BY STEPHEN ELBAZ, nyarm
HOLIDAY DUTIES
BY STEPHEN ELBAZ, nyarm
With the holidays just around the corner, now is the time to begin some of your end of year duties. Some of the projects are as follows:
1: Contact your owners and/or boards to determine what holiday bonuses (if any) will be given to building employees. Be sure to get it in writing and signed off for your protection.
2: Organize your holiday schedules to insure that your building is properly staffed at all times.
3: Christmas, December 25 and New Year’s Day, January 1 both fall on a Saturday. The rule of thumb is Saturday holidays are celebrated on Friday and Sunday holidays on Monday. For staff that usually work a Saturday or Sunday that is a holiday, they receive that day only off with pay.
4: Many companies make a small holiday party for building staff. Many managers have a party during an extended lunchtime (12:00 - 2:00) and serve sandwiches, sodas, snacks etc. They advise against serving alcohol for obvious reasons. This is also a great time to hand out employee awards and plaques. Most office supply stores sell fancy parchment award paper. This paper enables a computer literate manager to easily generate high quality certificates. Add a glass frame and you have a great award for under $10.00. This is a great way to build loyalty and morale within your organization. A free raffle for a prize is also successful at a holiday party.
5: This is an ideal time to take a hard look at your building schedule, to insure that your staff is operating efficiently. Many managers see marked improvements in building cleanliness and efficiency by making small
adjustments to operating schedules.
6. Window guard notices must be delivered to all tenants between January 1 and January 16, 2000. Notices may be sent with rent bills, hand delivered or sent first class mail (not certified mail). Notices must be in English and Spanish for all tenants regardless of which language(s) they speak. Photocopies of the approved DOH form are permitted. Managers should insert their name address and phone number (phone is optional, but recommended) on both the English and Spanish side of the form, then photocopy the forms for tenants. You can contact the Department of Health at 212-334-7771.
According to the Window Falls Prevention Program of the New York City Department Of Health, tenants must fill out and sign the form every year regardless of the number or frequency of forms previously filed. I will deal with tenants that do not return notices in next month’s issue. I have printed a notice which you can photocopy for your tenants (courtesy New York City DOH).
Stephen Elbaz, nyarm, serves as NYARM’s Secretary and is President of Esquire Management Corporation,- a full service management company in New York and New Jersey. Readers are encouraged to contact Stephen at 718-623-2300 or fax 718-623-2322 with real estate management questions.
