undocumented aliens A facility will be less safe if occupied by unknown cleaning personnel. While some of these arguments are founded in fact, they are — for the most part — exaggerated and illegitimate fears. Custodial outsourcing should be viewed as a positive for our industry. Not only does the practice help decrease operating costs, it also increases competi-tion. With multiple companies bidding for the same contract — in addition to the in-house staff competing to keep their posi-tions — competition brings those compa-nies with the most reliable and best edu-cated employees to the limelight. I do not mean to sound like a scape-grace by saying that outsourcing is the best thing since sliced bread; I’m simply saying it isn’t the worst thing. After all, if every facility’s operations were “peaches and cream” and each task was performed flawlessly, outsourcing would not be a topic of conversation. Instead, money savings and productivity increases can be accrued through custodi-al outsourcing. And, if it makes each cleaner, janitor, maintenance technician and custodial pro-fessional strive to become more educated and work harder, then I do not see out-sourcing as detrimental. So, thumb through your various industry publications, attend those industry trade shows and register for training and educa-tion events. Doing so will not only add to your ability to properly perform your job, it will also make you less susceptible to outsourcing. 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Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2 Corporate General Manager Barry Lovette [email protected] Vice President of Operations Brent Kizzire [email protected] Chief Marketing Officer, Publishing Services Group Hank Brown [email protected] Vice President of Business Publishing Tracy Aston-Martin [email protected] Vice President of Finance Brad Youngblood [email protected] Director of Circulation & Fulfillment Delicia Poole [email protected] Circulation Manager Brandy Pate [email protected] Honorary Advisory Board: Mike Adams, Greenfield, IN; Stephen Ashkin, Bloomington, IN; Jim Brewer, Arlington, TX; Laura Dellutri, Lenexa, KS; Ron Goerne, Bloomington, IL; Russell Kendzior, Southlake, TX; Don McNulty, Blue Springs, MO; Bob Merkt, West Bend, WI. Aaron Baunee, managing editor Send comments or thoughts on this topic or any other article that appears in CM/Cleaning & Maintenance Management ® magazine, to [email protected]. CM/Cleaning & Maintenance Management Online™ Service at www.cmmonline.com 4 CM/Cleaning & Maintenance Management ® • May 2010
CMM – Archives May 2010: 4
