Core Value #4: Can-do attitude

Can Do Attitude: We do whatever it takes to do whatever needs to be done, whenever it needs to be done. It is a bit of a mouthful, but as the fourth and final cornerstone of our company values, it’s essential and what allows us to survive as a company. 

While safety, accountability, and teamwork are our priorities, we also need to maintain productivity to meet financial obligations, including payroll.

Imagine a high-end restaurant with great food and atmosphere, but slow service. Even with a fantastic team and eager customers, delays translate to lost business and financial trouble. The lack of hustle means it’s having to turn away 25% of its customers,  jeopardizing the restaurant’s success and ultimately, survival. This is the undeniable truth in many different industries, including ours. 
 

We operate on fixed-price contracts but pay our team hourly. Controlling project hours is crucial for cost management. 

Delays not only incur the obvious financial losses but trigger costly events like rescheduling staff and projects, client discussions, and extra supervisor hours for site setups. Ultimately, losing sight of the hustle leads to lost profits, client issues and team headaches and frustration.

That’s why our can-do attitude and hustle are vital & we aim to reward those who exceed production targets while upholding our core values. 

Can we foster a culture of hustle without compromising on safety, teamwork, and accountability? Share your thoughts.

Cheers,

Seb

Core Value #3 – Proud Team Player

Summer is finally here and this month, we discuss my personal favourite core value: Proud Team Players.

This is the third cornerstone of our company culture and is at the root of how we behave and treat each other. It is also how we approach our work, making sure we are a well-oiled machine where all components work together in harmony towards a common goal. 

Coming from a small town and very conservative family, the one thing that really stood out to me when I moved to Vancouver in my early 20s, was how diverse the city was. Learning about various cultures and being exposed to all kinds of people is something I really enjoyed, and when our team started getting bigger, I was excited to see people with all kinds of backgrounds come on board. I absolutely love how diverse and eclectic our team is, and really hope we can all embrace the opportunity to learn from each other.
 
Of course, with opportunity also come challenges, and we may sometimes have difficulty seeing eye to eye with other team members. In those times, it is important to keep a mindset of genuine curiosity and understanding.

At Black Tie, we are proud to provide an environment where no discrimination or harassment of any kind is tolerated. Our formal policy on this matter is posted on our community board, in the office, and can also be found HERE.
I hope you are as proud as I am to be part of this team, and that you will wear the Black Tie colours with pride!


Keeping this in mind, as we are heavily branded and highly visible, part of being a Proud Team Player is to ensure that we represent the brand in a professional manner.  Maintaining a clean appearance and displaying respectful behaviour while wearing the Black Tie uniform is not only important on site, but also during our daily commute.

At Black Tie, we work and play together in a fun and respectful way, and this month, despite being in the busiest part of the year, let’s make sure to reach out and connect with our teammates.  If you see someone rocking it, tell them!  Or throw some kudos their way via our company’s BONUSLY platform.  
 
As always, we love to hear from you, so please feel free to reach out to your favourite member of the leadership team, or holler at us via our anonymous monthly feedback survey.

Cheers,

Seb

Core Value #2: Accountability – What it means at all levels of the organization

May! Welcome to the beginning of peak season for window cleaners! Last month we discussed what Safety First means to us and why it is so important. In the same vein, in the next few months, our newsletter will highlight one of our company values. This month, we discuss Accountability.

Accountability is the second cornerstone of our training program. For techs this means accountability to our customers in providing quality work, and once we are sure you are safe, this is what we will focus on in the second phase of training.

Let’s break down Accountability for each level of the company:

Technicians: As mentioned above, delivering quality work is the main responsibility of our field techs.

Techs are accountable to other members of their team; they are required to show up on time and to look out for their teammates, making sure that work is being performed in a safe and efficient manner. Technicians are accountable for making sure they keep up with the agreed daily production and that jobs get completed on time (more on that next month), and for reporting their hours accurately. All techs are accountable for their own safety and the safety of their coworkers. It is their responsibility to report, and when possible, correct any situation that challenges our high safety standards.

Supervisors: Supervisors are accountable to technicians for providing instructions and equipment needed to perform their daily tasks.

They are accountable for training and ensuring they have the appropriate level of knowledge and technical skills needed to perform the work assigned to them. Supervisors are accountable for keeping jobs on time and require the collaboration of technicians in ensuring that things keep moving at the pace set at the beginning of a job. They are accountable for job budgets and oversee all hours and expenses associated with each project. Most importantly, supervisors are accountable for the safety of their team, on each project. They are responsible for filling out safety documentation and for keeping a close eye on their teams.

Management: Management is accountable to our clients for delivering on our company promise (see 360° promise below).

Management ensures all employees are well compensated and taken care of – the combination of those two things is why we do what we do. Ultimately, management is accountable for the company vision and to ensure we achieve excellence at all levels, both internally, in how we operate and treat each other, and externally, in how we treat our customers.

As you can see, accountability works in all directions, and we are somehow all accountable to each other. It is the glue that holds us together and helps us grow and move forward.

As always, we welcome your comments and suggestions, and would love to hear from you if you see areas where accountability might be lacking or if you have any suggestions. Please feel free to approach your supervisor or a member of the management team, or to use our handy monthly anonymous survey.

Best,

Seb

Core Value #1: Safety First – Why?

… A message to our employees from our Founder & CEO, Sebastien Nault.

When I moved to Vancouver, in 1999, I was introduced to high-rise window cleaning by a good friend of mine.

You would all be appalled by the training I received and equipment I was given. I was basically given a 20 minute briefing on the roof, given a 10 year old Home Depot harness and was told to go sit on the bosun chair that had been setup for me on the side of a 10 storey apartment building in West Vancouver.

I was obviously terrified, mostly because of my fear of heights. If I had any idea how dangerous what I was doing was, I probably would have walked away to never come back, but I trusted my boss at the time, and stepped over the edge for the first time.

Fortunately for me, in my 7 years of bosun chair work, despite a few close calls, I never suffered a major fall or accident. What was less fortunate is that it left me with a sense of invincibility and a clear lack of understanding of basic safety standards. I was of the mind that common sense should prevail, and that safety protocols were mostly overkill.

Fast forward to 2011, the year I started Black Tie. I went out and purchased a couple harnesses, ladders and bosun chair kits and started pounding the pavement to get our first jobs on the books. Unfortunately, my mentality around safety had not changed, and our first hires were poorly trained and safety was evidently lacking. 

As our client base grew, our need for more qualified workers also increased and we started receiving applications from certified rope techs, so, for about two years, we ran a hybrid crew of bosun chair workers and rope access technicians, while our ground crew remained mostly untrained.

It quickly became evident that the rope access technicians were more knowledgeable about risk management and safety in general and despite the significant cost associated with moving to rope access only, we decided it was the best decision for the business.

For me, the turning point in my personal views and mentality around safety was when we crossed the threshold of 10 employees. I realized that I now had 10 people under my responsibility, out there, on ladders, on ropes, basically risking their lives every day, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if any of them was to suffer a preventable injury. 

Shortly after, Rob and I went through the exercise of creating our company values, and Safety First is the one that most resonated with both of us. We wanted to create an organization that would be truly driven by high safety standards. A company where cutting corners would not be tolerated, and where everyone would have the training required to perform their work safely.

We wanted to create a safe space where workers would feel empowered to challenge the status quo and would help the organization grow and elevate the standards in our industry.

This is obviously a constant work in progress, and we keep finding ways to make things better every year, mostly driven by suggestions offered by technicians and field workers. 
 

Over the years, we have made significant progress by achieving COR certification, creating a Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee (JOHSC), holding monthly safety meetings and weekly toolbox talk and ensuring that everyone’s certifications are up to date. 

This year, we will continue on our path of constant learning and improvement by bringing trainer certification in house for basic fall protection and ladder safety. We will also continue to offer recertification and leveling up for qualified rope access technicians, along with regular hands on training and practice sessions. 

as a reminder …

Mandatory:

*Fall protection (not needed if IRATA or SPRAT certified)
*Ladder safety
*IRATA or SPRAT (rope access techs only)

Optional:

*First Aid – OFA 1 (one rope access tech per site is required)
*Elevated work platforms operation (Boom lift and scissor lift)
*WHMIS

Safety First is not just something we say, it is how we behave and conduct ourselves every day.  We want you to stay safe and healthy, and rely on you to point out areas where we can improve.

Together, we can keep moving forward and create the safest company in our industry.

Cheers,

Seb

Community Impact in Action: Black Tie’s Volunteer Service Initiatives

At Black Tie Property Services, we believe a thriving community is built on support and care. We are committed to giving back to the neighborhoods and communities we serve. 

By partnering with local organizations, and supporting causes that align with our values, we strive to be more than just a window cleaning company.

We aspire to be a catalyst for positive change, fostering a cleaner, safer, and more vibrant community for all.

Although we are proud to donate our dollars to worthy charitable organizations such as Canuck Place, BC Children’s Hospital (via Epic Restoration Event) & Harvest Project, we feel the biggest impact for both us and the people we serve comes from boots on the ground service. 

In light of National Volunteer Week, we are highlighting a few projects our company has sponsored to give back to our beautiful cities and citizens.

“I wanted to take a moment to extend my deepest gratitude for the exceptional service your team provided in cleaning all the residents’ room windows, free of charge.  Your generosity and unwavering commitment to excellence have truly made a difference.

The impact of your kindness on our residents’ well-being cannot be overstated.  Both residents and staff have expressed immense appreciation for the value this added to their spirits.  Your dedication to enhancing their living environment is truly commendable.”

~ Ana, Yaletown House

Yaletown House is a non-profit, Long-Term Care Home for seniors and older adults.  Providing full time services, our dedicated multi-disciplinary team cares for individuals who can no longer live safely on their own or with family. We are fortunate to have a Foundation that fundraises for Quality of Life initiatives and a mighty team of volunteers who touch our residents hearts in many ways.

Black Tie is proud to volunteer our window cleaning and pressure washing services to maintain clean and vibrant spaces for the overall being of Yaletown house residents.

HeroWork is a Victoria based charity that mobilize community for “Radical Renovations” transforming and uplifting important charities. It’s like modern-day barn-raising! 

Black Tie Victoria has worked with them on projects in the past, so we were excited to partner with them here on the mainland to renovate the “Cove”, a homeless shelter in Surrey, run by the Surrey Urban Mission. The building and courtyard received a total makeover by professional trades, all of whom donated their efforts. Before the reno started, Black Tie power washed the entire site to give the team a clean slate to work on.

We are proud to have been able to contribute to this incredible project.  To see the article that was on the front page of the Surrey Now-Leader newspaper, click here.

Yaletown Lions Club is an international volunteer organization with chapters in 198 countries (1.3 million members).

Black Tie is a part of this group of local volunteers with a common goal of bringing Yaletown businesses and community members together to help make a difference in the Yaletown Community in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

To know more about the Yaletown Lions Club, please click here to visit their website.

Preparing for a Dry Summer: Implications for Property Maintenance

As the chill of winter fades and we step into the promise of spring, it is time to prepare for the challenges that lie ahead. In Vancouver, renowned for its lush greenery and temperate climate, whispers of a dry summer are stirring among meteorologists and environmental experts. This forecast, driven by minimal snowpack, carries significant implications for property maintenance, particularly for services like window cleaning, pressure washing, and building envelope cleaning. 
 
At Black Tie, we recognize the importance of early awareness and proactive planning to ensure seamless operations despite potential hurdles. Last time Vancouver implemented stage 3 water restrictions was in 2015, and exterior cleaning services crawled to a halt throughout the Lower mainland. 
 
Despite changes in regulation that will now allow exterior cleaning services to still operate during stage 3 restrictions, the public perception and widespread desire to conserve water will most likely affect operations in the summer months.
“Water restrictions apply to all services using running water and do NOT apply to other services such as mop and bucket work”
Here’s what property managers need to know as we brace for a dry summer

Water Restrictions on the Horizon:

With dwindling water resources, it’s inevitable that water restrictions will come into play. Vancouver typically implements various stages of water restrictions during dry periods to conserve water. Property managers should familiarize themselves with these stages and anticipate how they will impact their cleaning schedules.

Impact on Cleaning Services:

The dry conditions may affect our ability to perform certain types of work, such as pressure washing and building envelope cleaning, which rely heavily on water usage. As water becomes scarcer, we may need to adjust our cleaning techniques and schedules to adhere to conservation measures.

Solutions and proper planning:

Early awareness of these issues is key to effective planning. Here are a few planning tips and solutions that will help minimize the impact of a dry summer on your properties maintenance schedule:

Proactive planning around water-heavy services: 

Parkade cleaning, power washing and building envelope cleans should be booked before May or later in the season, in the fall or even in winter. Building envelope cleans are ideal winter time projects and also come with a substantial low season discount, so why not schedule them when water restrictions are less stringent, and water availability is more stable.

Understanding the restrictions: 

Under the most recent regulations, exterior cleaning, including power washing and water-fed pole cleaning is still allowed, even under stage 3 restrictions. However, it is fair to assume that several stratas will decide to cancel or postpone services in order to do their part to conserve water. Both managers and service providers need to prepare for this eventuality and avoid project interruptions and last minute cancellations if they are not mandated by city bylaws. 
 
Last minute shuffling of schedules create extra work for everyone, so by being aware of 
the regulations, we can avoid scrambling at the last minute.

Doing our part: 

During the dry summer season, we do our best to limit water consumption by using shut-off valves on our water-fed poles, ensuring that the water is only running while the brush is in motion.
 
During the drier months, we also focus on hand washing, which is the primary method of cleaning for high-rise buildings (mop and squeegee). This method of cleaning uses very little water and can be performed even during the harshest stage of restrictions.

Managing Expectations:

By communicating these potential challenges with their clients, property managers can help set realistic expectations for the upcoming summer cleaning season. Educating customers about the impact of water restrictions and the need for flexibility in scheduling will foster understanding and cooperation.
 
In conclusion, while the prospect of a dry summer may present hurdles for property maintenance services, proactive planning and clear communication can mitigate its impact. By working together, property managers and service providers can navigate these challenges and ensure that maintenance needs are met efficiently and responsibly.

Hiring Rope Access Tech – Exterior Building Maintenance – Currently hiring for our Vancouver and Victoria locations

Black Tie Property Services is a leading rope-access window cleaning company in Vancouver & Victoria, British Columbia. We attract hard-working individuals from different cultural & ethnic backgrounds from all corners of the world. We value this diversity and strive to provide a fun, safe and open work environment for all of our staff.

If you are looking to achieve great heights, our team is always growing which means there’s plenty of opportunity to advance within the company. We also understand that the nature of our work attracts young & adventurous individuals who may just be passing through; and we fully support that too!

Job Title: Rope Access Technician (NOC 7384)

Term of Employment: Full time, Permanent

Company: Black Tie Property Services Inc.

Salary: $30.00 – $40.00 per hour

Work Hours Per Week: 30 hours

Vacation: 2 weeks of paid vacation

Contact Email Address: careers@blacktieservices.ca

Business location: 1840 Triumph Street, Vancouver BC V5L 1K3

Work location: Jobs are located throughout the Lower Mainland in British Columbia

Language of Work: English

Get to know more about us here:
https://blacktieservices.ca/

https://www.instagram.com/blacktiepropertyservices/

Day to Day Responsibilities:

  • Rope access to hard-to-reach areas without scaffolding or a work platform.
  • Descend, ascend and traverse ropes for access and work while suspended by harness.
  • Perform duties such as inspection/reports, leak investigations, washing windows, pressure washing, dryer vent cleaning, exterior sealant renewals and other kinds of work at height or high angle.
  • Communicate effectively with customers and manager to maintain consistent work flow and customer’s satisfaction.
  • Follow all safety rules and regulations.

Qualifications:

  • SPRAT or IRATA Level 1 or higher
  • Computer and/or device literacy to access online forms & digital platforms daily
  • Minimum high school diploma
  • Comfortable and effective with verbal and written communication in English (doesn’t need to be perfect)
  • Experience in window cleaning and power washing (Preferred)
  • Valid BC Driver’s License is (preferred)

Skills & Performance Standards:

  • Comfortable working outdoors in all weather conditions
  • Comfortable working at heights and on ladders and suspended stages
  • Must be able to work while suspended in harness for extended periods of time
  • Can communicate with customers in a professional and courteous manner
  • Reliable, respectful, hard-working and honest
  • Able to work flexible hours and maintain project budgets
  • Comfortable reporting to work in employer uniform and maintaining a neat and clean appearance

Employment Benefits:

  • Extended health care
  • Dental care
  • Vision care
  • Disability insurance
  • Profit sharing

Other Benefits:

  • All rope access and necessary equipment provided
  • Full work uniforms provided
  • One of the best Extended Health benefits plans available to the industry
  • Legendary Christmas party and monthly staff events & BBQs
  • Professional development and employee training budget
  • Career guidance and advancement opportunities

How to Apply:

Apply Now

or

Please send your resume to careers@blacktieservices.ca, and please include a subject of ” Rope Access Technician.” We thank all candidates who applied for this position; however, only selected candidates will be contacted for an interview.

Unleashing the Power Within: Cultivating Employee Happiness and Engagement

In today’s competitive business landscape, organizations are recognizing the paramount importance of employee happiness and engagement. Beyond mere job satisfaction, fostering a work environment that prioritizes these factors can yield significant benefits for both employees and the company as a whole. Let’s explore why employee happiness and engagement are vital for Black Tie’s success.

Positive Work Culture

A happy and engaged workforce fosters a positive work culture. This positive culture, characterized by open communication, trust, and mutual respect, boosts morale, reduces conflicts, and enhances teamwork.

Reduced Turnover

Employee happiness and engagement directly influence retention rates. When employees feel valued, supported, and connected to their work, they are less likely to seek opportunities elsewhere. And when employees decide to return season after season, we can provide more advanced scheduling in early spring for our customers. It’s a win win!

Enhanced Productivity

Happy and engaged employees are more likely to be productive and motivated in their work. When individuals feel a sense of fulfillment and purpose, they go the extra mile to achieve organizational goals. The result is heightened productivity, improved quality of work, and increased efficiency across all levels of the organization.

Increased Customer Satisfaction

Employee happiness and engagement have a direct impact on customer satisfaction. Engaged employees provide better customer service, as they are more likely to go above and beyond to meet customer needs. When employees feel supported and valued, they become brand advocates, positively influencing customer interactions and experiences.

Here are some of the ways Black Tie fosters its employees engagement & happiness:

📌 Monthly in-person safety meeting/BBQ
📌 Weekly “toolbox talks”
📌 Events & group volunteer opportunities
📌 Monthly employee newsletter where we share & celebrate work + non-work topics
📌 Peer to peer recognition platform (Bonusly)
📌 Birthday recognitions
📌 Employee driven Slack channels dedicated to sharing photos & videos
📌 Training & education budgets
📌 Employee of the month
📌 Anonymous feedback surveys to gauge job satisfaction & highlight issues

Recognizing and prioritizing employee happiness and engagement is no longer an optional endeavour but a fundamental aspect of a successful organization. By investing in our employees’ well-being, we can unlock a multitude of benefits, including increased productivity, reduced turnover, a positive work culture, enhanced customer satisfaction, and a culture of innovation. When employees are happy and engaged, the entire organization flourishes, paving the way for long-term success and sustainable growth.

Have you met Liv?

Liv

If you have called or emailed our office in the last 3 years, you have most likely had the pleasure of interacting with Olivia, or Liv, as she prefers to be addressed.

Liv joined us in early 2018, as she helped get our Victoria location off the ground. Her life partner, David Bell, moved to the Island to manage the location, and Liv offered to roll up her sleeves and work alongside Dave, doing whatever needed to be done, including cleaning windows and gutters, cold calling potential clients and visiting sites around Victoria to prepare estimates. This was a complete 180 from her career in fashion, and she handled the transition and steep learning curve beautifully.

Her efforts didn’t go unnoticed and in 2019, Liv was promoted to head of customer service team, and started handling all client communications for both our Vancouver and Victoria locations. Her ability to handle large volumes of communications efficiently and to create systems that would streamline our back office processes has been extremely invaluable.

As our operations keep expanding in BC and Alberta, Liv has now taken on the role of operations manager for our back office management team, and oversees all admin functions, ensuring that our clients, in each location, get the same friendly service and personal touch that she has been known for.

Black Tie – Staff Spotlights October 2021

⭐ EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH ⭐ ⁠

EDUARDO MORALES

Eduardo joined us this year in April all the way from Chile! Eduardo always puts safety first which is our #1 core value at Black Tie. When it comes to safety, he is not only concerned with his own safety but also the safety of his colleagues. ⁠

Eduardo is excellent at managing his time and meeting deadlines while ensuring his quality of work is always top-notch.⁠

⁠Whatever the job is, big or small, Eduardo always has a can-do attitude and an open mind to learn new skills or try out a new technique.⁠

He is an excellent team player. If he finishes up for the day early, he will help his colleagues to finish up the task or pull up ropes. ⁠

Thanks Eduardo!

 

STAFF 📸 CONTEST

Congratulations, @DAVIDFAZV, the winner of Black Tie’s October Staff Photo Contest w/ 266 likes

Hat’s off to our 2nd place winner @drewlacarte w/ 127 likes

And coming in at a close 3rd place, @samuelhalifax w/ 120 likes

And a big thank you to everyone who submitted their photos.

If you like these, please come check out our Instagram where we’re always posting awesome photos like this one.  Follow us @blacktiepropertyservices.