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Inflation and Janitorial Pricing

(July 6, 2022) Rising fuel costs and record-high inflation spurred by supply chain bottlenecks drive up the costs for everything including janitorial equipment, supplies, consumables, etc. In the state of California, legislation has increased the minimum wage from $10.00 in 2016 to $10.50 in 2017, $11.00 in 2018, $12.00 in 2019, $13.00 in 2020, $14.00 in 2021 and now $15.00 which went into effect January of 2022. The minimum wage for 2023 is projected to increase yet again to $15.50. And it’s not just low-wage workers who will receive pay raises. Wage differentials necessitate increases among front line and middle managers as well. The cleaning industry is labor-intensive, and pricing is severely impacted by wage rates.

While it is preferable for building service contractors (BSCs) to limit the impact to their customers, passing along rising operational costs in the form of price increases is inevitable. At the same time, property managers are under constant pressure to keep their janitorial budgets under control. Let's look at a few examples of how commercial cleaning companies are responding to higher labor costs while minimizing the impact on your cleaning budget without sacrificing the level of service. For many of the most experienced BSCs, it is a combination of some of the industry's best practices.

Smart Cleaning Controls Cost While Maintaining Quality

Implementing Smart Cleaning in your facility can help keep costs down while living with the rising cost of labor. Suboptimal janitorial budgets can be managed by strategically choosing which services are most beneficial to the cleanliness and function of the facility. Services can then be ranked and delivered at a frequency within the budget and makes sure facilities are still well-maintained from the perspective of building occupants and visitors. This means meeting with your janitorial cleaning company and discussing what your priorities are and what things can be given less attention. It also involves a thorough understanding of your pain points, a complete review of services and how they can be condensed and scheduled to retain service levels. Simply asking your service provider to absorb rising costs at the same pricing will ultimately lead to a failed cleaning operation. Smart Cleaning is not about providing less cleaning but is a strategic transition to the most critical services that have the largest impact on the functioning of your facility. When applied by an experienced company, cleaning hours and cost can be reduced without drastically lowering the quality of your cleaning.

Consider Team and Day Cleaning

When dividing up the cleaning and maintenance duties required in a facility, the old method was to use zone cleaning. With zone cleaning, the building is divided into separate areas that become the responsibility of assigned cleaners who are responsible for every cleaning task in their zone, often an entire floor. That means every cleaner needs to vacuum, clean restrooms, empty trash, dust and more. This has some real disadvantages. With multiple responsibilities, it is easier to miss tasks leading to a less than optimal clean. Also, each cleaner needs their own set of tools, equipment and supplies.

With team cleaning, janitors perform a few specific tasks throughout your facility. Typically, cleaning tasks are divided among light duty specialist, vacuum specialist, restroom specialist and utility or general specialist whose duties may vary. Think of the team like an assembly line with each team member responsible for a very specific set of duties. Team Cleaning creates job mastery, a clear understanding of the work and a heightened level of accountability. Specialists are far more likely to clean the right way, every time. In this way, team cleaning is typically more responsive and more consistent. And team cleaning also has a flexible structure that can be custom tailored to adapt to the unique needs of your facility. Finally, team cleaning requires less equipment purchases.

Team cleaning can help you manage reduced cleaning budgets without jeopardizing the overall appearance of your building. Specialization most often means less equipment and fewer labor hours. Labor and equipment are the two largest costs for most building maintenance companies and thus, when your janitorial services company has reduced costs, you have reduced costs.

Energy saving consultants rave about the benefits of a day cleaning program. The practice seeks to utilize daylight hours for cleaning services, thus avoiding the energy and electricity costs you would expect when a crew is operating in the evening after normal business hours. Some customers report as much as a 15% – 20% savings on electricity. Not only is it more cost effective, but it is also an environmentally conscious program which is a win for everyone. It is important to note that a day cleaning program is not just evening cleaning done during the day. Any transition from the way things have historically been done can create some challenges so before making this change, you should have a thoughtful discussion with your janitorial provider.

Review Cost of Consumables

The partnership with your janitorial provider is critical to service delivery. Experienced BSCs continuously add value by keeping consumable prices at or below the rate of inflation. Connecting with your janitorial partner, especially during periods of very high inflation, is critical. Some cost-savings ideas include purchasing hard roll paper towels instead of multifold towels. The cost per foot is much less expensive and because of the way they are dispensed, people generally take many more multifold towels. Also consider switching from regular toilet paper rolls to large jumbo rolls. The size of the roll reduces the cost per foot. Purchasing consumables from your cleaning partner who may have access to wholesalers may also yield better pricing due to volume purchasing.

Counterbalance Inflation with Technology

The commercial cleaning industry has gone through several technological advances in the past few years. As a result, janitorial work has become increasingly more effective and more cost efficient. As an example, autonomous vacuum cleaners, through case studies, has been shown to reduce labor costs by 50%. While investing in this technology has a high associated cost, the efficiency it offers and reduction in hours can help keep janitorial and commercial cleaning prices down despite a rising minimum wage. Another technology that drastically changed the industry is HEPA filtration backpack vacuums, which allow cleaning staff to cover more than twice the area in a facility in the same amount of time as before. Additionally, the HEPA backpack vacuums also helped reduce repetitive motion injuries as well as improve indoor air quality compared to traditional vacuums. Not only does innovation in the commercial cleaning industry reduce labor hours, it also improves the health of your building by implementing greener, more sustainable technologies.

Employee Retention Equals Savings

Any service businesses’ single greatest resource is their people, which is why rising labor costs have a big impact on California cleaning companies. Employees are key to delivering quality service, but the commercial cleaning industry can experience employee turnover upwards of 100-200%. However, property managers and building owners should hire a janitorial company with a healthy company culture that offers its employees incentive programs resulting in employee retention that exceeds industry norms. How does this benefit you? The cost of recruiting, screening, hiring, and training new employees with any degree of frequency is a very large expense. Newer employees are more inefficient as they are learning and mastering their responsibilities. This is of course unavoidable, but if your cleaning company is a revolving door of new hires, they are always in training mode reducing the quality and value of the cleaning services you are receiving. The higher the turnover rate is, the higher the cost is going to be to you, not to mention that the quality of your cleaning will be reduced by the constant changing of the staff that is cleaning your facility.

Full Disclosure Pricing

Full Disclosure Pricing means a janitorial company provides the breakdown of costs and profit with their proposal. The benefit of this type of transparency is that you can see exactly what it is you’re paying for and exactly what the hard costs are for your janitorial company. What you should be expecting to see when it comes to hard costs is the following:

In terms of expenditures, the highest expense will always go to staffing, and with the increase in minimum wage, this number will only go up. The best companies in the industry will look to position their business model in such a way to avoid passing on the cost to you by utilizing techniques like Smart Cleaning and by investing in efficient equipment. However, if you need fixed hours, the cost is going to go up. Taking advantage of industry innovation and best practices can help keep prices reasonable with the understanding of how rising wages impact the price of your janitorial service.

Inevitably, inflation and California’s rising minimum wage will have an impact on costs in numerous industries and the janitorial industry is no exception. Still, there are things to be done with both you and your janitorial company pivoting to keep costs as level as possible while keeping your facility well maintained.

Manage the Risk of Changing Janitorial Providers

(May 4, 2022) Your current cleaning company is not performing but you dread making a change. Why? Perhaps you’ve been down this road before. Selecting a janitorial vendor requires a significant investment in time and resources compiling a Request for Proposal (RFP), touring the building with each prospective bidder, sales meetings, reviewing proposals and conducting due diligence such as checking references. Even after an exhaustive process, there is no guarantee the new building service contractor (BSC) will be any better or could even be worse than the previous one.

Then there is the inevitable transition period. It will take the new janitorial company some time to learn the layout of your facility, unique tenant requirements and reconcile their definition of ‘clean’ with that of the property manager to develop a cleaning plan that is satisfactory to everyone involved. Not to mention, you are trusting a company you likely only met recently with keys and access to your facility, typically after hours when the building is unoccupied. You will also need to give notice to your current provider of your intent to cancel service which could yield unpleasant results like a significant drop in performance or quitting the job altogether with no notice. Suffice it to say, changing janitorial companies comes with its fair share of risk.

While it may be unrealistic to eliminate all risk, there are several steps property managers can take to mitigate most, if not all the risks involved in replacing your current janitorial service company:

Experience – Undoubtedly, the reason you are in search of a new commercial cleaning service is because the current relationship is no longer working for you, so finding a company that understands your problems and can provide solutions is important. Solving your problems reduces distractions caused by janitorial issues, knowing that the cleaning operation is in good hands. In other words, look for a company who understands what is causing you pain, and can relieve that pain. How long has your prospective commercial cleaning company been in business and do they have experience working with accounts like yours? Do they have an online presence that demonstrates longevity? If your facility is a 100,000 square foot office building, you should look for this type of experience in their customer portfolio. Request and contact customer references to determine the satisfaction level of their current and previous clients. Also, look for companies that participate in the industry through association membership (e.g. BSCAI, BOMA), gathers and disseminates helpful information, and generally cares about the industry.

Transition Plan – There is a natural learning curve when starting new accounts. It’s unavoidable. However, professional cleaning companies start the transition before the contract start date. Request a Transition, Operations or Phase-In Plan to determine what steps the new contractor will take immediately after contract award and up to and after the contract start date to ensure a smooth transition. The plan should be comprehensive and include a timeline for recruiting, screening, hiring and onboarding staff, training, pre-startup meetings, building tours, compiling cleaning checklists and schedules, supply and equipment delivery, etc.

Quality Assurance – Cleaning your facility generally begins with work scheduling whereby cleaners are assigned shifts and work duties. A typical system used by experienced BSCs employs caller ID and GPS tracking to verify employees are where they're supposed to be when clocking in or out. A vital question you should ask of potential providers is what steps do they take in the event cleaners call out to ensure your building is sufficiently staffed and service is rendered?

The gold standard for quality control in the cleaning industry is cleaning inspections that bridge the gap between a facility manager and a cleaning company. Professional cleaning companies not only conduct regular cleaning inspections, they use technology like apps, software and reporting to communicate the information quickly to all affected parties to adjust your service or handle an issue quickly.

Communication - Your cleaning company should be able to communicate issues or client requests to their cleaners in real-time so they can deliver the most responsive service. Make sure your cleaning company has a system in place to communicate with employees when they’re on-site to relay the most up-to-date instructions.

Your cleaning company should have a process in place for you to contact them easily whenever a problem arises. Well-run cleaning companies use janitorial software to coordinate all client communications. You can use an app to reach managers via messaging to make sure all tasks are performed to your satisfaction. The use of technology is a good indicator that a commercial cleaning company takes servicing its clients seriously. It allows them to communicate with its clients effectively and manage their employees efficiently to deliver the highest quality and most responsive service.

Hiring and Training - Any janitorial services company should at a minimum screen applicants for criminal history. But even better, the best companies will work hard to look for candidates that are a good fit. This can be done through personality testing. Additionally, verifying previous employment and checking references can go a long way to building a great team. When your prospective janitorial company takes shortcuts on screening employees, they put you, your employees, your reputation, and your facility at risk.

After your cleaning company has hired a suitable applicant, they need to give that individual the tools they need to deliver very good service to you and your facility. This means comprehensive training designed to help cleaners consistently deliver good service. Even great people who are well-trained need to feel important and even vital to their organizations. They need to be held accountable and offered incentives for stellar performance. And when employees are not performing, they need to be managed to do better or let go to save you the customer from having to live with poor service.

Part of continuity with people is turnover percentage. Did you know the industry average is nearly 100%. Yes, turnover tends to be high in the lower paid service jobs, but the best companies have been able to implement practices and systems that help keep good people and thus lower turnover. What is your prospective janitorial service doing to keep their turnover numbers low?

Janitorial Registration - CA Assembly Bill 1978 (AB 1978) requires janitorial employers to register with the Labor Commissioner to do business in California. The law requires training every 2 years on violence prevention and sexual harassment for all employees. The Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) manages the registry of janitorial firms to document good business standing, compliance with wage and hour laws, payroll taxes, sexual harassment training and worker's compensation.

This law also makes property managers and building owners accountable and prohibits any California business from entering into a contract with an unregistered janitorial company. Potential fines of up to $25,000 can be levied against a business who enters into a contract with an unregistered janitorial firm. As an end user, you need to be aware of the restrictions and impact AB 1978 has on your business and your staff.

Guarantee – Finally, to significantly reduce your risk, ask for some sort of guarantee that shifts a portion of the risk back to the contractor. While a 30-day cancellation clause is often used, exercising it only starts the dreaded process of hiring another janitorial provider all over again. The transfer of risk that provides the best incentive for your new provider to provide quality service is monetary. A typical money back guarantee offers a service credit for services not performed to the client’s satisfaction within a reasonable timeframe. The terms of the guarantee should be clearly spelled out so both sides understand what is expected. The knowledge they might not be paid for services rendered is enough to motivate any contractor to perform at their best.

The idea of engaging in an exhaustive search for a new janitorial service provider with no guarantee of success has caused many property managers to endure unsatisfactory service. However, that does not have to be the case. With a few tweaks to the selection process, you can hire your next cleaning company with some assurances, less risk and a mutually beneficial partnership. All things considered; it might actually be the last time you have to!

Rising Demand for Day Porter Service

(April 6, 2022) COVID-19 has transformed our daily lives to a renewed focus on health and safety. This new normal is no less apparent in indoor workspaces. To keep occupants safe, building interiors must be regularly cleaned and sanitized. To this end, some building owners and property managers have turned to an increasingly popular solution: day porter services.

A day porter is a person assigned to a commercial building to perform daily cleaning and maintenance-related duties. Unlike traditional janitorial services that perform services after business hours, day porters work when the facility is occupied. Services typically include cleaning and disinfecting common use areas and high touch points, including restrooms, replenishing restroom supplies, responding to service requests, replacing lights and picking up litter. In addition to cleaning, they are often involved in identifying property and equipment repair needs.

Benefits of Day Porter Services

While the use of day porters has long been part of a strategic maintenance plan, the pandemic has increased the demand for this service. Here are some of the benefits of day porter services.

1. Infection Control

A day porter is a tremendous benefit based on concerns associated with exposure to COVID-19, influenza, and other infections. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have implemented a series of updated guidelines, including disinfection of high-traffic or “high touch” surfaces in workplace environments. The CDC recommends cleaning objects located in lobby and reception areas such as counters, door handles, and elevator buttons more frequently. Surfaces normally cleaned at night are immediately contaminated when touched by an infected person the following morning. Additional service during the day significantly reduces risk of infection.

Other objects that a day porter might disinfect one or more times each day include handrails, phones, and light switches. Disinfection should be completed using an EPA-approved product that has proven effective at killing viruses and bacteria.

2. Common Area Appearance

Another major area of focus for day porters is common areas like lobbies and particularly restrooms, particularly those that have many visitors throughout the day. Aside from preventing the spread of illness, failing to maintain restrooms can hinder an organization’s image.

Some of the key cleaning tasks involve sinks, counters, toilets, mirrors, and other surfaces and objects. Restrooms also need to have their supplies restocked including paper products and soaps.

Cafeterias, kitchens, and break rooms are the sites where your staff frequently gathers. They brew coffee, cook food, and share a meal. Day porters keep these areas tidy.

3. Perception is Reality

According to a recent study from the Cleaning Coalition of America (CCA), which included 1,600 U.S. workers, when asked to rank their greatest impediment to returning to the office, respondents point to COVID infection rates first (35.2%) and vaccination rates second (17.4%). For 62% of employees, simply seeing cleaning professionals regularly at their workplace would make them feel safer.

Josh Feinberg, President of the CCA, says that for many survey participants, the issue is with “peace of mind” while at work. “If you go back pre-COVID, you don’t see very many cleaners during the day, most of our industry cleans at night. Since COVID, the trend we’re seeing is visibility. Switching from night cleaning to day cleaning, so that they can visibly see that it’s being done. People also want to see high-touch areas being cleaned frequently, like doorknobs, elevator buttons, and bathrooms.”

4. Emergencies and Repairs

In addition to cleanliness and sanitation, another significant benefit to day porter service is safety. Spills and litter can pose a hazard, including slip and fall accidents. Buildings with public traffic occasionally require a biohazard cleanup of fecal matter, urine and vomit. A day porter who is already onsite is best able to respond quickly.

A properly tasked day porter will also be on the lookout for maintenance and repair needs such as burned-out lights, leaky faucets and backed up toilets. Minor repairs can be assessed and often repaired without hiring a higher priced plumber or electrician.

In addition to providing a healthier environment for your customers and employees by contracting a day porter, they will be more at ease as well. Seeing a uniformed, cleaning professional proactively cleaning surfaces is creating good will among your building occupants and a better image for your company. In our new normal created by COVID-19, the cleanliness of your business is no longer a luxury, it’s a necessity.

Janico Worker Plans for the Future

(March 8, 2022) - CalSavers is California’s new retirement savings program that will offer millions of workers in the state the opportunity to get on track for the future. Janico Area Supervisor, Mario Bardaro from Elk Grove, talks about his goals for the future and how the CalSavers program is helping him achieve it.

Employee of the Year: Maria Castillo

NORTH HIGHLANDS, CA (February 18, 2022) - Janico Building Services recently announced that Maria Castillo has been named the company's Employee of the Year for 2021.

Maria joined the company in July 2017 as a part-time janitor in Oakland before eventually being assigned a full-time shift. It didn't take long for Maria to distinguish herself as one of the Janico's best cleaners, earning excellent quality grades from both customers and management. This past year, she earned the distinction as the best overall cleaning performance by a landslide.

"Maria is a joy to have on our team. She takes great pride in her job, and ownership of the customer locations she services," said Area Manager Ramon Cofield. "Clients often praise her job performance and I hope she is employed by Janico for many years to come."

The Janico Rewards Program is designed to award points to employees for their efforts and loyalty to the company with the primary focus of the program being to recognize exceptional performance. Points are redeemed for gift cards from every major retailer in the United States, Amazon, restaurants, travel, paid time off and even cash. The top three points earners for the year are eligible for consideration as Employee of the Year.

Silver 2020 Employee of the Year

NORTH HIGHLANDS, CA (January 14, 2021) - Janico Building Services recently announced that Johnique Silver has been named the company's Employee of the Year for 2020.

Johnique joined the company in July 2019 as an on-call janitor in Sacramento. She was soon thereafter assigned a regular part-time shift at Trainor Fairbrook where she consistently earned excellent performance grades, was the top points earner in the company's Rewards Program and ultimately rewarded with a full-time position where she now serves.

Charles Trainor is the founding partner and President of Trainor Fairbrook. "I am very happy with the service to our building," said Trainor. "Johnique is very detailed and has a great, bubbly personality."

The Janico Rewards Program is designed to award points to employees for their efforts and loyalty to the company with the primary focus of the program being to recognize exceptional performance. Points are redeemed for gift cards from every major retailer in the United States, Amazon, restaurants, travel, paid time off and even cash. The top three points earners for the year are eligible for consideration as Employee of the Year.

Part-Time Workers Receive Paid Time Off

NORTH HIGHLANDS, CA (January 8, 2021) - Janico Building Services recently announced that its part-time employees are eligible for paid time off through the company’s Rewards Program. Full-time employees have always accrued vacation days as part of their normal compensation package.

Part-time employees can now redeem Rewards points for up to five days of vacation, a perk that was previously unavailable and atypical of most company offerings.

The Janico Rewards Program is designed to award points to employees for their efforts and loyalty to the company with the primary focus of the program being to recognize exceptional performance. Points are redeemed for gift cards from every major retailer in the United States, Amazon, restaurants, travel and even cash. To redeem points, employees login to an online catalog where new rewards options are added periodically.

"2020 was a stressful year for everyone and we are constantly looking at ways to show appreciation to our employees," said Lorenzo Harris Sr., Janico's President. "Providing a benefit that our workers are typically unable to receive elsewhere is our way of putting our words into action."

The new benefit represents yet another investment in Janico's team and part of the company's ongoing effort to recognize its frontline team members for their contributions.

Frontline Workers Paid COVID Bonuses

NORTH HIGHLANDS, CA (November 19, 2020) - Janico is pleased to announce that not only has the Company survived the first waves of the coronavirus pandemic but we have thrived. Recognizing that this success is due to our employees who risked their health and wellbeing working on the frontlines during this crisis, all eligible employees received bonus points by virtue of the company's Rewards Program.

Full and part-time employees who worked a minimum number of hours from March 1 through October 31 received 3,000 and 1,500 Rewards points, equivalent to $300 and $150 respectively.

The Janico Rewards Program is designed to award points to employees for their efforts and loyalty to the company with the primary focus of the program being to recognize exceptional performance. Points are redeemed for gift cards from every major retailer in the United States, Amazon, restaurants, travel and even cash.

"This year more than ever, we appreciate that our cleaners work day and night to keep our customers' working environments clean while risking their own health," said Lorenzo Harris Sr., Janico's President. "The company's success this year is a direct result of our team members who are the real heroes during this pandemic."

The bonus represents an investment in Janico's team ahead of the holidays and part of the company's ongoing effort to recognize its frontline team members and leaders for their contributions.

JBS Celebrates Thank Your Cleaner Day

NORTH HIGHLANDS, CA (October 21, 2020) - Today is Thank Your Cleaner Day and, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has never been a more worthwhile celebration. Cleanliness and hygiene are vital for our welfare and key to reducing the risk of infection, placing cleaning staff on the frontlines during this crisis.

Acknowledged as the essential workers they are, cleaners are fighting the virus on the frontline while many were locked down. Janico, together with partners from the cleaning industry from around the world, will ensure that cleaners receive greater appreciation. It's about demonstrating gratitude and acknowledging the hard work our cleaners deliver.

In honor of Thank Your Cleaner Day, all eligible Janico employees received Rewards Points as a small token of appreciation. The Janico Rewards Program is designed to award points to employees for their efforts and loyalty to the company with the primary focus of the program being to recognize exceptional performance. Points are redeemed for gift cards from every major retailer in the United States, Amazon, restaurants, travel and even cash.

While the hard work and effort is typically not visible to those who benefit from the safe and clean environments professional cleaners create, their efforts should not go unnoticed.

Thank Your Cleaner Day was observed for the first time in 2015 in New Zealand by the local trade organization for Building Services Contractors (BSCNZ) in cooperation with Kärcher. Through their engagement, word about the Thank Your Cleaner Day has spread widely and is a great success.

Robotic Cleaners Deployed at Janico

NORTH HIGHLANDS, CA (September 28, 2020) - Janico Building Services has partnered with SoftBank Robotics America (SBRA) and ICE Robotics to begin deploying Whiz, a commercial-grade autonomous vacuum sweeper to clean its clients' facilities. Cleaning routes are programmed into the robot, which is able to autonomously vacuum floors and carpets. Whiz is equipped with sensors that allow it to safely navigate around customers and other objects in its paths.

"We're excited to work with SoftBank in supporting our operations and providing our staff with a safe and reliable technology," said Yolanda Harris, Janico's Director of Operations. "Whiz is a powerful tool in helping our staff complete repetitive tasks so they can focus on more specialized tasks such as disinfecting high touch surfaces to combat the spread of coronavirus."

Whiz is powered by BrainOS®, the award-winning commercial robot operating system, and can record up to 600 cleaning routes, for which staff teach the robot the initial floor cleaning route upon their first use. Subsequently, routes are stored in Whiz so it can repeat the cleaning route autonomously on its own. Through cloud data visualization, cleaning and status reports on Whiz can be gathered and analyzed.

"Whiz represents a major technological upgrade in automating commercial processes that demand frequency, quality, and consistency," said Brady Watkins, Head of Commercial Automation at SBRA. "The scale and effort required to keep huge areas of carpet clean strains already overworked janitorial teams. Whiz supports cleaning teams to uplevel their hard work. By addressing this task, Whiz unlocks the team's potential of creating healthier environments."

JBS Celebrates 35 Year Anniversary

NORTH HIGHLANDS, CA (August 15, 2020) - Janico Building Services, a building service contractor serving the Sacramento Region and San Francisco Bay Area, announced today that August 15 marks the company's 35th year anniversary of its founding.

35 years ago, Janico's founders Lorenzo and Yolanda Harris, established the company out of their home on a shoestring budget with no employees while performing the work themselves. With more and more clients, Janico became more customer-focused and that focus has delivered a tremendous value to all its clients, regardless of size.

Janico remains a privately owned business under the leadership of Lorenzo Harris as President. "Maintaining a business for three and a half decades is a challenging undertaking in any industry - and in a service organization specifically, it demands resilience and the ability to stay ahead of emerging technologies as well as customer needs," said Harris. As the company's Director of Business Development, Yolanda Harris agrees. "We could not have achieved this significant milestone without the support of our customers, vendors, and each one of the team members here at Janico," said Yolanda. "Our sincere thanks to all who have granted us the privilege of serving them for the last 35 years. We look forward to continuing this legacy for many years to come."

Today, Janico employs 45 employees and primarily serves the commercial office marketplace. Despite regularly competing against much larger players, JBS is steadily gaining market share.

Commercial building owners and property managers depend on Janico to bring the most efficient and customer-friendly processes to their properties. An exceptional Customer Care Experience is an essential part of all Janico programs. The company has created and manages a quality assurance program that ensures best in service to the facilities it services and instills customer confidence and loyalty.

Janico Weathers COVID-19 Crisis

BRN AM (August 3, 2020) - The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted small businesses throughout the country. Janico President, Lorenzo Harris, talks about the health of the company amid the crisis and the effect on employee retirement savings with BRN lead anchor Jeffrey Snyder.

Retirement Savings Steady Despite Pandemic

Pensions&Investments (June 15, 2020) - Despite the economic toll COVID-19 has taken on small businesses across the nation, state-sponsored retirement plans have remained resilient with employee contributions holding steady, withdrawals under control and employer registrations inching higher, however slowly.

"We are still growing," said Courtney Eccles, the Chicago-based director of the Illinois Secure Choice retirement savings program. "We're seeing the number of employers who are registering continue to increase. We're seeing the number of savers who've been added continue to grow."

The state-sponsored plans, which are usually structured as Roth individual retirement accounts, typically require private-sector employers that do not offer workplace retirement plans to do so through the state-provided programs.

At Janico Building Services, a North Highlands, Calif.-based janitorial services company enrolled in California's CalSavers retirement program, employees stayed the course, said Lorenzo Harris, the owner of the business.

The company's 45 employees continued to contribute 5% of their semimonthly gross pay to the state-run retirement plan, the same as they did before the outbreak of the coronavirus. In addition, employee participation in the plan also remained stable at roughly 70%, Mr. Harris said.

The company did not have to lay off any of its workers as clients cutting back on office cleaning services were offset by those demanding more. "We made an effort to make sure that our employees were safe and reassured them that their jobs were safe as well," Mr. Harris said, adding the job security was likely a major reason why employees did not stray from their normal savings behavior.

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Case Study: Janico Adopts Mobile-Friendly Hiring

Criteria Corp. (May 1, 2020) - Janico Building Services wanted to design a hiring process that could help them attract and retain their staff within an industry known for high turnover.

The Challenge:

Janico is a commercial building service contractor that hires janitorial staff to service businesses across the Sacramento region and San Francisco bay area. The majority of Janico's janitorial applicants are entry-level. These applicants primarily rely on their mobile devices to access the internet and, according to Lorenzo Harris, President of Janico, "most of our applicants are just not consistent email users." This created a challenge in how to interact with these candidates throughout the hiring process in an effective way.

The Solution:

To reach the candidates where they are, Janico transitioned to a mobile-first hiring process. The goal was for candidates to be able to successfully navigate the entire process on a mobile device prior to the interview. To make this possible, the company made a few key changes: they incorporated text messaging and mobile-friendly assessments.

Text Messaging:

Janico switched to Breezy HR, an applicant tracking system and one of Criteria's integrated partners, in order to take advantage of Breezy's text messaging feature. This enabled Janico to conduct most of the early interactions of the hiring process all on a mobile device.

Mobile-Friendly Assessments:

One of these early interactions included the assessment phase. Candidates receive a text message with a link to take the assessment. From there, they can complete the assessment right on their mobile device. The seamless mobile experience made it possible for Janico to administer assessments early in the hiring process.

Lower Turnover

Janico Building Services was no stranger to high turnover. The industry benchmark for turnover within the janitorial services industry was around 200%. In contrast, Janico's mobile-friendly assessment process enabled the company to achieve a turnover rate of around 85%. In other words, they achieved a turnover rate that was 80% lower than the industry benchmark. While Harris hasn't quantified the exact ROI stemming from the improvements in retention, he asserts that "it's certainly saving us both time and money."

One Less Step in the Hiring Process

With assessments being delivered via text message right to an applicant's device, Janico was able to eliminate one step in the hiring process: the phone screen. For Harris, the assessments were better able to identify "individuals who were a good fit. The phone screen didn't really do that for us." By eliminating an unnecessary step in the funnel, Janico saved time that was better spent getting to know the candidates who were most likely to succeed.

For Harris, the biggest benefit of using assessments was that "it helped us to streamline our process and find better fits," enabling Janico to prioritize which candidates to invite to the much more time-intensive interview stage. Switching to a mobile-friendly process amplified the efficiency even further. According to Harris, the mobile process "has definitely improved the speed through which candidates get through the pipeline, and the speed in their responses."

As a small business, Janico experienced a boost in their employer brand after incorporating the assessments into the process. According to Harris, "the main benefit is the candidate perception of our company. I think it creates a more professional image."

JBS Proactive Amid COVID-19

NORTH HIGHLANDS, CA (March 8, 2020) - There is no higher priority with our entire Janico Team than the safety of our Customers and Employees. We are keeping close tabs on news from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO) and government agencies to stay on top of this evolving situation. According to the most recent information from the CDC, for most people, the immediate risk of being exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19 is thought to be low.

We want our customers to feel confident that their buildings are safe. As a result, we have enhanced some of our cleaning procedures in the interest of our Customers' and Employees' health and safety.

Office Cleaning: As of March 1, 2020, we have enhanced our daily cleaning procedures. Typically, we use an EPA-registered disinfectant in the restrooms and high-touch surfaces (door knobs, light switches, hand rails, telephones, etc.). Now, we upgraded to a hospital-grade disinfectant with a much lower dwell time required to kill germs, and it will be used throughout the facilities we serve, including lobby and reception areas, offices and restrooms daily. This goes beyond the standard CDC guidelines.

Also, we equip our cleaners with vacuums that contain a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter, which prevents captured particles from escaping thereby improving indoor air quality.

In addition, we want to take a moment to remind the public of measures they can take to mitigate the spread of germs:

Rest assured, we are monitoring this developing situation closely. We've developed a host of resources to keep customers informed and updated along the way, including our Company newsletter, and we'll continue to post updates as this situation evolves.

Rodriguez Pereira 2019 EOY

NORTH HIGHLANDS, CA (March 6, 2020) - Janico Building Services recently announced that Harry Rodriguez Pereira has been named the company's Employee of the Year for 2019.

Harry was hired on September 5, 2017 and currently serves as a part-time janitor at Enterprise Holdings in San Leandro. He was also an instrumental team member at various Amtrak locations throughout the Bay Area. Pereira has proven to be a reliable worker and team player who is willing to help wherever there is a need. He takes pride in his work and consistently produces quality cleaning becoming the top points earner in the company's Rewards Program.

"Harry is a joy to have on our staff," says Ramon Cofield, Janico's Area Manager. "He is a great representative of the company and clients speak very highly of him." Yolanda Harris is Janico's Director of Operations. "Harry has been a great worker and is willing to take on additional assignments and fill in when needed. He always has a smile and is willing to go beyond the call of duty," said Harris. "It is a pleasure to have Harry as part of the team and the award is very deserving."

The Janico Rewards Program is designed to award points to employees for their efforts and loyalty to the company with the primary focus of the program being to recognize exceptional performance. Points are redeemed for gift cards from every major retailer in the United States, Amazon, restaurants, travel and even cash. The top three points earners for the year are eligible for consideration as Employee of the Year.

Janico Ranked in Business Journal Top 25

NORTH HIGHLANDS, CA (August 4, 2019) - Lorenzo Harris, Founder and President of Janico Building Services, has announced that the firm was ranked in the Sacramento Business Journal's annual 2019 Book of Lists for Largest Minority-Owned Businesses - Certified and Locally Owned for the third consecutive year. The Business Journal ranked the companies based on 2018 revenue.

"We are excited to be ranked in the Sacramento Business Journal's Book of Lists again in 2019," said Harris. "The company is proud to call Sacramento home, where we have experienced steady growth over the past several years."

Janico Building Services is a full-service building service contractor serving Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay Area. Established in 1985 by Lorenzo and Yolanda Harris, Janico provides janitorial, floor care, window cleaning and maintenance services for commercial property managers and building owners. The company employs 50 workers throughout Northern California.

The Sacramento Business Journal is an affiliate of American City Business Journals (ACBJ), the largest publisher of metropolitan business newsweeklies in the United States, with 43 business publications across the country reaching more than 3.6 million readers each week. Sacramento Business Journal Book of Lists publishes lists of hundreds of the area's top companies in their fields, by ranking, including commercial and residential real estate property managers, fastest growing companies, largest employers, contractors, etc.

Increasing Retirement Savings

Nightly Business Report (July 26, 2019) - The state of California is tackling the retirement crisis with a program to help seven million workers prepare for the future. Janico is featured by Nightly Business Report (NBR) Senior Personal Finance Correspondent, Sharon Epperson.

Saving for Retirement Just Got Easier

Arnold Ventures (February 19, 2019) - Lorenzo Harris always knew that offering a retirement program would help him attract and retain the best workers for his janitorial services company. It just wasn't feasible for his small business - until he encountered CalSavers, a new worker-savings system launching in the Golden State.

"I'm a businessman. I'm very leery of government. But wow, I'm very impressed with CalSavers," said Harris, who founded his 45-employee company in 1985. "I was just amazed that a government mandate of this nature would actually benefit our company."

Harris' company, Janico Building Services, was the first employer to join the state-sponsored retirement program. His employees started payroll deductions in January, and since then, CalSavers has shown even skeptical taxpayers like Harris how public policy can be used as a tool to level the playing field and promote economic opportunity.

"This will allow us to attract employees better, and we can better retain them with a retirement plan," Harris said.

CalSavers is what's known as an "auto-IRA," a retirement program that makes savings the default option for employees. Here's how it works: Over the next three years, in phases determined by the size of the company, mandated employers will be required to register and allow their employees to enroll in the CalSavers. Workers who join will have 5 percent of their pay diverted to an individual account. The deduction will gradually increase, topping out at 8 percent, though workers can always change the amount or leave the program at any time.

By the middle of 2019, self-employed people and any other individual will be able to sign up, and by 2022, all businesses with five or more employees will enroll as California seeks to get all workers access to a retirement account.

The scope of the problem legislators are seeking to solve is as immense as the goal: 7.5 million California employees work for a business that does not offer a retirement plan. Many of the people who don't have access to an account through their employer are hourly wage employees, work part time, or frequently change jobs. Women and people of color are most likely to lack savings for the future.

"The big thrust of this is, let's get people access, and let's get them access that they can trust," said Matthew Cook, who oversees retirement and other financial policy grants for Arnold Ventures. "You're lowering the barrier to entry, and you're establishing savings as the norm."

The idea for CalSavers relies on a basic principle in behavioral economics. If workers are automatically enrolled and would have to opt-out rather than opt-in, they are much more likely to participate. That "set it and forget it" option, along with the power of compound interest over many years, could help low-income workers build wealth for the first time, Cook said.

According to AARP, people are 15 times more likely to save if they have a workplace account and 20 times more likely to do so if they're automatically enrolled in it. If auto-IRAs help boost savings in the U.S., it would be an important step toward ensuring people who work hard during their careers are able to retire with dignity and financial security - a key policy priority for Arnold Ventures.

"It's not just California," Cook said. "Roughly a third of U.S. workers do not have any retirement savings, which could pose a big problem for governments in the next couple of decades."

The potential upside of CalSavers is high, both for small-business owners like Harris looking to compete with larger competitors and for workers. So Arnold Ventures provided $1.1 million to two nonprofit organizations, the United Ways of California and Small Business Majority, to create an outreach plan to entice Californians to sign up sooner rather than later.

Legislators in other states are watching the rollout because the CalSavers program has bipartisan appeal and includes protections for Californians and savers. Administrative costs will be covered by small fees on participant contributions, so the program won't cost taxpayers anything, while professional financial services companies Ascensus and State Street Global Advisors will administer the program and manage investments.

The first $1,000 people contribute will go to money market accounts, unless participants direct their investments otherwise. Subsequent contributions will default into a target date fund based on the participant's age. Savers can also choose other investment funds, including a bond fund and an equity fund.

Supporters point to two other features vital for low-income workers: portability and flexibility. Workers maintain their accounts when they change jobs, so they won't face fees or tax burdens to keep their nest eggs growing. That's critical for people who might have several employers or work in the "gig" economy.

But to get low-income workers to buy into the program, organizers must focus on building trust with a population that may have been burned by unscrupulous financial businesses in the past, said Peter Manzo, president and chief executive officer of United Ways of California.

"Their family members may have had run-ins with payday lenders or they may be very distrustful of the financial industry overall, no doubt, and we're going to have to answer their concerns," he said.

Harris can relate. Even though the cost and administrative burden put employee retirement plans out of reach for him and other small-business owners, the start of a state-run initiative also brought the dread of paperwork and red tape.

Mark Herbert, California Director of Small Business Majority, said the process has been so smooth, business owners have mostly been concerned that the program is "too good to be true."

Told it would take about 30 minutes to enroll, business owners have "rolled their eyes and cleared the day on their schedule," Herbert said. "But it was done in 20 minutes, and they were shocked."

With CalSavers up and running, the next challenge for Manzo and Herbert will be to spread the word and continue to build on the program's early success.

"It's huge, and what's going on in California, Oregon, Illinois can be a model for other states," Herbert said.

Employee of the Year: DeAundre Faby

NORTH HIGHLANDS, CA (February 11, 2019) - Janico Building Services recently announced that DeAundre Faby has been named the company's Employee of the Year for 2018.

DeAundre was hired on December 23, 2016 and currently serves as a part-time janitor at Amtrak facilities in Martinez and Richmond. He also assists the company's Project Team on ocassion. DeAundre has proven to be a reliable worker and team player who is willing to help wherever there is a need. He takes pride in his work and consistently produces quality cleaning becoming the top points earner in the company's Rewards Program.

"I worked very hard for this award," said DeAundre with a smile upon receiving his plaque at the company's Oakland office. Yolanda Harris is Janico's Director of Operations. "DeAundre was especially focused on the company's goals of consistent quality and dependability," said Harris. "He is a vocal advocate of the company referring numerous job applicants who were subsequently hired. We are very pleased to have DeAundre on our staff."

The Janico Rewards Program is designed to award points to employees for their efforts and loyalty to the company with the primary focus of the program being to recognize exceptional performance. Points are redeemed for gift cards from every major retailer in the United States, Amazon, restaurants, travel and even cash. Total rewards redeemed in 2018 by Janico employees were valued at over $12,000. The top three points earners for the year are eligible for consideration as Employee of the Year.

Sacramento Company First to Enroll In Calsavers

Capital Public Radio (November 29, 2018) - California is launching a program for workers whose employers don't offer retirement plans - and the first business in the state to sign up is from Sacramento.

Lorenzo Harris and his wife own a janitorial services business in North Highlands. He says his company lacks the resources to offer its 45 workers a way to save for retirement, so when he learned about CalSavers - the state's new savings program for life after work - he thought it might help recruit and retain talent.

"This is kind of unusual for us, I have to say," Harris said on Tuesday during an event at City Hall. "We don't normally support a government mandate." But he said CalSavers is unique and benefits both his company and workers.

Signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown in 2016, the CalSavers program would require any California company with five or more workers to either offer a private retirement plan or sign up for the state's independent-retirement account, or IRA. Employees would be automatically enrolled, but they'd have the right to opt out.

At the event on Tuesday, Treasurer John Chiang said it could help millions of employees in the state plan for life after work. "CalSavers will help facilitate the most sweeping and ambitious expansion of our retirement savings system since Social Security in 1935," he said.

CalSavers is in a "pilot" phase now, although employers can sign up anytime. It will officially launch in July of next year, and mandatory deadlines for companies to register are staggered through 2022. The treasurer estimates it will impact nearly 200,000 California small businesses.

"Today is a new opportunity for 7.5 million hard-working Californians who for too long have been overlooked by Wall Street when it comes to enabling them to save for their own retirements," said Yvonne Walker, a Sacramento-based union leader with the SEIU 1000 chapter and a CalSavers board member.

Proponents estimate that a 25 year old who starts putting money into the state IRA today could save up $350,000 by age 65, but did not specify a level of contribution to achieve this goal. The program was kickstarted with funding from the state and will operate on enrollee fees.

Mayor Darrell Steinberg spoke at the event and said that 5,800 employers would be eligible to participate in the program in Sacramento County. "That's 110,000 workers who currently are not being offered easy access to retirement savings accounts today," the mayor said. "Without this program, many of these people will wind up subsisting - totally on small social security checks," which he says provide approximately $1,400 a month.

In the county, the largest sector of eligible workers are in the food and hospitality industry, with nearly 35,000 employees.

The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association filed a lawsuit against CalSavers and Chiang earlier this year. It argues that the state cannot require companies to enroll workers, because federal law prohibits involuntary participation in these programs.

The U.S. government had paved the way for programs such as CalSavers years ago under the Obama administration, when the Department of Labor ruled state-run IRAs were exempt from federal restrictions if they met certain criteria. But the Trump administration overturned that rule in 2017.

California is the third state in the nation to implement an automatic IRA retirement-savings program, joining Oregon and Illinois.

JBS Supports CalSavers

NORTH HIGHLANDS, CA (August 17, 2018) - The CalSavers Retirement Savings Program will officially open for statewide enrollment in 2019. The Program will ensure all Janico employees have access to a workplace retirement savings plan. CalSavers offers a completely voluntary, low cost, portable retirement savings vehicle with professionally managed investments and oversight from a public, transparent board of directors. With this new employee benefit, Janico is fully committed to the welfare and retirement goals of our employees.

Janico Achieves CIBBP Certification

NORTH HIGHLANDS, CA (March 8, 2018) - Janico Building Services, a family-owned commercial cleaning company, today announced it has earned National Building Service Contractor's Group (NBSCG) Cleaning Industry Best Business Practices (CIBBP) Certification. To achieve Certification, company's must demonstrate core operational proficiencies; Quality Systems, Service Delivery, Human Resources; Safety and Health, Management Commitment and Green Building.

The company's compliance with the NBSCG-developed Standard demonstrates its commitment to delivering consistent, high-quality and professional service to its customers.

"This Certification assures that we have the systems and processes in place to exceed our customers' expectations," said Lorenzo Harris, President of Janico. "One of the major tenets of the Standard is continuous improvement. With that always in mind, the CIBBP Certification process has strengthened our company and our customer partnerships," added Harris.

The CIBBP Certification also highlights the company's commitment to providing environmentally preferable cleaning practices and recognizes its ability to assist its customers in complying with the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System.

NBSCG is a national association of local and regional building service contractors located in the lower 48 states. Members must either be CIBBP Certified through NBSC Group or Cleaning Industry Management Standard (CIMS) Certified through International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA). Being an NBSC Group member gives current and prospective clients the confidence that they have a partner that exemplifies professionalism and best practices in the commercial cleaning industry.

Zamora is 2017 Employee of the Year

NORTH HIGHLANDS, CA (February 6, 2018) - Janico is pleased to announce that Christina Zamora has been recognized as the company's Employee of the Year for 2017.

Christina rejoined the company in May 2017 after a 7-month absence. She serves as a part-time janitor at the County of Sacramento Women Infants and Children (WIC) office in Del Paso Heights and Highlands Eighty Commerce Center in North Highlands. Christina quickly rose up the company's Rewards Points leader board due to the consistent quality of her work, willingness to fill additional shifts and dependability. She finished the year with 82,400 Rewards Points in only eight months of service.

"Christina is a great employee, who is dedicated to her job," said Area Supervisor Teresa Labuguen. "When I ask her to help cover shifts, she is always there. Christina takes pride in her work, reports for her shift on time, and is always full of energy ready to work. It's a great pleasure to have Christina as part of my team."

As the Employee of the Year, Christina received a plaque and an additional 50,000 points to be redeemed for merchandise. She is to be congratulated on this huge accomplishment.

The Janico Rewards Program is designed to reward employee efforts and loyalty to the company with the primary focus of the program being to recognize exceptional performance. Points are awarded for such achievements as filling in as relief at a different job site, perfect attendance, employee referrals, customer satisfaction and 80+ inspection scores. The employee with the most total points earned is recognized as the Employee of the Year.

JBS Earns Back to Back Image Awards

BSCAI CLEAN Awards Winners (December 19, 2017) - Janico Building Services has been awarded the Building Service Contractors Association International (BSCAI) 2016 Image Award for the second consecutive year. The company also won the award in 2015, which represents Janico's excellence in enhancing the image of the company and the building services contractor industry, recognized as the best in class by it's industry association.

"Janico is honored to receive this award for the second consecutive year," said company founder and President Lorenzo Harris. "In a competitive Northern California market, we pride ourselves in projecting a professional image both in behalf of our company and the building service contractor industry."

BSCAI represents a worldwide network of more than 1,000 member companies from across the United States and 15 countries worldwide that provide cleaning, facility maintenance, security, landscaping and other related services to building owners and managers.

JBS Named to Business Journal's 2017 Book of Lists

NORTH HIGHLANDS, CA (August 1, 2017) - Lorenzo Harris, President of Janico Building Services, has announced that the firm was ranked in the Sacramento Business Journal's annual 2017 Book of Lists for Largest Minority-Owned Businesses. The Sacramento Business Journal ranked the companies based on 2016 revenue.

"We are excited to be ranked in the 2017 Sacramento Business Journal's Book of Lists," said Harris. "Janico's mission is to be the firm of choice in the region for commercial janitorial services."

Janico Building Services is a full-service building service contractor serving Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay Area. Established in 1985 by President Lorenzo Harris, Janico provides janitorial, floor care, window cleaning and maintenance services for commercial property managers and building owners.

Janico Employees to Benefit from Retirement Savings

SecureChoice AARP (March 19, 2017) - Once California's Secure Choice Retirement Savings Program is open for enrollment, employers with 5 or more employees who do not offer an employer-sponsored retirement plan will be required to provide their employees with access to the Secure Choice Retirement Savings Program. The employer mandate will be phased-in gradually over a three-year period, depending on the size of the business, allowing all businesses to successfully adapt to the changes implemented under SB 1234.

Lorenzo Harris, President of Janico Building Services, a commercial janitorial service provider in North Highlands said his employees stand to benefit from the new law. "We know firsthand that many small business owners want to offer retirement benefits, but aren't able to due to cost, business size, and lack of HR/administrative staff to oversee the plans," said Harris.

"The California Secure Choice program will make it easier for small business owners to offer this benefit to their employees, which puts small employers on an even playing field with larger businesses that can typically afford to offer retirement benefits. Additionally, this will help small businesses attract and retain talented employees, as research shows potential employees are drawn to places of employment that offer retirement benefits."

Information will continue to be updated as the Secure Choice Retirement Savings and Investment Board finalizes program details.

Barrera is 2016 Employee of the Year

NORTH HIGHLANDS, CA (February 9, 2017) - Janico Building Services is pleased to announce that Jose Barrera has been recognized as the company's Employee of the Year for 2016.

Jose has been with the company since July 2012 and serves as the full-time lead janitor at the County of Sacramento Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) building located in South Sacramento. He also assists the company's Project Team from time to time. Jose has proven to be a reliable worker and team player who is willing to help wherever there is a need. He often receives praise from management and clients alike for his positive attitude and quality of work. Hence, Jose was the top points earner in the company's Rewards Program, earning 65,500 points for the year.

As the Employee of the Year, Barrera received a plaque and an additional 50,000 points to be redeemed for merchandise. Please join us in congratulating Jose on his huge accomplishment.

The Janico Rewards Program is designed to reward employee efforts and loyalty to the company with the primary focus of the program being to recognize exceptional performance. Points are awarded for such achievements as filling in as relief at a different job site, perfect attendance, employee referrals, customer satisfaction and 80+ inspection scores. The employee with the most total points earned is recognized as the Employee of the Year.

JBS Wins BSCAI Image Award

BSCAI CLEAN Awards Winners (November 1, 2016) - Lorenzo Harris, President of Janico Building Services, a full service commercial contract cleaning company, announced the company has been awarded the Building Service Contractors Association International (BSCAI) 2015 Image Award for the mid-size company category. This award represents Janico's excellence in enhancing the image of the company and the building services contractor industry, recognized as the best in class by it's industry association.

"Janico is honored to receive this award, which affirms that our marketing efforts are in line with best practices of our industry," said Harris.

BSCAI represents a worldwide network of more than 1,000 member companies from across the United States and 15 countries worldwide that provide cleaning, facility maintenance, security, landscaping and other related services to building owners and managers.

Janico Assists Women Battling Cancer

Cleaning For A Reason (February 12, 2016) - Janico Building Services, a commercial building service contractor, has teamed up with Cleaning For A Reason, an international nonprofit foundation. Janico is dedicated to excellence and customer satisfaction. For more than 30 years, the company has built a reputation for delivering quality and cost-effective service that allows its clients to focus on their core businesses.

"Janico has always been aware of its responsibility to our community and cancer awareness," said owner Lorenzo Harris. "In partnering with Cleaning For A Reason, Janico has added residential cleaning for cancer patients to its services. Battling cancer is hard enough. These women need to focus on their health and family, not on cleaning their homes. We want to have a positive impact on the lives of those that need assistance. Janico is very excited about the opportunity to make a difference in our community."

Janico Building Services has agreed to help women battling cancer by cleaning at least two homes per month for four consecutive months at no charge. The only requirement is that the homes be within the company's existing service areas of Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay Area. For more information about this company, go to www.janicoservices.com.

Cleaning For A Reason strives to aid women who are battling cancer by teaming up with professional cleaning companies across the United States and Canada. Together, these two forces offer free house cleaning to meet the needs of women, and since 2006, have donated more than $5.5 million in free services, helping more than 20,000 women with cancer. Based in Lewisville, TX, Cleaning For A Reason works with more than 1,200 professional cleaning companies and continues to grow and gain support. To learn more about Cleaning For A Reason and to apply for free house cleaning, see www.cleaningforareason.org.

Cleaning Contractor Calls for Immigration Reform

Small Business Majority (August 22, 2014) - Lorenzo Harris makes a living sweeping away the dirt. But he certainly is not swept away by the state of our nation's current immigration system. As the CEO and principal of Janico Building Services, a full-service building maintenance and cleaning contractor with 40 employees in Sacramento, Harris understands first-hand how undocumented immigrants affect the cleaning industry, particularly when it comes to the hiring process.

"The hiring of undocumented workers has become widespread in our industry," he said, noting that many are often paid "under the table" and less than minimum wage in order for the company "to gain an unfair competitive advantage."

Witnessing the mistreatment of many immigrant workers in his line of business has inspired Harris to rectify these misdeeds at his own company. Janico Building Services employs workers who are immigrants from all over the world, including Mexico, Puerto Rico, Russia and Asia, and pays all of its workers fair wages.

"[They] are often the hardest working and most loyal employees, many with family members who can't get decent jobs," he said. "College admission becomes problematic too because of their immigration status."

Harris notes that American born citizens are much less likely to pursue employment in cleaning industry jobs, which enables many cleaning service companies to target undocumented workers for employment they desperately look for, and pay them meager wages. This creates an unfair playing field that hurts other small employers like Harris who play by the rules and pay their workers fairly.

Because his industry attracts many undocumented workers, Harris understands from a small business perspective the need for immigration reform that allows these workers better access to jobs and a path toward citizenship.

In fact, Harris is not alone in these sentiments. A scientific opinion poll conducted by Small Business Majority found that a vast three-quarters of small business owners believe creating a path toward legal citizenship for undocumented workers should be part of our country's immigration reform. The poll also found that 64% of small business owners think it's important to allow more low skilled foreign workers, who might work in industries like cleaning services, into this country legally.

"Hopefully, immigration reform will address many of these issues," Harris said, echoing the beliefs of 90% of business owners who agree that our current system is broken.

Janico Awarded Amtrak Contract

ROSEVILLE, CA (March 1, 2014) - Janico Building Services recently secured a contract from National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) to provide a full range of janitorial services to Amtrak stations located throughout Northern California. The janitorial service contract is for approximately $1.5 million over a five-year period.

Under this contract, Janico will provide maintenance services to include janitorial, window washing, floor and carpet care, graffiti removal and pressure washing. The contract encompasses Amtrak's Capital Corridor and centralizes functional responsibility and maximizes efficiency by combining maintenance services into one performance requirement.

The contract win amid a stiff competitive environment signifies the inherent service quality of Janico. The company provides various services to address the challenges of building owners, property and facility managers and government agencies, including critical quality support services.

Janico has a healthy contract pipeline and is well diversified in the private and public sectors. In the last fiscal year, total revenue increased 17.8% year over year, primarily driven by organic growth from new sales and expansion of services with existing clients.

JBS Founder Earns LEED® Certification

SACRAMENTO, CA (June 7, 2012) - Lorenzo Harris, Founder and Principal of Janico Building Services, has been designated by the U.S. Green Building Council as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Green Associate.

The LEED® Green Building Rating System is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. As a LEED® Green Associate, Harris has gained knowledge of green design and construction to be able to assist clients in protecting their innovations in the expanding green technology sector. The LEED® Green Associate credential distinguishes professionals with the knowledge and skills to successfully support green design, construction and operations.

Harris has spearheaded Janico's efforts to implement environmental stewardship in its building maintenance processes while partnering with building owners and property managers to obtain LEED® certification for their projects. In his role as LEED®-EB partner, Harris has assisted numerous clients in complying with their LEED® Green cleaning requirements. Harris' LEED® certification enables him to assist clients in the procurement of commercial products and services that increase efficiency, preserve natural resources, and reduce emissions.

"Our goal is to be a resource to our clients in the area of sustainable green building, operations and maintenance," said Harris. "We are committed to supporting our customers in the maintenance of environmentally progressive and energy-efficient buildings."

Harris Elected CREW President

SACRAMENTO, CA (January 12, 2012) - Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Sacramento, the industry's leading advocate for the success of women in commercial real estate, announced at its January program today that Yolanda Harris was elected 2012 CREW Sacramento president.

Harris is Director of Business Development for Sacramento-based Janico Building Services, a regional building service contracting firm that services commercial clients in the Sacramento region and greater San Francisco Bay Area. Harris co-founded Janico in 1985, and assumed her current role in February 1998. She has more than 26 years of experience in the commercial real estate services industry.

Harris is a longtime CREW Network member, having joined the Sacramento Chapter in 1998. She has served on many CREW committees, and earned the chapter's Member of the Year honor in 2000. In 2008, Harris was elected to the Board of Directors, in addition to serving as the chapter's Membership Director from 2008-2010. In conjunction with her many roles within CREW, Harris also served on the Northern California Supplier Development Council (NCSDC) Board of Directors from November 2003 until December 2006. She was CREW Sacramento's President-Elect in 2011.

CREW Sacramento also announced new and returning board members and officers: