Maintenance Management Co's & Subbing

[ss]

How do the large maintenance management companies get away with subbing out all their "daily" work? Isn't doing the "daily" work the definition of what is determined to be what an employee does? From what I've been reading here, they also require subs to wear their uniforms and such.

Is there not some IRS case precedent that would discourage these companies from doing this? I'm confused here.

[John Knecht]

No!
They are....Just what you called them..Managment companies.
They offer management of the building services and centralized communication, billing and so forth. It is attractive to large companies who do not want their local people dealing with non-core issues such as cleaning. The billing is also attractive to them. The removal of the need to interview and back check possibly hundreds of companies. These are the "upsides" The downside is a large percentage of crappy performance (for many reasons).


Another way to look at the "uniform, company.....thing" Did you have Phone, Internet, TV, etc installed? There is a good chance that the work was done by a independent sub who was wearing a Comcast, DTV, CAblevision or what have you uniform.
As long as the contractor meets the guidelines set by the Gov't.....Perfectly legal.

[jahra352]

I received a call this week from Premier Management Company who wanted me to bid on a government building in my area tomorrow. They sent me a packet of info that they had for this building but needed me to ask more questions at the walk through as the management co. is from Texas and I'm in NJ. They told me to sign in as Premier Management Co. instead of under my company name. When I asked what to do if I am asked for a business card they told me, "tell them you're all out at this time!" Tough way to look legitimate.
Peter Weiss
Total Maintenance Services

[gorgsue]

I received a call from USM thursday saying they had a government office in my area. Didn't get to talk to them, they just left a message. Looked them up on Google, they're one of those national management companies.
I've been thinking... if those of us who are legit, refuse to work for these,"middlemen", and they can only get the trunkslamer types to be their boots on the ground, shouldn't in the end then, the nationals get a very tarnished reputation of poor service? So tarnished in fact, national accounts will say that used to be the way to go, but the lack of quality service has made that not viable anymore.
I can see how the centralized billing, contracting thing was a golden carrot for national accounts, too good to be true though. I just really think if we don't help them to succeed, we may be able to help them fail.

[RJ Cleaning Service Inc]

I agree 100%, I never take work from MMM's. for 1, its cheap money. 2nd the sub will be burnt for there money, its not a question will they, its more of a question when will they. but unfortunately there are tons of low ball cleaners out there who don't know any better and line up for the low pay wage work. even when they get burnt for there money, they go straight to another mmm. sometimes when they go to another mmm there really dealing with the same one that burnt them not to long ago, they just changed names. Then of course they burn them again, its a continuance cycle. I actually find it kind of funny when I think about it..

I think in some ways it helps us out. while the mmm's are dealing with the retails, customers i don't want. they also keep the so called low ball cleaning company's busy working there butts off for minimum wage, which keeps them out of our way...

[gorgsue]

I like that part about keeping them busy and out of our way. Last Sunday I stopped at Petsmart to get Dog Food. Over by an exit door, middle of the store, was all kinds of floor machines and equipment. On the equipment was a huge sign from the store manager, telling the cleaners they couldn't leave their equipment, and they must take it with them when they leave. Wish I'd had a truck, could have said I was there to pick up the stuff.

[RJ Cleaning Service Inc]

Imagine there face to hear the cleaners already picked up the equipment.lol.
the price they get paid, it would of probably set them back 12 months.lol..

They will be happy to hear they need to load and unload there equipment every day.
its good for them, it will keep them busy and give them plenty of exercise

[Bri]

Its crazy. I have gotten a few calls lately from these companies to strip floors. The last one wanted the work done in like 4 days on a Sun. after 5 PM, told me what finish to put on & was offering get ready for it............

$ 0.12 per sq ft !

[RJ Cleaning Service Inc]

He Brian I like your Twitter, pretty neat.
How's everything going in Florida?

[Dccubed]

Its crazy. I have gotten a few calls lately from these companies to strip floors. The last one wanted the work done in like 4 days on a Sun. after 5 PM, told me what finish to put on & was offering get ready for it............

$ 0.12 per sq ft !

What was the building? I had one of those companies for 17k sq ft and wanted me to do it at ~8 cents a foot. I said a flat out 'NO'. They did say there was some flexibility, they sent the TOS over to me and of course there was a non-compete which I promptly replied back to them with my non-compete. I haven't heard anything from them since.