Flashings

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E-mail scam threatens taxpayers

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently alerted taxpayers about an e-mail scam intended to make e-mail recipients believe they are under investigation by the IRS's Criminal Investigation division. The scam appears to be aimed at small-business owners as well as individual taxpayers.

The e-mail falsely states that recipients are under criminal investigation for submitting false tax returns to the California Franchise Board and instructs recipients to click on a link or open an attachment for more information. The link or attachment is actually a Trojan Horse virus that can take over a recipient's computer's hard drive and allow the sender remote access to the computer.

The IRS never sends unsolicited e-mails or asks for detailed personal or financial information, personal identification numbers, passwords or similar access information for credit card, bank or other financial accounts.

If you receive a questionable e-mail claiming to come from the IRS, do not open attachments or click on links contained in the e-mail. Instead, forward the e-mail to phishing@irs.gov. (These instructions can be found on www.irs.gov by entering "phishing" in the search box.)

The Dow Chemical Co. announces price increase

The Dow Chemical Co., Midland, Mich., has raised its prices for all pure and polymeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate by 5 cents per pound. This price increase applies to all polyurethane market segments and end-use applications in the U.S. and Canada.

Bill will help small businesses comply with regulations

President Bush recently signed a bill that will provide small businesses with compliance guides for federal regulations. Amendment 103 in the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007, will strengthen Section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Board Fairness Act, which requires federal agencies to publish a compliance guide for each final rule that has a significant economic effect on a substantial number of small businesses.

"Research shows that American small businesses are disproportionately impacted by federal regulations," says Thomas M. Sullivan, chief council for advocacy. "By requiring federal agencies to produce understandable and useable compliance guides, Congress has taken a step toward reducing that burden."

Stop stress

Stress is common in today's fast-paced world, but you don't have to succumb to that overwhelming feeling. Keep the following tips in mind when stress begins to overpower you:

• Don't waste time. Use your work hours wisely, keeping in mind that hours spent at work should be meaningful and productive.
• Don't feel compelled to take on extra tasks. If there is a job that can easily be done by another employee, feel free to hand it off.
• Don't worry about how other people do their jobs. Trust co-workers to handle their responsibilities.
• Identify a part of your job you love to do. Make sure you take time every week to do this activity.

Source: Adapted from First Draft, May issue

Conflict to conversation

Employee conflicts don't have to be destructive. If employees are arguing about the right way to complete a project or overcome an obstacle, there are various things you can do to help them resolve the argument and get back to work.

• Write it down. Although it may seem time-consuming, writing down an argument's points can help resolve it more quickly. With all points mapped out in print, there is no need for repetition by either employee.
• Identify main points. Often, you will find there are only one or two main differences between arguments. When you discover the main points, ask follow-up questions to better understand the merits of each side. If one employee's argument is clearly better, the dispute can be resolved. If both employees make good points, allow discussion to continue.
• Focus on positive aspects. Ask each employee to name a positive aspect of the other person's argument and how this aspect could be worked into a solution. This will enable you to make the best use of the good points of each argument.
• Ask to be updated. Once an approach is agreed on, allow employees to return to work. But don't let the conversation end there—ask for progress reports, and share the results with both employees.

Source: Adapted from The Manager's Intelligence Report, April issue

Details

Brett R. Maurer
President of Highland Roofing Co., Los Angeles

What is the most unusual roofing project you've performed?
Work on the Los Angeles County Men's Central Jail—it was a different type of clientele.

Why did you become a roofing contractor?
I think it was because of the independent streak in me. Even when I was roofing for other contractors, the thing I really liked about my job was that I was given a house to roof and pretty much left alone. It was up to me to do the job correctly and make sure the customer was happy. Now, I like having the responsibility of making sure all the right things are done at Highland Roofing to make sure we are successful. I guess I like knowing the buck stops with me.

What was your first roofing experience?
Tearing off roofs during the summer when I was 16. Looking back at those days now, I realize I actually had fun doing it and enjoyed going to work.

What are your favorite items on your desk?
My computer, telephone and Post-it® Notes—three indispensable tools.

What do you consider your most rewarding experiences?
On the personal side, being a husband and dad. I never realized how tough but rewarding both can be. Professionally, being part of the team that has grown Highland Roofing to where it is now and knowing I'll be part of the team that will help Highland Roofing grow in the future.

What do you consider a waste of time?
Disorganization because of a lack of planning and redoing something that should have been done right the first time.

What was your first job?
When I was 15, I worked for Hinshaw's Department Store in the janitorial/maintenance department during the summer. I started at 4:30 a.m. I know now that job definitely kept me out of trouble that summer because I would go to bed between 8:30 and 9:00 p.m.

What is your favorite vacation?
Snowboarding at June Lake, Calif., or camping at Lake Powell, Utah.

What is your favorite stress reliever?
Off-road racing.

What are the most challenging aspects of your job?
Learning and implementing the skills that are needed to transition from being a roofing worker to managing a roofing company. For me, that's a hard lesson.

What are your biggest pet peeves?
Los Angeles traffic and people who don't respect others' time.

What are your best and worst habits?
My best habit is picking great people to work at Highland Roofing and letting them do their jobs. My worst habit is procrastination.

If you could invite any three people to dinner (dead or alive), whom would you invite and why?
My sister Paula who passed away when she was two—I wish I had known her. My friend Bill Bryant—I wish I could talk with him one last time. And the NRCA president for 2107—I wish I knew what the roofing industry will be like in 100 years.

What is your roofing industry involvement?
I am past president of the Roofing Contractors Association of California and serve on NRCA's board of directors.

People would be surprised to know …
What a bad dancer and singer I am.

Tecta America sponsors environmental art exhibit

Skokie, Ill.-based Tecta America Corp. is sponsoring a green roof globe on display in Chicago's Cool Globes: Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet, a public art exhibition designed to encourage people to take action against global warming. The exhibition kicked off June 1 and will run through the summer.

The globe, which was designed by Chicago artist Carol Luc and titled "Gracie Green Roof," has a steel-cut tiara and "hair" consisting of various types of sedum and other drought-tolerant plants, which comprise most green roof systems. The globe is intended to illustrate green roof system construction as one solution to help reduce global warming.

The Cool Globes exhibit includes more than 120 globes designed by local, national and international artists. Each globe represents a solution to global warming. The globes are on display at Chicago's Field Museum campus along Lake Michigan and at several prominent locations throughout the city.

"I'm very proud that Chicago has become nationally known for its leadership in protecting the environment," says Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daly. "The object of Cool Globes is to get people not only to think about global warming but also to do something about it—to change their lifestyles and put pressure on the people who run businesses and make our laws."

Motivate your team

Large tasks are easier to complete with help from a motivated team. Here are three things you can do to make sure your employees are motivated:

1. Give project ownership to your employees. When team members feel a connection to a project, they are more likely to be motivated to complete it. Make sure to explain your expectations early and ask for suggestions about how to accomplish goals. A team that feels a project belongs to its members will be more willing to put forth its best effort.
2. Explain personal benefits. Employees often want to know, "What's in it for me?" Explain how the project will benefit everyone concerned. Incentive plans can also motivate employees to meet goals.
3. Listen to concerns. Take time to listen to employees' concerns about a project, and help them make improvements. Listen to employees' suggestions about how a project can be improved.

Source: Adapted from The Motivational Manager, May issue