Flashings

Mold's effect keeps spreading

During the 1990s, fungus was excluded from standard homeowner insurance policies. Now, as the mold craze spreads to offices and apartments, building owners are finding fungus insurance coverage to be less affordable.

"People start worrying about mold at home, and before long, they're worrying about it in the workplace, too," says Loretta Worters, vice president of communications at the Insurance Information Institute, New York. "The [insurance] industry is pretty jittery right now because people have big dollar signs in their eyes and trial lawyers [are] egging them on to go after the deepest pockets available."

Because of a lack of fungus coverage, some building owners are rewriting leases to make tenants responsible for certain damages that could lead to mold problems. But this may spur additional problems.

Russ Nassof, president of Environomics, an industrial hygiene and legal support service in Phoenix, says, "The revamped leases promise a new wave of litigation as owners and tenants fight over who's responsible for damages."

Passing the buck

Sometimes, a vague sense of job duties can cause a shirking of responsibility. Other times, office politics can result in an employee handing his or her duties to someone else. If you notice your employees are trying to pass their responsibilities off to co-workers, try these tips to keep them focused and motivated:

• Write down each employee's specific tasks, and stick by them
.
• Ensure employees can handle the tasks given to them. Provide employees with some smaller tasks to practice, and then let them apply the tasks to the larger picture.
• Offer an incentive for your employees whether it is monetary compensation or potential advancement in the company.

Source: Adapted from The Barbarian's Guide to Executive Management as cited in First Draft, August 2003 issue.

Union committee addresses labor-management issues

The United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers (UURWAW) announced the formation of the Union-Contractor Relations Committee (UCRC). The committee was developed to promote and encourage communication between, facilitate meetings for and offer solicited advice to labor and management groups. The committee was not created to participate in negotiations related to collective-bargaining agreements or mandate resolutions to problems.

In addition, the committee is working to establish local labor-management committees throughout the United States to address concerns, correct misunderstandings and re-establish mutual trust between the groups. UCRC has formed local committees in Detroit and Seattle and provided assistance to committees in Hammond, Ind.; Gary, Ind.; and Chicago.

UCRC is co-chaired by UURWAW International President John Martini and Douglas Jones, executive vice president of NRCA member South Side Roofing & Sheet Metal Co. Inc., St. Louis. Other committee members include Paul Bickford, UURWAW international vice president, Boston; Robert Feely, president of NRCA member Feely McAnespie Inc., Chelmsford, Mass.; Bruce Fryer, president of NRCA member Fryer Roofing Co. Inc., Fresno, Calif.; and Douglas Ziegler, UURWAW international vice president, Oakland, Calif.

For more information about UCRC or to request assistance from the committee, contact Martini at (202) 463-7663; fax (202) 463-6906; or e-mail roofers@unionroofers.com.

Firestone names new president

David Grass retired as president of Firestone Building Products Co., Carmel, Ind., effective Feb. 1. Mike Gorey succeeded Grass as president and also was named chairman, chief executive officer (CEO) and president of Carmel-based BFS Diversified Products LLC, the parent company of Firestone Building Products. Gorey began his career with the company in 1983 as a senior auditor of Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. (The company merged with Bridgestone U.S.A. in 1990 to form Bridgestone Americas Holding Inc., Nashville, Tenn.) Since 1983, Gorey has held several financial and management positions at Bridgestone's North American operations, including his recent position as vice president of finance and corporate controller for Bridgestone Americas Holding.

"I am excited about the outstanding growth opportunities that lie ahead," Gorey explains. "Firestone Building Products has an energized and experienced team that has worked hard to win the confidence of our customers. I look forward to building on our existing business partnerships and helping our customers gain even more confidence in the products we offer."

Grass joined Firestone Tire & Rubber in 1968 as a sales trainee of the Industrial Products Business Division in Noblesville, Ind. He became president of the division in 1992 and accepted the position of president of Firestone Building Products in 1998.

John Lampe, the recently retired chairman, CEO and president of Bridgestone Americas Holding and BFS Diversified Products, said at the time of Grass' retirement: "Dave exemplifies the heart of our company. He is devoted to his associates; he is focused on providing the ultimate in customer service to those who purchase his products; and he works to make the company a part of the community. We will miss him."

Pittsburgh Corning's Chapter 11 plan is approved

On Nov. 26, 2003, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania approved Pittsburgh-based Pittsburgh Corning Corp.'s proposed Second Amended Disclosure Statement and Plan of Reorganization. Pittsburgh Corning filed bankruptcy April 16, 2000. The company became involved with many asbestos-related lawsuits because it marketed a liquid asbestos-fibrated roof coating product from 1946-63.

A hearing to confirm the plan will be held May 3-7. Claimants who are entitled to vote on the plan must cast their votes by March 2. For additional information about the plan, visit www.asbestos-pcc.com.

The cost of stress

Most employees are familiar with the problem of stress in the workplace. However, a majority of employees may not be aware stress costs billions of dollars per year—$300 billion to be precise. A study by the American Institute of Stress reported the cost was a result of loss in productivity and escalation in health-care claims and employee turnover. Also, for the 550 million workdays affected by employee absences, the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work says stress is the main reason for more than 50 percent of that loss.

Stress in the workplace is said to be rooted in a combination of fear and an employee's inability to get away from his or her job. Employees' fears often stem from not making enough money, the possibility of losing their jobs and being part of violence in the work environment. In addition, with the presence of cell phones and pagers, employees feel they constantly are on call and have a hard time relaxing even when they are not at work.

A poll taken by the Gallup Organization, Princeton, N.J., in 2000 yielded some startling results—80 percent of respondents feel the pressure of job stress. Almost 50 percent of that group feel they need help dealing with stress. Other results were that 25 percent of those polled feel like screaming; 14 percent feel the desire to hit a co-worker; and 10 percent are concerned about becoming violent.

Source: Adapted from the MSNBC Web site as cited in The Motivational Manager, October 2003 issue.