Cleaning Trivia with Stratus Building Solutions

What do YOU think?

Answer: They're ALL correct!

The amount of time a disinfectant should sit on a surface before being wiped up is dependent upon how strong the solution is.

Green Cleaning is Always in Style

Some types of cleaning come and go, but sustainable cleaning is the wave of the future. Every product and process used to clean your home or facility has the potential to be greenified. Follow us our green cleaning tips that everyone can use at @StratusCleaning on Twitter.

Five Second Rule: Friend or Foe?

Whether you live your life by it or don't believe it at all, there is now an answer regarding what has become widely accepted as the "5 Second Rule," a notion that supports that food is still clean as long as it has not exceeded five seconds on the ground.

Not true. And now we (or a Loyola expert, rather) can.

This is a "No!"

Infection Today released a report stating:

“A dropped item is immediately contaminated and can’t really be sanitized,” says Jorge Parada, MD, MPH, FACP, FIDSA, medical director of the infection prevention and control program at Loyola University Health System. “When it comes to folklore, the ‘five-second rule’ should be replaced with ‘when in doubt, throw it out’.”

All items that come into contact with a surface pick up bacteria (and dirt!). How much bacteria and what kind of microbes depends on the object dropped and the surface it is dropped upon, he says.

“In the same time period, a rock candy is less likely to pick up contamination than a slice of cheese. As an extreme example, whether it’s a rock candy or a slice of cheese, I dion’t think anyone would invoke the five-second rule if it fell in the toilet,” said the professor at Loyola’s Stritch School of Medicine. “At the end of the day, this is a polite social fiction we employee to allow us to eat lightly contaminated foods,” Parada says.

Click to read the whole article and find out how they address the claim you can improve your immune system through exposure.

Best Time to Clean

A little bit of humor shared by Stratus Building Solutions.

What is Sick Building Syndrome?

Yes, this is real, folks. The National Safety Council reports on the the definition of Sick Building Syndrome on their website.

To learn more about Sick Building Syndrome from the National Safety Council, please visit this link.
To learn how Stratus Building Solutions can help prevent Sick Building Syndrome, visit this link.

How Do You Measure Clean? With an ATP Meter

Image from CMM Online

It's obvious when there's a pile of trash one day and it's gone the next. It's obvious when a dirty, scuffed floor is buffed and polished. But a lot of the cleaning we do is unseen. "Cleaning for Health" takes cleaning up the biological contamination in addition to the more visible debris.

Facility Manager and Facility Service Providers in past had to trust they had a clean building, but Facility Managers and Providers today can physically measure the level of cleanliness with scientific evaluation.

Introducing the ATP Measurement System.

Tip: Make sure to store your wands in the refrigerator.
They must be kept at 36-46 degrees Fahrenheit.

Regardless of the facility type or surface tested, the ATP meter detects the level of microbial contamination in just seconds. The meter measures Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP), the universal energy molecule found in all animal, plant, bacterial, yeast and mold cells. When a facility is cleaned with Stratus Green Clean products, the ATP is significantly reduced.

With a simple swab and a snap to release the sample into a unique liquid stable luciferase/luciferin reagent, the stick is inserted into the ATP meter device. It is here where light is used to determine the amount of ATP present. A high reading demonstrates high contamination.

ATP samples can be a great way to document the level of cleanliness your Facility Service Provider is offering your facility. Go ahead and ask for a demonstration today!

Stratus Building Solutions Suggests Recycling Craft Projects

Here at Stratus Building Solutions, we have a huge focus on living a "green" lifestyle. With that comes recycling, but not just the "paper goes here, glass goes here" kind of recycling. We'll show you how to have some fun with recycling, too.

Check out our Recycling Projects & Crafting board on Pinterest for ideas on how to reuse common materials. We're always adding new ideas, too.

Let us know when you make something - and share any recycling crafts you might know of!

Happy Crafting,
Stratus

Your Messy Desk Affects Your Professional Reputation

 

Adecco performed a recent survey that had some interesting findings.... some things to pay attention to if you work in an office with other people.

Bottom line: How you keep your desk influences what other people think of you.

Adecco found out:

-- 57 percent of Americans have judged coworkers on how clean or dirty they keep their work spaces
-- 42 percent of Americans have judged a coworker more negatively if his workspace is dirty
-- 45 percent have judged coworkers more positively if their work spaces are clean
-- 42 percent of Americans think a dirty work space is a result of employees simply being too busy, but
-- 33 percent think messy employees are lazy employees
-- 73 percent of Americans think people are most productive when their work spaces are clean

Despite what your coworkers think, your boss can have these misinterpretations, as well. Don't be judged by your stuff, keep a tidy workspace and be judged on your abilities instead.

Stratus Shows You Clean

Jared Thomas of the Salt Lake City office demonstrated how dirty a prospective customer's floors were by using the Stratus Green Miracle Pad to put his initials on it.

He said they were so dirty it even took HIM by surprise!

Let us know if your facility needs this kind of treatment. 877-731-2020

Stratus Building Solutions of Minneapolis: Open & Ready to Clean

Now available in Minneapolis - professional commercial facility services by Stratus Building Solutions!

Stratus Building Solutions of Minneapolis will operate from headquarters at 7900 International Drive, Bloomington, MN 55425 and be available at (888) 609-8244.

Mr. Spellacy states, “We are very proud to introduce Stratus Building Solution’s premier commercial cleaning service to the Minneapolis market.  Our customers should expect quality, reliability and value from our experienced staff.  They will enjoy the same impeccable service that we provide our business and institutional customers in Indianapolis.”

John McDonald will serve as Regional Director for Minnesota and has over 25 years of facility service experience. He also has experience in Operations and Sales. Lorena Aristizabal has over two years of Franchise Development experience and will act as Franchise Support.

“People want quality service and support, especially in these tough economic times,” continues Spellacy. “We have provided excellence in facility services for our current customers and will provide the same level of excellence for our customers in Minneapolis.  We look forward to the opportunity to serve the community.”

Read more here.  

Small Businesses Embrace Green

This infographic by Office Depot does a great job at showing the "greening" of small businesses.

What steps are you taking to go green?

Save Water: How To Tell If You Have a Leak

Don't be a drip - fix that leak!

Leaky faucets can waste thousands of gallons of water each year, like money down the drain. Repair or replace old or damaged fixtures. If you're not sure you have a leak, check the water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, you probably have a leak.

From the EPA: Learn more about Water Sense, an EPA Partnership program.

How "Green" Affects Your Purchasing Decision

Consumers need a lot of help understanding green claims. Nearly three-fourths said they’d like companies to provide more information on the packaging to help them make product decisions. And 71 percent said they need help better understanding the environmental terms companies use to describe their products and services. It's important that both the seller and the buyer understand the terms being discussed.

What marketing messages make a difference in influencing customers to buy green? Consumers want facts and details. Symbols or certifications were cited by 80 percent, and specific data or outcomes by 80 percent. Seventy-three percent said general environmental statements, such as “uses less water,” influenced their decisions. Stratus Building Solutions can provide all of these.

Understandably, the economic crisis of the last few years has had an effect on consumers’ commitment to purchasing green. Although 69 percent of American consumers routinely or sometimes consider the environment when making a purchasing decision, 42 percent say they have been discouraged from buying a green product because they believed it cost more than the traditional product. Here are some other reasons consumers don’t buy green:

• 42 percent say they believe the product is of lesser quality than the traditional version
• 27 percent say they didn’t trust the environmental claim on the product
• 23 percent say the product was difficult to find
• 16 percent say the product design was unattractive

What else motivates environmentally friendly purchases? Aspirational reasons are big drivers: Eighty-eight percent say they are inspired to buy environmental products because it’s healthier for themselves, their families or their communities; 85 percent say they want to preserve the environment for future generations. Still, the biggest motivator overall is money: 90 percent say they buy an environmental product because it will save them time or money in the long run.

From Network Solutions - read more here.

Why to Professionally Clean Your Facility

The IASQ asks what is the name for  microbes which have become resistant to
common forms of treatments or cleanings? Can you figure it out?

A History of Green

Did you know the 1st recycling efforts were documented in 400 BC? Yet Earth Day isn't founded until 1970. Learn more about green throughout the ages here.

How to Recycle in an Office

The tips are designed to help office facilities develop more effective and comprehensive recycling initiatives. With a solid recycling program, companies can reduce their carbon footprint while also saving money.

“Now we want to focus on making recycling easy and consistent,” says Doug Berjer, product manager for CFR. “Many times, office recycling programs fall apart simply because staffers find them difficult to follow or easy to forget.”

Because of this, one of Berjer’s first suggestions is to place recycling bins at every desk and workstation so that they are readily available and visible.

“And [at desks] place the recycling bin just a bit closer to them than the trash can,” he adds. “You’d be surprised how much this can improve recycling behavior.”

He also suggests organizing the recycling program around the specific items to be recycled, especially in those areas that generate the most trash.  For instance, a warehouse area may have a variety of recyclables: boxes, packaging materials, bottles, cans, plastics, metals, old equipment, and more.

“Install separate recycling containers for each recyclable item,” Berjer says. “Make each container easily identifiable with clear signage indicating what goes where. This can also help enhance recycling significantly.”

Finally, Berjer suggests that it is important to encourage staffers to recycle with consistent communication.

“Make sure every worker is aware of the [recycling] program in place and its importance. Establish goals and track the progress. As it improves, let everyone know how much they have helped accomplish so far. Consistent feedback leads to consistent compliance.”

The source of these tips, CFR, are manufacturers of continuous recycling carpet extractors.

Happy Spring Clean

Today is the First Day of Spring! Stratus wants to wish all our followers a productive, warm and sunny season.

(What a great time to tackle that Spring Cleaning, too...)

Spring Cleaning Time

It's about that time again... Spring Cleaning!

Did you know that new research 73% of those who spring clean strongly or somewhat agree that it's a tradition worth keeping, but 13% of that same group strongly or somewhat agree that if it wasn't for spring cleaning, they would probably never clean their home!

To get started, clear out your areas, inventory supplies, plan your attack and recruit some help. You'll be clean in no time - without losing your mind!

Go Green for St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's Day is a day known for all things green.

Stratus wants to give you some other ways to go green this year.

How about taking your bike instead of a car now that it's getting warmer?

Growing your own veggies and herbs will earn you green points, too.

And with the holiday being over a weekend day, change out your florescent light bulbs to LED light bulbs.  

To learn more ways to go green, check out this Go Green for St. Paddy's Day Guide. 

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

How to Stay Healthy

Do you have Traylor's mother in your office? Let's hope Dilbert doesn't get sick!

Hand washing is one of the healthiest things we can do for ourselves.

The Center for Disease Control says to correctly wash your hands you need to follow these steps:

• Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold) and apply soap.
• Rub your hands together to make a lather and scrub them well; be sure to scrub the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
• Continue rubbing your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the "Happy Birthday" song from beginning to end twice.
• Rinse your hands well under running water.
• Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

Learn more about hand washing here.

Fredbird is Down with Stratus!

The World Series Champs ST. LOUIS CARDINALS are down with Stratus! (Our insurance doesn't cover birds though... Sorry, Fredbird!)

Introducing StratusPrivateLabel.com: The Cleaner Way

Stratus Building Solutions is committed to serving our customers and franchise owners alike by providing them top notch Stratus products. All of our branded products are carefully chosen and formulated to the high expectations Stratus has.

Our Stratus Green Clean line of cleansing agents are certified by Green Seal, a 3rd party verification company that ensure products meet specific stringent environmental requirements. 

Our Stratus Private Label HEPA Backpack Vacuum is the only vacuum model endorsed by the America Lunch Association.

You can learn more about the Stratus products in detail at our new site: www.stratusprivatelabel.com.

Stratus Environmental Attributes

Cleaning products are a major contributor to indoor air quality issues in closed environments.

Many commercial cleaning products contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which can give rise to respiratory irritations, headaches and other symptoms in workers and building occupants. In fact, cleaning solutions can enter your soil and waterways causing long term environmental issues.

All Stratus cleaning compounds, materials and equipment are selected for their environmental attributes.

Learn More 

Stratus Isn't Scared of the Dark

Scared of the dark...?

Most office cleaning is done at night, when the employees and customers are gone and the hustle and bustle for the day is over.

After house are the prime time for the Stratus Building Solutions representative to maintain your facility.

Stratus franchise owners are easily identified by ID badge and uniform and have completed a background check to assure you have a safe, trusted professional in your building.

Call Stratus to see what we can do to help maintain your facility at hours that are convenient for you. 877-731-2020.

Connect with Stratus Building Solutions

Check out the latest Stratus Connect Cards created by National Marketing Manger, Marisa Lather!

Did you know we are on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn & Pinterest? Come follow us - we share good info that you can actually use.

What's your favorite way to engage with companies and brands?

Team Cleaning at Home

Take the professional "Team Cleaning" method home with you: Make clutter-busting a game with Ping-Pong balls. Each person chooses a ball, completes the task, then chooses another one. After 30 minutes, whoever has the most balls gets a prize -- like a no-chores day or control of the TV remote.

(Idea and picture from BHG)

How to Recycle a Milk Jug to a Reusable Container

Bringing your lunch is a great way to take control of your health (and your wallet!) but tons of plastic bags are not very green. This is a quick weekend project that will cost you next to nothing.

LunchPunchit shares this tutorial how to turn an empty milk jug into a functional to-go container. All you have to do is wash out your empty jug, draw and cut the lines like you see in the picture (from LunchPunchit.com), and use a little piece of hook and loop closure (brand name is Velcro) and you're all set!

See full tutorial here. 

The Stratus Prius is Coming for Your Facility

Check out Stratus of Denver's new Prius. We can't wait to see that green machine around town!

Stratus Uses Best of the Best Products for our Customers

Learn about what makes the Stratus vacuum the only vacuum model endorsed by the American Lung Association and to achieve the Gold certification by The Carpet & Rug Institute by meeting specific requirements in soil removal, dust containment and carpet fiber protection.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbYX-KVb0Uw

Insider Cleaning Tips from Stratus

Learn how to clean like the Stratus pros do! Free and easy advice everyone can use.

Happy Cleaning!

https://twitter.com/#!/StratusCleaning

Stratus Franchise Proprietary HEPA Backpack Vacuum

When you are a Franchise Owner with Stratus Building Solutions, you gain access to the proprietary products like the Stratus Private Label HEPA Backpack Vacuum. Here, Robert Stapleton explains what is included with the product. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS5m9JCIkGs

Why Stratus Building Solutions Never Mixes Cleaning Chemicals



John Wunderlich, Nyco & Dennis Jarrett, Stratus Building Solutions

From John Wunderlich:

Thank you for sending me the article  about the workers who were injured at the IHOP restaurant from the fumes caused by mixing bleach and an acidic cleaning compound. It is the position of Nyco Products Company  and other reputable chemical manufacturing companies to NEVER mix different cleaning products together, especially bleach or products containing chlorine.

Bleach is a dangerous products that is corrosive to skin, mucous membranes and can cause severe
injury to eyes. Bleach (sodium hypochlorite) is chlorine gas in water. Highly unstable by nature, bleach releases chlorine gas fumes which will attack / damage a variety of surfaces. Exposure to bleach fumes is also considered to be a trigger for asthmatic attacks and use in schools, office buildings and most commercial establishments is discouraged.

Bleach is also known as an oxidizer – or compound that releases oxygen/gas. When mixed with other compounds, the sodium hypochlorite combines with other chemical compounds and can produce violent reactions including the release of dangerous gases such as what occurred in the IHOP restaurant when bleach and phosphoric acid were mixed. Mixing bleach with any cleaning compound is NEVER recommended and should be discouraged at all times.

Three (3) compounds should NEVER be mixed with any other product are:

• Bleach
• Ammonia
• Acids (including vinegar)

These compounds are oxidizers and will produce gases when mixed with other cleaning compounds. If any of the three (bleach, acid, ammonia) are mixed together DANGEROUS, POTENTIALLY LETHAL fumes will be produced.

The literature is full of examples of hazardous situations occurring when cleaning compounds have been mixed together. They include:

• The death of homeowner in Chicago who was overcome with fumes from mixing bleach and acid in his kitchen sink to unclog a drain The explosion and injury to staff and hospitalization of staff/guests at a resort in Wisconsin when bleach and acid were accidentally mixed in the laundry.

Stratus Green Clean Glass Cleaner

Stratus brand of cleaning products are bleach free and certified by Green Seal for safety and effectiveness. Although they are not corrosive and considered to be safe, it remains our position that:

Cleaning products should not be mixed with other cleaning products.

Before using all users should read the container labels and become familiar with the directions for safe use.

Read and understand the Material Safety Data Sheet including first aid and instructions for proper storage.

 Information provided by John Wunderlich, I.C.E. at Nyco Products Company

Disinfecting vs Sanitizing: Which is Right for Your Facility?

Ever wonder the difference between disinfecting and sanitizing? Stratus doesn't (because we already know), but you might!

People use these terms interchangeably, but while they are similar, the law says they have very distinct differences.

Disinfectants: products that destroy all specific test organisms and [legally] must reduce the level of pathogenic bacteria by 99.999% during a time frame greater than 5 minutes but less than 10 minutes. (U.S Environmental Protection Agency guidelines)

Sanitizers: products that destroy 99.99% of specified test bacteria under 30 seconds to reduce the number of microorganisms down to a safe level. It is important to note sanitizers don't kill viruses or fungi.

Now you are well-versed when it comes to which solution is stronger and fits your needs.

Stratus as Franchising's "Best of the Best"

As a result of ranking #1 in the industry category in Entrepreneur’s 2012 Franchise 500
(if you remember, Stratus was the #1 Commercial Cleaning Franchise), we  are proud to announce special inclusion on the privileged list of “Best of the Best” by Entrepreneur
magazine.

The May issue features this limited directory – and also marks the fifth
consecutive month of Stratus Building Solutions’ representation in the magazine for 2012.


Franchising with Stratus is the way to go.

Stratus Building Solutions = "Best of the Best"

We are pleased to announce Stratus Building Solutions has been named in Entrepreneur magazine's "Best of the Best" listings for franchises!

This comes as a result of ranking #1 in our industry category in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 (if you remember, we were the #1 Commercial Cleaning Franchise).

The May issue features this limited directory – and also marks the fifth consecutive month of Stratus Building Solutions’ representation in Entrepreneur magazine.

Check out your latest issue of Entrepreneur magazine or check out the Stratus Building Solutions' profile here.

Stratus Keeps Up on Green Cleaning Trends

The ISSA Today is a free magazine put out by the ISSA (International Sanitary Supply Association
- now named as The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association) who are known as the leading experts in professional cleaning. Stratus Building Solutions is an active ISSA member.

They have released their magazine, ISSA Today, which shares tips on the latest in green cleaning mandates and guidelines for schools, technology impacting professional restroom maintenance, different certifications and 2012 trends in green cleaning.

Click here for free access to ISSA Today & learn about the latest in the professional cleaning industry.

Meet the Stratus CEO Dennis Jarrett

Have you ever talked to Dennis Jarrett with Stratus Building Solutions? If you call the 877-731-2020 on the weekend, you've spoken directly with the CEO of a world-class franchise operation. Pretty cool, huh?

Here's a little more about who we call DJ:

Currently residing in Chicago, Illinois, this world traveler is always on the go. Before he co-founded Stratus, the 20 year veteran of the franchising industry served as President of Jan-Pro International, a national janitorial franchise company based in the Atlanta, Georgia area. Prior to his work with Jan-Pro, he was Vice-President of Coverall North America, Inc., also a national janitorial franchising company based in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Bringing his experience and innovation with him enabled Stratus to grow exponentially and win awards such as the annual 2010 & 2011 Inc. 500|5000 Fastest Growing Companies, three Top Ten spots on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 – including 2nd time #1 Fastest Growing Franchise, Franchise Times Fast 55, Black Enterprise Top 40 Best Franchises for African Americans, Poder 360′s Top 26 Franchises for Hispanics and the 50 Top Franchises for Minorities by the World Franchising Network. He is married with three daughters and enjoys reading, traveling and even more than executing a successful business, time with his family.

Here is, too, at the LouFest St. Louis music festival where Stratus participated in the EcoZone.

 

What is Dirt?

In the professional cleaning industry, we are always talking about dirt. Sure, it goes by a variety of pseudonyms such as soils, contaminants, impurities, unwanted matter, particulates, and the like. But ultimately, what we are talking about is plain old dirt—what we in the professional cleaning industry are tasked to remove from facilities every day.

But have you ever wondered what’s in dirt? Street dirt, the kind that most often finds its way into the facilities we clean, is comprised of many of the following (starting with the largest amounts first):

• Humus: Organic material such as compost


• Cement powder or dust: Composed of limestone and carbonate rock


• Silica: Sand or quartz


• Clay: Fine-grained materials, with variable amounts of moisture trapped in the mineral structure of the particulate


• Sodium chloride: Salt


• Gelatin: Solid substances from animal skin and bones


• Oleic acid: Derived from the fat from animals and plants


• Carbon black: material produced by the incomplete combustion of heavy petroleum products.

Much of what is in dirt is so small it becomes airborne. And studies indicate that as much as 80 percent—possibly more—is tracked in by people using a facility. And now you know the dirt on dirt.

Article found on ISSA By John Holibaugh  

Visit Stratus Building Solutions on Pinterest

We are pleased to announce the newest hub for everything clean, green and healthy to make your life simpler: The Stratus Building Solutions Pinterest  Profile!

Here you can check out all the cleaning tips, healthy cooking tips, organizing and decorating tips and much more.

The only way to get involved is to go check it out! 

Keep Your Space Organized

Keeping that New Year's resolutions to stay organized just got a whole lot easier. Using simple things like plastic bread tags, popsicle sticks and PVC pipe can turn your home or office into DIY organizational heaven.

Use these little tips and tricks to keep your areas neat and organized.

Plastic bread tags are great to organize the wires going into your powerstrip that always get twisted and confused.  

Popsicle sticks can be used as a letter marker to alphabetize your DVD collection.

PVC pipe can be used to hold a variety of things - here they show it used in a bathroom to store curling irons and such.

Click here to see a variety of ideas you can do yourself.

Benefits of a Professional Wellness Program

Ever wonder how wellness affects the bottom line? How do
you accurately place a value to determine Return On Investment? Well, the good
folks over at Workforce have found a way. Check out this question and answer they provided:

We are planning a program next year to focus on health and wellness as a key strategic element of our economic growth. Is there any conclusive evidence to support the idea that wellness produces a direct financial gain?
—Health-Conscious, clinical director, health care, Cleveland

A:

Dear Health-Conscious:

A great deal of evidence demonstrates that health and wellness yield significant financial gains. Here is a sampling of conclusions drawn from a wide range of credible global research:

• "Employers get a good return on investment from health; for every US$1, [invested] up to US$6 back." World Health Organization

• "When health and well-being are promoted, organizations are seen as 2.5 times more likely to be a best performer and 4 times less likely to lose talent within the next year." World Economic Forum

• "An organization [that actively promotes wellness] is 3.5 times more likely to encourage creativity and innovation among employees, who are 8 times more likely to be engaged in what they do." World Economic Forum

Even a company that dispassionately views employees purely as "assets" would logically want to invest in wellness, just as they invest in maintaining their physical plant and equipment. Like well-maintained machinery, healthy people perform better and cost less.

Direct medical expenses are but the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what poor health actually costs your company. The World Economic Forum estimates that medical payments total less than 40 percent when compared to the productivity losses that organizations suffer from employee absenteeism and "presenteeism"—people who are well enough to show up for work, but not able to perform at full capacity.

Healthy employees are more present, more attentive, more energetic and more focused. Of course, if you have healthy people working in an unhealthy company, the environment will soon undermine the benefits of your wellness initiatives. Global research conducted by Healthy Companies International over two decades suggests that a "healthy" company is one in which healthy leaders build healthy cultures that inspire healthy people to drive healthy performance.

Healthy leaders are healthy not only in the physical sense, but also emotionally, spiritually, socially and intellectually.

Healthy culture unites people around a higher purpose and promotes freedom, self-discipline and responsibility.

Healthy people are agile, optimistic, curious, collaborative and self-motivated.

Healthy performance fits classic business definitions, e.g., sustained profitable growth. Healthy companies achieve healthy performance by intrinsically valuing the health of their leaders, culture and people.

In sum, if your goal is economic growth, you want to invest strategically in the wellness of individual employees and in the health of your organization.

SOURCE: Stephen Parker, president, Healthy Cos. International, Arlington, Virginia

LEARN MORE: In light of recent research, it may be more vital than ever that companies nurture a culture of wellness.

Workforce Management Online, January 2012 -- Register Now!

The information contained in this article is intended to provide useful information on the topic covered, but should not be construed as legal advice or a legal opinion. Also remember that state laws may differ from the federal law.

Stratus Building Solutions Ranks Highly in Book of Lists

St. Louis, MO (January 13, 2012)…Stratus Building Solutions maintained its #1 position as the Fastest Growing Private Company in St. Louis, MO, for the second year in a row, as reported by the St. Louis Business Journal.  The company, based out of St. Louis’ Overland area, is a global brand with over 5,000 franchise units. Stratus Building Solutions was mentioned six different places in the St. Louis Business Journal’s annual Book of Lists.

Stratus tied for the 129^th place on the Top 150 Largest Privately Held Companies with Mills Properties Inc. and Peak Resorts at $90,000,000 total revenue for 2010.

Stratus Co-founder and CEO, Dennis Jarrett, states, “A prominent position on a highly-valued list certainly brings attention to us locally, but also nationally. Through that national attention, we are able to show the country – and the world – just where St. Louis, MO is and give it the attention it deserves as a business metropolitan area.”

Stratus began in the St. Louis area in 2004 and has since won many award such as inclusion in the Inc. 500, as the #1 Fastest Growing Franchise in the country for the second year in a row and the #1 Commercial Cleaning Franchise by Entrepreneur Magazine.

 The Stratus Green Clean Program features environmentally-friendly products to help sustain healthier, more productive facilities.  Included in the program is the Stratus Green Clean line of Green Seal Certified cleaning chemicals along with other proprietary products and processes. 

The Franchise Handbook

The Franchise Handbook has been a guide to those interested in learning about the franchising options available for years. Here is a direct link to access the 2012 edition. Happy Franchising! http://bit.ly/yLewoA 

Stratus Building Solutions Welcomes David Farrell to St. Louis Office

Stratus wants to take a moment to welcome our newest St. Louis addition: Executive Vice President David Farrell. Welcome, David!

IFA Invites Veterans to Expo Free of Change

From the IFA:

With nationwide veteran unemployment rates climbing as high as 30%, IFA
is inviting U.S. veterans and military spouses to attend the Franchise Expo South Jan. 20 to 22 in Miami and the 2012 IFA Convention Feb 11 to 14 in Orlando, Fla.

Veterans are invited to attend free of charge as part of Operation Enduring Opportunity, a campaign to hire as team members and recruit as franchise business owners 75,000 veterans and 5,000 wounded warriors by 2014. Veterans and military spouses should register and use VETGP as their registration code. To learn more about IFA's VetFran program, visit VetFran.com.

Clean Kitchen Vital to Business

Did you know 1 in 6 Americans will get sick from food poisoning this year? (USDA)

Don't be like the "healthy" eater in this video: http://bit.ly/zpntzU

Make sure to clean all kitchen surfaces, utensils and hands with soapy water to keep you and your family safe!

Healthy Kitchens Vital to Business

Did you know 1 in 6 Americans will get sick from food poisoning this year? (USDA)

Don't be like the "healthy" eater in this video: http://bit.ly/zpntzU

Make sure to clean all kitchen surfaces, utensils and hands with soapy water to keep you and your family safe!

Clean Kitchens are Vital to Healthy Living

Did you know 1 in 6 Americans will get sick from food poisoning this year?  (USDA)

 Don't be like the "healthy" eater in this video: http://bit.ly/zpntzU

Make sure to clean all kitchen surfaces, utensils and hands with soapy water to keep you and your family safe!

January is National Radon Action Month

Did you know that January is National Radon Action Month?  Now is the time to test your home for radon.

What is Radon?  Radon is an invisible radioactive gas that causes lung cancer, and testing is the only way you can know if your home or business contains high radon levels.
Exposure to radon in the home is responsible for an estimated 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year. - EPA

To learn more about what radon is, how it affects you and what to do about it, click the link below.

EPA info on Radon 

Stratus Building Solutions Joins IFA to Announce Veteran Hiring Initiative

Stratus joins IFA in support of Veteran Hiring Initiative. To learn more about veteran support, visit here! http://bit.ly/x2CLv0