Choose to challenge

Today on International Women’s Day 2021, I want to thank and celebrate the contribution and achievements of the women working at GJK Facility Services.

The theme this year is “Choose to Challenge,” a rallying cry to remember to do our part to take action for gender equality. Women are the backbone of our business and indeed our industry, with commercial cleaning alone employing more than 150,000 people Australia-wide, and the majority of them are women.

As business leaders, we all have a role to play in raising awareness against bias, and actively seeking equality Supporting women should never be relegated to just one day in a year, but today is a great day to raise those conversations, and to honestly reflect on how we can better support women in all areas of our lives.

Adapt and pivot

If 2020 taught us anything, it was just how essential a role cleaners play in the health and safety of the public. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic cleaning professionals have been frontline workers and, as we enter the New Year with cautious optimism, it is clear that cleaners will remain crucial to a successful transition to a safe and healthy “new normal” for our nation.

As our Director of Strategic Relationships, Kristiana Greenwood, wrote in a recent article for issue 43 of HealthCare Facilities Magazine, we are in the midst of a one in 100 year event that has changed the future forever.

She pointed out that the cleaning industry had had to pivot and change “as fast as the medical industry” because cleaning professionals were the people protecting us from needing medical care in the first place.

“Standard cleaning is no longer an option,” Kristiana said, “new processes, new products, new training, and new strategies have had to be developed and adopted within an extremely short amount of time.”

In her article, “Pivot: A Shift to a New Strategy,” Kristiana outlined the ways in which our industry pivoted - rapidly and successfully - to face the specific new challenges presented by COVID-19, and discussed the roles that professional cleaning will play in a post-COVID world.

“The good news is that we have adapted and we are now prepared,” she added. “Complacency is not a word any longer in our vocabulary and professional commercial cleaning companies are now being viewed with a different lens.”

Environmental stewardship

The Facilities Management environment is in a period of significant transition, brought on not least by the challenges of COVID-19, and certainly exacerbated by ever-evolving technology, urbanisation, and infrastructure development.

But perhaps one of the biggest and most important changes in our sector in recent years is a growing awareness that we need to be better stewards of this planet. After all, the property and construction sectors, alone, are responsible 40 percent of total energy consumption, 40 percent of C02 emissions, and 40 percent of waste generated.

In a recent panel-presentation at the TEFMA Directors Forum, GJK Facility Services Director of Strategic Relationships, Kristiana Greenwood, told delegates that facility managers would need to introduce a “circular economy” approach to environmental stewardship practises. A circular economy, in this context, is based on the principles of designing-out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems.

To reduce the consumption of resources and the impact on the climate, Kristiana and her fellow panelists (Professor Stephen Parker, Global Lead of Education and Skills at KPMG International; and Professor Stuart McCutcheon, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Auckland) said we needed not only to reduce energy consumption within buildings, but also to transfer this energy demand to renewable energy resources, such as wind or solar energy.

“Facility managers are going to have to reconsider their procurement strategies in the future to facilitate the circular economy model.” Kristiana said.

Children's gallery: safe work

Here in Australia, October every year is known as “National Safe Work Month,” a campaign hosted by Safe Work Australia to raise awareness of workplace health and safety.

Last year close to 180 people died while doing their jobs, and approximately 107,000 people made workers’ compensation claims. Safe Work Australia makes the point that it’s not only the workers themselves who are impacted by work-related injuries and illnesses. The ramifications are felt by individuals, their families and the broader community.

Since the entire family can be impacted by a workplace injury or illness, at GJK Facility Services we like to involve the whole family in the National Safe Work Month activities by focusing on something a lot more positive: art. Each year during this month, we host a drawing and colouring-in competition for our employees’ children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. The winning drawings are then used to illustrate our Safety Calendar.

The artworks the children submitted this year were vibrant, intelligent, thoughtful and a joy to behold. What a talented bunch!

R U OK? A caring workplace

We were privileged to have Priscilla Lund, a workplace mindset and behavioural health consultant, visit the workplace at GJK Facility Services this month to help us learn more about the ways in which workplaces can create strains on employees’ mental health, alongside ways in which we can recognise signs of struggle in our colleagues, and provide both personal support and facilitate a more supportive environment.

Priscila’s visit was prompted by R U OK Day, but of course these are important conversations to have every day. Ensuring that the workplace is a safe place, where conversations around mental health are as normalised as conversations around physical health, will help to promote a culture of caring and collaboration.

Priscilla told the group, “It is important for organisations to raise awareness around the importance of mental health and wellbeing by encouraging connectiveness, compassion, working as teams and creating collaborative environments so we can care for each other.”

The core message of her presentation was that “It’s OK not to be OK.” She continued, “We need to understand that it’s OK not to be OK. When this awareness comes into play and we are open to the conversation that we’re having a bad day and feeling a little down, kind of like having a headache, let’s look after it and treat it as we would a physical ailment.”

More of Priscilla’s presentation has been shared on the GJK Facility Services blog.

ALEC talks us through how to ask R U OK? at Work. Learn more at www.ruok.org.au/workThis resource was developed with the support of the QBE Foundation.

2020 Indigenous Scholarship

I believe it is extraordinarily important for businesses in Australia to give back to the communities in which we work. We have a responsibility to help change lives, and this is a belief that resonates with everyone at GJK Facility Services.

Today I’m very proud to announce the opening of the 2020 Indigenous Scholarship, in partnership with UNE Partnerships, GJK Facility Services, and GJK Indigenous Solutions.

The purpose of this scholarship is to help redress the systemic disadvantage experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, by providing two recipients with opportunities to further their careers by studying a Diploma of Facilities Management. The scholarships are open to members of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage who work in the facilities management industry, with two full scholarships awarded to the highest-ranked applicants.

Take your dog to work

A bit of friendly, tail-wagging fun at the office this week on “take your dog to work day.” One up-side to most of us working from home these days is the company of our four-legged friends, and there are plenty of studies around that demonstrate the benefit of pets in the workplace, for both productivity and wellbeing.

Protecting our people

As lockdown regulations ease and more Australians are beginning to return to work and school, the team at GJK Facility Services has created this short video, outlining the five things that employers can do to protect themselves and their teams as they return to the workplace.

It’s straightforward, simple, and easy to follow, so I’ve shared it here for anyone seeking clarity on this challenge.

We will remember them

While it’s certainly true that Anzac Day is looking vastly different to any we have ever experienced, the respect and gratitude we owe the men and women who have served our nation is unwavering. Today we honour and remember those Australians who have served, both past and present.

Earth Day every day

As the world reels from the spread and impact of COVID-19, one of the few silver linings has been the temporary relief that the “stay at home” message has had on our environment. From ducks in the Trevi Fountain to pollution-free skies over Los Angeles, our planet is demonstrating just how healing a small respite can be.

Here in Australia, from our living rooms and balconies and back yards, lockdown is an invitation to reconnect with the simple things we might have been taking for granted, and re-learning what brings us the most joy. And for many of us, that joy comes from access to nature: to blue skies, clean air, shady trees and the feel of grass under bare feet. It’s no surprise that during the. recent weeks and months, the limited time we have been able to spend outside has become ever-more precious to us Aussies. We prefer to be, after all, “young and free.”

Today we celebrate Earth Day and, even though we may be stuck at home, there are many choices each of us can still take to protect our planet, and help her hold on to some of the fragile gains she has made during these difficult days. What this looks like will be different for everyone, but whether this means campaigning, composting or changing the car air filter, every one of us has an opportunity to contribute to the health of our planet. There’s an excellent list of ways to make a positive impact on the Earth Day website, here.

Unsung COVID heroes

Shout out to all the cleaners and hygiene workers the world over who, in my eyes, are among the unsung heroes of this global pandemic. I think we could all agree that right now, cleanliness and hygiene has never been more important, and it is these men and women who are helping to ensure the comfort and safety of us all.

While much of the world is staying safely at home, they are going into those homes - and workplaces, public buildings, public transport and parks - to maintain a continued high standard of cleanliness and hygiene.

Our own team at GJK Facility Services is doing an extraordinary job, and I am enormously proud to have each of them represent my company.

Three members of our team, Sandyha Bhattarai, Richard Millhouse and Nicholas Shaw, have been going above and beyond to help one of our university clients respond quickly and safely to the “new COVID normal,” and I want to take the opportunity to praise them here.

Thank you Sandyha, Richard and Nicholas, and thank you to the rest of the team at GJK Facility Services. You are doing an amazing job.

Staying united

One of the most heartening things I have witnessed in recent days has been the ways in which Australians have risen to the challenges we are facing in these strange and unusual days, adapting with creativity, intelligence and good humour to circumstances none of us could have predicted.

Our team at GJK Facility Services recently started an initiative called #cupofcare, as a simple way to check in on one another, and to remain socially and emotionally connected despite the new isolation rules. On our Facebook page, they described the initiative this way:

“As we transition and adjust to business as not-so-usual, it’s important to not only focus on our physical health, but our mental wellbeing… Our initiative #cupocare allows us to practice what we preach, from teamwork zoom meetings to one-on-one face-timing with a cuppa in hand, catching up and having a chat about the things that matter the most.

“This is just one of many ways as a business, we can support each other and help us to stay united as a team.”

Harmony week

Happy World Harmony Week to you!

As COVID-19 continues to spread and Australia takes unprecedented measures of closing borders, grounding international travel and encouraging widespread social distancing, it is more important than ever that we take the time to notice, practise and celebrate kindness and respect.

At GJK, we believe that solidarity is our strength, and we strive to build a culture in which everyone feels they belong. The workplace should be a safe place that fosters respect and support, and it is my personal hope that the workplace, for our people, will feel like a second home.

I am enormously proud of the cultural diversity within our organisation, as well as in the wider network of our supply-chain and clients. Our staff members represent more than 45 countries and cultures, and yet we feel more like a family than a company.

It gives me great pleasure to celebrate the importance and value of diversity and harmony in our company - and within our nation - this week.

Stay safe & informed

During these unprecedented times, I urge everyone to stay informed and take all relevant measures to stay safe. The safety and wellbeing of our staff and clients is paramount to us at GJK Facility Services, and we are taking all necessary precautions to keep our people safe, including implementing the necessary controls advised by the Department of Health, to stop this virus spreading.

I also believe it is essential to create awareness and ensure we are all accurately informed. The Australian Government has advised the public on how to best prevent the spread of this disease, as well as quarantine and self-isolation guidelines, and what to do if you are presenting symptoms.

The Department of Health website is regularly updated, and can be viewed here: https://lnkd.in/ezSAsrc.

Women in business

The team at GJK Facility Services celebrated International Women’s Day this week by attending a number of events that showcase women in business.

Our leadership and staff are passionate about - and committed to - prioritising gender equality. We believe this is a vital business stance, that equally benefits employees, customers and communities.

We were privileged to hear from Kristiana Greenwood and Fiona Dunster at the FMA International Women’s Day event, who spoke about their experiences and successes within their business journeys, as well as the importance of mentoring.

The GJK team also attended a Business Chicks Australia event to hear from three women who were championing gender equality: Sam Bloom, Jane Caro and Fiori Giovanni.

Our generous staff

I am immensely proud of the many staff members at GJK Facility Services who donate their time and money to support The Hunger Project, an international, non-profit organisation aimed at ending world hunger.

Our staff have been involved with The Hunger Project since 2015. In 2017 we pledged to raise money for the Bougue Epicentre and, since then, our people have raised more than $90,000 through simple but effective fundraising strategies, like raffles, lunches, and workplace giving.

The impact of their efforts is extraordinary: every $2 given can feed a family for month.

More information about The Hunger Project, their wonderful work and ways to give or get involved, can be found on the official Hunger Project website.

Coronavirus safety

With the spread of the Novel Coronavirus now declared a global heath emergency by the World Health Organisation, GJK Facility Services is prioritising the health of its staff and clients.

We are closely monitoring any updates by the Australian Government Department of Health, in order to provide our people with critical information needed to ensure their wellbeing. Part of this involves extra precautions across client facilities, providing both staff and students with hand sanitisers and masks.

GJK Facility Services will continue to support and monitor this situation as it unfolds.

Bushfire donations

How wonderful to see the rain this week! Whilst this welcomed drenching is helping many fire ravaged and drought stricken communities, there are parts of both NSW and VIC that are still on fire or seen little to no rain.

I urge you to please not stop donating to any charity, cause or project that helps those impacted by this horrific crisis. It doesn't matter who you donate to as long as the efforts go to the right people or organisation.

If you don’t have a charity of choice, GJK Facility Services is hosting a GoFundMe page for the Australian Red Cross, and they will match any gift you make, dollar for dollar.

Bushfire support

My thoughts and prayers are with anyone who has been impacted by these absolutely devastating fires across our country. No words or actions can be begin to take away from the horror that has unfolded in serval states.

I would like to start by reaching out to our entire network and ask anyone who has been impacted or needs help in anyway, to please contact me or my team at GJK Facility Services via phone, text or LinkedIn Message, and we will do whatever we can to support you.

In addition to this, I want to sincerely thank the tireless efforts of the men and women who are fighting to keep us safe. Thank you and stay safe everyone!

Franchising reform

A recent parliamentary inquiry into franchising in Australia proposed some substantial changes to how franchising businesses were run in Australia, and how this is reflected in the code of conduct. 

Disturbingly, the parliamentary committee found that there was systematic exploitation of some franchisees by a subset of franchisors, and the existing regulatory framework wasn’t adequately protecting them.

In response, the parliamentary committee proposed substantial changes to the Franchising Code of Conduct and to the responsibilities and powers of the ACCC. This included a raft of changes designed to lift the standards of franchise operators and rebuild confidence in franchising in Australia.

Within the cleaning industry, I believe these changes to how the franchise model operates, together with other recent recommendations and advancements, such as subcontractor reporting and single-touch payroll, are another step towards building an even stronger, fairer and sustainable industry.

In effect, these changes will amount to another weapon in our industry’s armoury against illegitimate and unscrupulous operators. 

Writing from the BSCAA perspective, I believe that can only be a good thing. We welcome these reforms to the franchising business sector. We see them as a reward for the majority of cleaning and related businesses in Australia that have worked hard to run their businesses legitimately and with integrity. It’s those businesses that will reap the rewards.

Here is the full overview I made on this issue as it relates to the cleaning industry, for InClean magazine.