Window Cleaning Employers/Employees Despair

Red Rock Window Cleaning was founded in 1998 by Coby Powell (center) starting out as a one man operation.

ICE Going After Businesses Who May Have Illegal Workers, LAS VEGAS: The federal government is paying much more attention these days to illegal workers, and if an employer makes a simple paperwork error, it can really cost them. Over the past four years the number of businesses in the U.S. being audited by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement has more than quadrupled. ICE is cracking down on Las Vegas businesses who hire illegal workers, but also some just failed to accurately fill out forms. Across the country, ICE has fined businesses roughly $9 million just this fiscal year. Some of the companies that are in trouble are knowingly breaking the law, but others who work hard to stay in compliance say something as simple as missing a signature is costing them big.

"We were scared at first. Some authority with a badge came in, so we were scared at first but we thought we were in compliance and had all our documents in place," said Coby Powell (pictured) with Red Rock Window Cleaning. It was a costly visit Powell never expected. Without notice, an officer from ICE just walked into his office and said his window washing business was being investigated. "They didn't give any reason as to why they came, they just came in. She was very polite, they talked to us and said get the information for this investigation," he said. Immediately Powell turned over all the I-9 forms requested by ICE. Every employer, like Red Rock Window Washing, is required by law to fill out I-9's when hiring workers to verify their identity and employment eligibility. Powell thought he had everything in order.

"Though we had all the information, almost all the information needed to fill out the I-9's, we didn't transfer that information on the I-9 and sign it and sign the dotted line at the bottom that we verified everything and everything was in compliance with the form," he said. Powell was fined $25,000 -- $1,000 for each form, for each employee. "The employers are always shocked. They have no idea why this is happening, they don't understand what's going on," said immigration attorney Gus Fountas.

Fountas says he's seen the number of U.S. businesses being investigated and fined by ICE rise dramatically over the last two years. "They are taking it more seriously that employers should not be violating the law at all and that employers will be held accountable," he said. "Go through your HR files, ensure your I-9's are filled out, verify employees with cards and expiration dates that you re-verify those," said Powell. The president of Red Rock Window Cleaning shared his story because he wants to let other businesses know that ICE means business, and even if you think you're in compliance, go over your records with a fine-tooth comb. The enforcement is all part of President Barack Obama's policy to crack down on immigration issues.

Employer: ‘We can’t hire 99 percent of the people who apply’ - Today, we explore the other side of the unemployment issue and how hard it is for employers to find qualified, competent and, as you will see, reasonably intelligent employees to join the workforce.

‘This is what we’re up against’ Another company’s owner allowed me to go behind the scenes in his hiring process. I viewed application after application and came away shaking my head in disbelief. Mistakes. Misspellings. Misdemeanors. I couldn’t believe they were genuine applications, but they were. “We can’t hire 99 percent of the people who apply. I’d be out of business in a heartbeat,” said Don Markovich, owner of Bren-Mark Window Cleaning Service in Valparaiso. “The applications we receive on a daily basis are a sight to behold.”

His company uses an online hiring system for applications, including about 20 minutes of questions, explained to me by office manager Candy Smith, who has the daunting task of interviewing some of the knuckleheads who apply — if they even show up for the interview. “We can always upgrade our staff, and we’re interviewing every week, but this is what we’re up against,” she said while guiding me through the website’s application system.

The incredibly detailed system shows red boxes for “warning” or “weak” and green boxes for “clear” or “interested.” I saw many more red boxes than green ones on most people’s application. I literally laughed out loud at some of the applicants’ responses and they had to be rejected even though the company could receive a sizeable tax break if they were hired. For instance, under the question, “What SKILLS do you bring to this job?” one woman responded, “My smile.” In the comment section of her (rejected) application, Markovich wrote, “Smiles don’t clean windows.”

“I’m tired of hearing about how nobody’s hiring,” he told me. “It’s important that the general public understand there ARE businesses hiring and willing to pay good wages.” “We, like many other businesses, are limited not by our skills or motivation, but by the number of quality employees we can find,” he added. “Every time the president and Congress extend the unemployment benefits, our labor market keeps sitting on their collective ass. Why should they start a job that starts them out at what they are collecting on unemployment? Even though they can make two to three times that within three to four months, they don’t care. They will wait until the benefits run out before looking for a job.”

The downside to today’s column is obvious: “There is an incredible amount of people who are, for all intents and purposes, not employable,” Markovich said flatly. (On Monday, between noon and 1 p.m., Markovich will offer first-hand tips and insights for job-seekers on my weekly radio show on WVLP, 98.3-FM, www.wvlp.org.)

The upside of all this incompetance? This should inspire all those other job-seekers who are honest, credible, qualified, competent, intelligent and professional. And, if anything, the Darwinian culling of the job-applicant herd should eventually work in your favor if you learned anything today from Markovich and Pearman. “Sorry, America. I was never in favor of the ‘everybody gets a trophy’ mentality,” Markovich said. “Just because you helped clean up a work site for $12 an hour doesn’t qualify you as a carpenter. And if your education and skills say you are only able to stock shelves, then you are a stocker.” My suggestion to job seekers: For starters, review your resume, personalize your application approach and provide intelligent responses, spelled correctly. And save your smile for the interview, not the application.

UK's Window Cleaner's Call To Stop The UnInsured Cowboys

Window cleaner's call to stop conmen: A concerned window cleaner is warning householders they could face expensive legal action if they pay uninsured workers to wash their windows. Matthew Softley, (pictured) 39, who trades as the Window Man, says these cleaners can often be much cheaper but can leave residents with extra costs if they cause injury or damage. He wants to set up a scheme where residents can access the names and contact details of legitimate window cleaners.

He said: “If you have got any offers to clean your house for under £10, I would seriously question them and if they cannot give you satisfactory answers or produce any paperwork, avoid them like the plague. “The main thing I have been trying to tell people is with these guys there’s no way on earth they are going to have any form of insurance. “If you have got an uninsured tradesman on your house and they injure a member of the public, the member of the public can sue the householder. “Also, if an uninsured tradesman is on your house and he wants to put in a claim against you because he has injured himself and he isn’t insured, he can sue the householder.”

Mr Softley said people can ask to see an insurance document, which should state that the worker is insured to clean windows, including with the use of a ladder if that person has a ladder. He said residents can call the insurance provider to check it is legitimate and still in date. He said people should be particularly wary of window cleaners who do not have contact details and will only be paid in cash.

Mr Softley, of Abbey Meads, said rogue window cleaners are rife across Swindon, but often target vulnerable and elderly people on council estates. He said: “Some of these guys have got whole areas sewn up and a lot of the people in these areas are just getting ripped off because the quality of the work is disgusting. “A lot of the old dears who are having this work done, you are trying to poach them but they are absolutely terrified of change or confrontation with anyone. I have been window cleaning for about a year and a half and predominantly a lot of it is on the council estates that this is going on.”

Coun Paul Baker (Lab, Penhill) is backing Mr Softley’s plans for the scheme to protect residents. He said: “Then you know you have a recognised and respectable person doing the job and there’s no fear of anybody, especially elderly people, getting ripped off.”

From the Window Mans website (spelling mistakes not corrected) ...

BEAT THE CHEATS

There is a major problem for the hard working decent window cleaner in swindon.  That is the illegal workers/benefit cheats, who have been pleauging the profession for many years.  Some of these people have been getting away with it in the Swindon area for many years.  I know of some people that have been getting away with it for over 10 years.  These people range from the all out benefit cheats, to the bloke who cleans windows on the side and does not pay tax or national insurance.  Some people think this is o.k and harmless and getting one over on the tax office.

The bottom line is it's a crime and taking away work from hard working decent window cleaners.  In my view it's just the same as supporting the local drug dealer.  Just because someone is nice and regular does not mean they are not braking the law.  These people really could ruin your life, and put you through a lot of pain and stress with lengthy court cases.

The quality of the work by these people is disgusting and all they think about is getting off the property as fast as possible.  I have picked up customers in many areas who have stated they have a window cleaner who charges them £6 (this for a £12 house) the frames, sills and doors are dirty and in some cases black or even green. 

I have come across two people working together around swindon who offer to clean houses for £6. To make that pay after tax and everything else they would have to be cleaning over 44 houses a day.  There is no way any two people could do that even if they were ripping people off and doing a poor job.  If I had someone who worked as fast as me working with me we could do about 25 at a push.  If all the houses were close together and we did not have to travel from area to area going from job to job.  There is not a window cleaner who  has a round and whole are sewn up like that, even if there was they could not do that many houses in a day it's impossible.  So how are these people making a living and and providing a quality service?  They must be topping up there state benefits or not paying tax.
 
The things to look out for with illegal workers are:
The bloke who walks around with his ladder and bucket of dirty water with a couple of dirty rags, who you don't have any contact details for. They come knocking your door or put through a leaflet saying they will clean you windows for below £10 or house with a conservatory for under £20 for a small one.  There is not a window cleaners on this planet using traditional cleaning methods who could make a living cleaning your home for £6 to £10 for a small house unless they are illegal or just rushing their work so fast to make it pay that the quality of the work is very poor.  By this I mean dirty frames, sills and doors.  Everything earned is taxed at 27% then there is national insurance.  Thats before you take out other things such as fuel for the day (most window cleaners will use about £10 per day), public liability insurance, tools equipment etc.  I am youngish very fit and work hard and can work fast enough to a high standard to clean bout 14  terriced or council sized houses per day max doing both back and front.  When you increase the size of house say with more or bay-windows etc that number will drop.

The bloke who will take cash only for his work the sure sign that he is up to no good.  Any honest legal window cleaner will be happy to except either cheque, direct bank payment or cash.  Just because some one is

Are they insured/properly insured?

Nothing is worse than being monetarily liable for a window cleaner’s accident that occurred on your property. That is exactly what can happen if an uninsured window cleaner falls or, by some other means hurts themselves or a member of the public.

Illegal and some legal window cleaners for that matter don't bother with Public Liability Insurance.  Many customers don't have a clue about problems this can cause and the impact it can have on their lives in the event of serious injury, death or damage to property. Do not just assume that a window cleaner has Public Liability insurance.  Don't ever employ or use a window cleaner until you have seen their current policy in printed form. 

If in dout (sic) about any document shown to you then call the insurance company direct to confirm the policy is real.  Don't be put off with some story about them not being able to find it.  It should always be shown on request no ifs or buts.  If it can't there is something wrong and do not use these people.

No one is breaking the law or doing anything wrong by not having public liability insurace for domestic window cleaning. Apart from putting the customer and thier property at risk.

Another problem people working on the side and stating that they have Public Liabilty insurance thinking they are coverd from say their taxi driving insurance.  When in fact if there policy does not state window cleaning and use of ladders etc.  There will be no protection for you the customer in the event of any damage to your property or serious injury to you, your family or members of the public.  Or even the window cleaner who could very well take you to court for damages running into thousands.  As mad as that sounds that can and does happen.  Rouge window cleaners could try and get a big payday by using no-win no-fee solicitors at your expense.  It's just not worth the risk using an uninsured window cleaner.

Misleading cliams by some dishonest people using Water-Fed Pole Sytems to gain more work.

If in any doubt about this then feel free to contact Trading Standards.  Who I have talked to at length about Water-Fed Pole Sytems and TRADITIONAL methods. If the use of ladders were banned and illegal for working at height then the bloke who comes to paint your house, install your sky dish, put up your t.v areal, install your gutters fasiacs, fit your windows would be breaking the law. For other window cleaners to tell people that the use of ladders is banned is a criminal offence under fair trading laws and can be delt with by legal action from trading standards. If you have been told this by Water-Fed-Pole System window cleaners to gain more work and rubbish the better quality work that TRADITIONAL methods provide. Then please contact: If in any doubt about this then feel free to contact Trading Standards. Who I have talked to at length about Water-Fed Pole Sytems and TRADITIONAL methods.


If the use of ladders were banned and illegal for working at height then the bloke who comes to paint your house, install your sky dish, put up your t.v areal, install your gutters fasiacs, fit your windows would be breaking the law. For other window cleaners to tell people that the use of ladders is banned is a criminal offence under fair trading laws and can be delt with by legal action from trading standards. If you have been told this by Water-Fed-Pole System window cleaners to gain more work and rubbish the better quality work that TRADITIONAL methods provide. Then please contact: Diane Miles Fair (Trading Officer/Trading Standards), Swindon Borough Council, Dmiles@swindon.gov.uk