Hiring Window Cleaners - Shooting Window Cleaners

Eric Van Horn starts his work day in his truck and ends it the same way.

American dream takes another hit: By all logic, Eric Van Horn should have a line of job seekers at his business. But despite hiring from the area’s largest unemployed age group, he must go begging for workers. By all logic, Eric Van Horn should have a line of job seekers at his business. But despite hiring from the area’s largest unemployed age group, he must go begging for workers.

Van Horn is on the front line of a disturbing trend in our economy, a new generation of jobless. Increasing numbers of young people are employable but resisting work. They form yet another “have-not” sector of our economy, and their numbers have only recently begun to cause alarm. They’ve quit on the American dream. “Frankly, I think a lot of people simply don’t want to work anymore,” Van Horn said.

He owns Shiny Brite, a Canton window washing service. He looks for workers age 18 to 30 and starts them at $9.50 an hour, above minimum wage, with raises if they are productive. He offered health insurance but no longer does. “Hard to believe, but nobody wanted to sign the papers,” he said.
His biggest fringe benefit: He offers to train his workers in “how to start their own business, attract and keep customers and manage employees. “This is my responsibility for the future,” he said. “I’ll even show them how to start a business like mine.” No takers there, either.

STILL ON A LADDER: Van Horn had figured that by now, he’s 57... he could sit back and manage his company. But no, he’s out there on a ladder with one of his crews every day. He talks to other business owners and said that all of them share the same concern. “The government isn’t helping. In my hiring, my biggest competitor is military recruiters,” he said. “I am losing a whole crew (three members) to the Navy and Marine Corps. Recruiters track us down and sign the papers on the job.” He has turned to seeking employees at his church and the churches of his friends. He spends a lot of time on it and is wondering if he ever will get off the ladders. “None of the old ways to find employees work today,” he said.

An economist in Forbes magazine researched the rapid decline in U.S. labor-force participation and found it “striking.” Millions of employable Americans from teens to pre-retirement have stopped looking for work. Even those in their prime earning years are opting to stay at home. The problem is worldwide. Some 57 percent of businesses report they cannot find enough workers for entry-level jobs traditionally worked by young people, according to the International Labor Organization.

You won’t find the non-working employables in the unemployment rate. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ “U-6” unemployment report, which does include the otherwise uncounted unemployed, today’s 7.3 percent jobless rate actually is closer to 13.8 percent. You will see the non-workers in the little-publicized “employment-to-population rate.” Over 20 years, an average of 67 percent of us in employable condition were at work, building our economy, seeking our dreams. The latest figure has dropped to 58 percent, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics chart is trending straight down.

Bringing the employable back into the fold may be the biggest challenge we face, but reinvigorating our work force is less expensive than watching the numbers of non-working Americans grow. “All I’m looking for is reasonable, trustworthy human beings who can pass a drug test and have a driver’s license,” Van Horn said. “I’ve never seen so many people who are unwilling to do that.”

Mr Day's air rifle pellet, like this one pictured, hit a nearby window cleaner.

Pensioner shot window cleaner with air rifle in New Addington: A pensioner has been ordered to carry out 40 hours of community service after hitting a window cleaner while shooting his air rifle.

Frank Day of Arnhem Drive, New Addington, pleaded guilty to firing an air weapon and assault by beating, when he appeared at Croydon Magistrates Court on Friday. The court heard the 65-year-old was firing the air rifle from his home, when one pellet ricocheted hitting nearby window cleaner Samuel Bartlett, who was working across the road.

Day initially contested the assault charge claiming he did not accept the pellet could have hit Mr Bartlett. But he later asked for the charge to be put to him again where he pleaded guilty. Describing Day's actions as "foolish and reckless", District Judge Teresa Szagun sentenced him to 40 hours community service to be carried out within 12 months and ordered the forfeiture and destruction of his air rifle. He was also ordered to pay £60 in damages to Mr Bartlett and £85 in court costs.

Assassination Mission #2 – The Multi-Target Assassination (GTA 5 Assassination Missions Walk through Guide): For this mission you also need to have the ‘Merryweather Heist’ completed. The next target is in West Vinewood and Lester gives you the hint ‘Look for dirty windows’. The target is a window washer, and is out in the open, hanging off the side of a building on a window washer platform. Pop him.

Click here to take you to Episode 3.

The Mole And Jersey Show - Episode 3: The Mole & Jersey Show: A new kinda show has come to town! A lot like Window Cleaning Nation only with a reckless abandon & inside jokes that probably only window cleaners would get, the World awaits as episode 3 makes an entrance.

For some reason a direct link can't be added from YouTube because the video is unlisted? It can still be seen from this link. If the YouTube link eventually works it can be watched here.