Drugs For The Glass Industry

Here I was in Atlanta, having dinner with my best friend Chuck Kaplanek, and he asked me about the health of the glass business.  I told him that our industry is indeed sick and weak.  He off-handidly commented, "It's a shame we can't sell drugs to help the industry."

I remembered his comment and when I returned to my hotel, I did a computer search for drugs to help the glass industry.  Here is what I found....

• UValium---taken to calm down contract glaziers when an architect specifies soft-coat performance but prices the estimate at hard-coat pricing.
• Glassacillin---prescribed to prevent infection when your best customer puts a knife in your back.
• Glazierproxine---works on the stubborn heartburn you get when your lead glazier won't work overtime to finish a project.
• Lamitrine---a proven headache pain reducer that you often get when the bullet-resistant glass you ordered comes in one inch too large.
• Oshaphetamine---reduces rapid heart beat and excessive sweating condition after a shop worker gets a three-stitch cut and wants to call his lawyer and OSHA.
• Arefactorine---a very strong stress reliever that can be used after studying charts with very small print size and confusing directions on how to read the chart.
• Tempofane---reduces your back pain after installing an over sized light of tempered glass, only to have it shatter when you place the final stop.
• Floataproz---reduces high blood pressure when you receive the latest round of price increases.
• Fenestrataphine---cures blurry vision caused by looking at microscopic defects in glass on the third floor of a building that can only be seen on a sunny day around 4:00pm.
• Closercet---taken by door mechanics to alleviate the arthritis pain caused by adjusting the same closer three times a week for a fussy customer.
• Measureprostinate---glass shop owners take this medicine to prevent their hands from shaking and trembling when they find that their glaziers measured an opening with a worn out tape measure that is 1/4" short.
• Alumocodeine---an addictive pain medicine to be used when your shop crew cuts all the miters backwards on a big job.
• Driveroxorine---an over the counter drug, usually taken as a stress reliever by glass truck drivers given the wrong directions to a job site.
• Viagraset---relieves depression when failing to set an IG unit on the third floor of a building because your lift only goes to the second floor.
• Worldseriesium---taken once a year by over three million Chicago Cubs fans as an anxiety reliever.  Paid for by most insurance companies as a medical necessity.  Also desperately needed by New York Mets fans and available on the street in Times Square. 

You Will Increase Your Profit and Your Employee Moral By Reading This Blog

Yep, you will.

What, you want the details of this too-good-to-be-true offer?  Why, just a couple of weeks ago I wrote a blog that says don't believe anything that sounds too-good-to-be true. 

But you can trust me, can't you?

After all, I predicted the Mets would win the World Series this year (and last year).  You can believe me.

So here is the plan.  I am working on a new employee benefit package for one of my consulting clients and introduced the company to a Flexible Spending Account.  This is one of the greatest benefits that has ever been created by the US Congress. (What is the opposite of progress?....It is congress, yuk, yuk, yuk)

It is simple---your employees put aside a fixed amount of money, from $100 to $2500 annually, through payroll deduction.  This reduces their tax bite.  For instance, Gary Glazier puts in $100 a month, he saves roughly 20-25% (based on his individual tax status), or about $240-$300 per year.  He gets to spend the entire $1200 on prescriptions, doctor's co-pays, medical devices, and a whole list of eligible items from band-aids to eyeglasses.  (Google 'FSA Eligible Expenses' to see complete lists of allowed items)

Now it's your turn.  Because the employees reduce their taxable income, you reduce your tax bite as well.  You will save 7.65% on each dollar of payroll placed in the plan.  $76.50 for every thousand of payroll.  This is the FICA plus the medicare tax. 

You save, the employee saves and your employees are happy that you have created this plan for them.  It is a no-lose for all.  Except, there is some fine print.  You will incur a one-time set up fee and have a small monthly cost for the plan.  The company I just set up has twenty-two employees, incurred first year fees of $1800, and will continue to have fees of about $800 per year.  They will be saving about $4300 per year, and their employees think this is the greatest thing since peanut butter. 

If any employee spends their full amount before the end of the year, and leaves you, you will be on the hook for the difference, and if an employee doesn't spend their full amount, you gain the difference.  These are usually offsetting in most companies.

Here is the most important thing...talk to your insurance agent or your payroll company to set this up.  You can shop around on the net, but professional advice is best.  There are options that cover dependent care (like child care while you are working) or elder care, if you take care of your parents.  In these cases, the $2500 limit can be raised.  You can also set up a plan that pays employee commuting expenses, like bus, train or parking expenses.  Remember, each time the employee saves, you save too.  There are different ways for the employee to spend the money; look for one that gives each employee a debit card and requires no paperwork.  That will be the easiest for you to manage.

If you are providing a plan like this to your employees, you probably have not read this far.  So, if you are still reading, think about this for January first.  I guarantee that after your insurance agent describes it to your employees, they will love it.  Now is the time to set it up.

Keep Politics Out Of Your Company

Tea Party. Tax and Spend. Free Speech. Rallies in Washington. The Chamber of Commerce.  Freedom of Choice. The Budget.  The War. (Is there still a war?) Rush and Glenn.  Barak and Nancy.  Are you sick of it yet?  By the time you read this blog, the election will be over and as a country, we will move on to the new rules of the game.

Following politics is great fun along with serious thoughts.  If anyone chooses to ignore the current state of affairs, they are leaving their future to be decided by others.  OK, what the heck does this have to do with the glass business?

Nothing.

Yes, you business should have nothing to do with politics.  You should keep your personal opinions just that---personal.  If you like party A, promoting it at your workplace, and some of your employees like party B, they will realize that their hard work for your profits are going to support party A.  This will definitely impact some workers.

Don't spread your politics at work.  Don't put bumper stickers on your trucks.  Just about half of your customers will disagree with your politics.  When they go to the yellow pages or to the net looking up a glass company, and if they remember seeing your truck and its bumper sticker, you won't get a call.  This is absolutely true and will impact your business.

If you wear a campaign button on your jacket when you go on an estimate, half of your customers won't call you back.  If you see a lawn sign or a bumper sticker for your candidate, then certainly, discuss your common thoughts.  But, be careful, one spouse's opinion may be different than the other.  Tread lightly in this area.

If you make public donations to a candidate or a party, do it in your personal name and not in the name of your company.

Don't try to influence your employees to vote for A or B.  What you can do is encourage them to vote.  Give an extra half hour in the morning or evening, or at lunch for people to vote.  If you want to educate your employees, give out neutral literature from guaranteed neutral sites, like the League of Women Voters.

You might think there are causes that will help your business...like a bond issue to improve a downtown area.  You may want to work for its passage but don't do it where it will be visible to your staff.  If you can take time to work on an issue, why aren't you out there drumming up business that will bring in more work.  Most people will be upset rather than taking the long view that it will help your company in the long run.

Many companies will accept posters to go in their storefront windows.  Look carefully before you say OK.  Promoting a fund raiser at the local hospital is wonderful, putting an issue or a candidate's flyer up will raise eyebrows.

What can you do to have your business support the election of your candidate?  Take money out in your name, and then donate that money as an individual.  Donate your personal services for call-outs or take a day off and hand out flyers.  Discuss your candidates/issues with your friends and family, not your employees and customers.  Be sure to vote...it is the loudest voice you can have.

Is My Blog Too Good To Be True?

Yes, my blogs are great works of literature; yes I get paid $15,000 for each blog; yes, my blog is read by millions of people in seventy different languages; and yes, if you believe this you had better read on.


I received a wonderful brochure from the US Post Office the other day.  A simple one-page flyer on how to avoid being a victim of fraud. With thanks to the Post Office for putting this together, here are some of their thoughts along with mine.


Watch for these warning signs in letters and emails:

• Sounds too good to be true
• Pressures you to act NOW
• Success is guaranteed
• You will receive three times the standard return
• Requires an upfront payment--even to receive your free prize
• Buyers want to overpay you and then have you send them the difference
• Something doesn't feel right...trust your gut feeling
• Your bank will never email or call you for your account number
• Don't wire money to anyone you don't know, no matter what the reason
• Some work-at-home job offers are real, but most are schemes just to have you buy their product.  Be careful here
• Foreign lotteries are illegal in the US--you cannot win no matter what they say

What can you and your employees in the glass industry do to help themselves?

• The government requires that the three major credit bureaus give every person a free credit report once a year.  The site is: annualcreditreport.com.  This is completely free and safe.  All of the free credit report ads you see on TV or the Internet have a catch---you have to sign up for some other service that will cost you. 
• Don't open suspicious email.  Don't click on a link inside an email to visit a suspicious web site.  If you really want to go to the site, type the address into your browser separately.
• The best web site I have ever seen for fraud and rumor verification is snopes.com.  Their research base is huge and totally reliable.
• On your browser, set your security filter at a high level to block as many emails as you can.  Make sure your firewall and virus checker are updated at least weekly, and don't turn them off. 

How does fraud prevention impact the glass industry?

• Don't believe that someone from another country has chosen you to launder their money.  Wake up!
• Don't cut glass in advance for a shipment overseas until the deposit check, covering at least your costs, clears your bank.  Don't attempt to make the shipment until payment, in full, has cleared your bank.  I have heard from many people who have bitten on this one, and every single one was burned.  If you are not sure about a possible customer, ask for and follow-up on credit references.
• Don't ever pay anything in advance for an opportunity to do business unless you are 100% sure of the reliability of the customer.  The Better Business Bureau (bbb.org) is a perfect site to check on  a business you don't know.
• Occasionally we all get a job that is clearly a home run.  You can make money in the glass business, but be careful and trust your gut feel more than the pull of your wallet.

And, in the operation of your business,

• Sign every check yourself.  If you can't, have two signatures on each check.  This will reduce your exposure by a huge margin.
• Watch your credit card refund slips.  Have each refund double- checked in your shop.
• If you have a bill from a vendor you don't know, learn who it is before you send the check.
• Check your weekly payroll logs from your payroll provider.  Investigate any names you don't personally know, and watch for any overtime that you did not authorize.
• You will always need some petty cash in the office.  Just keep an eye on it.
• Watch for supplies going out the door.  This usually means someone is moonlighting.

Now, send two ten-dollar bills to my home address.  You will receive a list of 5,000 top companies that will give you business, pay their bills in 10 days, and never, never, never give you a punch list or a charge back.

Will This Be My Last Blog For USGlass?

I have sent out my resume, followed up with a phone call, and any day now, I expect the call telling me the job is mine.  When that happens, regretfully, my blogging days will be over. A little history here will help.

Last week the Mets, my favorite baseball team, released their General Manager, Omar Minaya, and their Field Manager, Jerry Manuel.  I am not qualified to be the field manager, even though that is tough to admit.  But, there is no doubt in my mind I can do the General Manager's job.

Here is my list of qualifications that I sent to Fred Wilpon, the owner of the Mets.

• I love baseball and will never skip out of work.
• I met Fred Wilpon once, shook his hand, and he said it was an honor to meet me. I am sure he will remember that as our first interview.
• I ran the annual player draft at our youth baseball league for many years.  I learned how to qualify players skills and attitudes.  (Really, the main reason a kid was drafted was whose Mom made the best team snacks.)
• I have been to hundreds of Mets games, and still watch every game, even here in New Hampshire.
• I have actually thrown out a first pitch at Mets game, met all the players, and they showed me great respect.  It would be easy to pick up from that point.
• I collect baseball cards, so I know all the player's stats, and know who to trade for.
• Negotiating my salary will be easy...I will pay whatever Mr. Wilpon wants.

So that's my story.  This blog has been great fun and I will truly miss it.  The odds are in my favor to get this job, but if for some reason I don't, I'll be back with you next week.

Where There Is Smoke, There Is Money Burning

Whenever you see cigarette smoke in your glass shop, even your own smoke, money is going out the window.  Let's explore some of the ways that smoking affects your business...and your profits!

Before I continue, let me share my vice.  Chocolate.  It can be just as addicting, and does equal harm to the body.  But since this is my blog, I am allowed to be judgemental.  

It is easy for a non-smoker to spout the following facts and figures about smokers:

• A pack-a-day smoker, at age 30, who quites and invests the same amount of money in a conservative 401k, will, at age 70, have in excess of $250,000.  And probably more as cigarette prices go up.
• Throat and mouth cancer are 200% more prevalent in smokers.
• Life insurance costs about 100% more than for non-smokers.
• If you have individual health insurance, expect to pay 30% more.
• Most home insurance policies carry a 20% premium. (you are more likely to burn your house down!)
• The same for car insurance.
• Your dental care will be about twice as expensive over your life
• Your house will have a lower resale value because of the pervasive smell of the smoke.

Can you as an employer or manager make people stop smoking as a term of employment?  No.  Most states do not allow you to control some one's activities away from work.  You can't prohibit a Hershey bar away from work, nor can you stop employees from having a beer.  These are legal activities.

But you can, and in my opinion you should, regulate certain behaviors at your workplace during working hours. Why should you eliminate smoking at work?

• The productivity of your company will definitely go up.  That's a promise.
• Your health insurance costs will not increase as much, as your utilization rates will be lower.
• Your office, showroom or trucks won't stink.
• Your customers will linger longer in your showroom.

Many companies offer a smoking break for employees to smoke outside rather than inside.  Do you offer the same to non-smokers?  Can they stand around for five minutes and do nothing?  How many times a day do you allow this?  Why are you discriminating against the non-smokers?

Not one state makes you offer this very expensive benefit to less than 20% of the workforce.  

Can you hire non-smokers only?  Only in a couple of states, and those are being challenged.  You can make smoking prohibited in your building and anywhere on your property.  If you make this clear during the interview, you are fine.  Let the potential employee make the decision.

How do you implement a non-smoking policy when one of your key employees sets the all-time record for being a chimney?  Start by having a heart-to-heart with Molly Smoker.  Offer to pay for the stop-smoking medications that may not be covered under the insurance plan, or offer to pay the deductibles.  Support Molly in every way you can, showing understanding that for a month or two Molly may be a very uncomfortable person to be around.  Give Molly a bonus at the end of three months of non-smoking.  Have a chart in the office showing the non-smoking days for all employees and get the whole company to be a support group. 

You can also go with a two-tier program.  Employees hired after a certain date cannot take smoking breaks, while current employees are grandfathered under previous work rules.  This works in all fifty states.  

Some states allow you to ask if an applicant is a smoker.  Some do not.  Don't worry about it, just don't ask the question.  Simply state in your help wanted ad, or in the interview, that your business is a non-smoking location.  The heavy smokers will go somewhere else.  If someone is a three cigarette a day person, you should have no problem hiring them. 

Health insurance rates are set in two broad ways.  One is all companies of a certain size get the same rate.  The other is to look at the utilization rate.  This is the actual costs incurred by all members of a plan.  If the insurer lost money last year, this year's premium will go through the roof.  Smokers cost more in medical costs, that's a fact.  So fewer smokers can equal lower insurance costs for your medical plan.

The bottom line?  You can (and should) restrict smoking in your company and on your property.  You should encourage in all ways possible your current smokers to quit, and you can set a policy of new hires are not allowed to take smoking breaks.

I have to go now, I haven't had any chocolate in an hour, and I am due.

Mr. Trump, Can We Talk?

Dear Mr. Trump,

My name is Ace Glassman, suave and multi-talented investigative reporter for the glass industry.  I invite you to meet the United States Glass and Window Industry at the New York/Long Island glass industry trade show on March 17, 2011.  We will provide a limo to pick you up in Manhattan and bring you to the most important glass event in the New York region.

Here you will meet AMERICAN window manufacturers and installers.  Here you will meet real working Americans.   Sure, we like Chinese food, and we celebrate Chinese New Year.  But, we make windows here--in North America.

Between the US and Canada, we make the best windows in the world! 

Mr. Trump, we will treat you like a movie star, give you a private room to comb your hair before we interview you, and we will help you buy your next project with North American made windows. 

Our glass trade unions have plenty of apprentices for you to pick from.  Our aluminum extruders use energy produced in Niagara Falls.  Our glass comes from the sand of our country.

I, Ace Glassman, suave and multi-talented reporter, will be there to lead you through the trade show, introducing you to the right people.  I will stand in front of you so no one will throw rotten tomatoes at you.  What more could you ask for?

Mr. Trump, write me at aceglassman@msn.com.  When we tell everyone that you are coming to learn how to buy American, the country will be proud of you, your ratings will go up, your buildings will be more in demand.  Mr. Trump, I received over five emails last week regarding this issue.  This week, I expect eight! This is a growing grass-roots movement.  My readers won't be buying condos in your buildings if you don't show up.

Mr. Trump, thank you, I look forward to seeing you on St. Patrick's Day.

Ace Glassman
Suave and multi-talented investigative reporter.