The financial struggles of our nation have affected people of all industries and walks of life.  Although we remain constant here at Minuteman Parking Company, you as managers can work to maintain a team that is cohesive by recognizing some of the challenges our employees are having outside of work.

Although your employees arrive at work each day, clock in and begin their shift, there may be issues in their personal lives that are distracting them from their work.  They may be concerned about personal debt, financial hardships, family trials, and the nature of their own futures.

What can you do to help your employees be strong members of the Minuteman team?

1. Talk with your employees.  If you feel an employee is struggling, take the time to talk to them.  Reassure them of things that you can, and offer a listening ear to things that are of concern.
2. Offer encouragement to employees to help them stay focused and productive.  As a manager your bottom line is service, but the employees are the ones representing that bottom line.  Make sure you are their champion and their support system.   
   
3. Realize that you can build a positive and productive team during challenging economic times.   Employees need to know that their work matters.  Tell your employees thank you for their work.  Praise them for going above and beyond.

Your team has been a success up to this point, and can certainly continue following these principles as well as the Commitments to Excellence.  Together we can continue to prosper during these challenging times if we focus on our foundation; service, and those who provide it.

Minuteman Parking at Northern Trust Open

This is Minuteman Parking Company’s fifth year parking vehicles for the Northern Trust Open on the VA Greater Los Angeles grounds in West Los Angeles. Minuteman Parking Company along side with Westside Services parks over 3,000 cars a day for this event. This year we were able to staff directly from the VA Greater Los Angeles itself.

We would like to thank the New Directions Program for partnering with Minuteman Parking Company and letting us hire their residents for this event. They were a huge help. We have been partnering with New Directions for the past three years to staff this event and other events that we are contracted to do on the VA Greater Los Angeles grounds. Michael Johnson who has been an asset to our team for the past three years celebrated his third Northern Trust Open with Minuteman Parking Company.

Over the past couple of years the visitor flow has improved due to the creative thinking of Craig Owens. The landscape changes each year but Craig always has a plan to get the job done. Craig has been coordinating the parking for this event with Richard Scott for the past 5 years. Minuteman Parking Company would like to thank all of our team members who have come out to help us over the years. We would also like to let the staff from New Directions know that they are a valuable part of our team and this year they really made the Northern Trust Open a big success.

Drinking and Driving is a serious problem that plaques the United States. 23,000 deaths a year are caused by drunk drivers. When we drink, alcohol goes into our stomach where it is absorbed by the blood stream. The alcohol is then carried to the brain. When it reaches the brain, alcohol can affect our driving in three ways.

1. Alcohol impairs our judgment and decision making ability

2. Alcohol affects our coordination and our ability to handle a vehicle

3. Alcohol affects our vision—we can not always see things clearly

Minuteman Parking Company would like to remind everyone of our Drug and Alcohol Policy.

Substance Abuse

Illegal drugs in the workplace are a danger to everyone. Minuteman Parking Company is considered a Drug-Free Workplace. That means any employee who works for the Company is prohibited from engaging in the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession, or use or being under the influence of a controlled substance.  Controlled substances are generally considered to be, but not limited to, heroin, morphine, marijuana, hashish, cocaine, amphetamines, tranquilizers, PCP, LSD, “designer drugs,” etc., or any divertive thereof.  For the purposes of this policy being under the influence meant having any detectable level of alcohol or controlled substances in one’s system.

The consumption use or possession of any alcoholic beverage or controlled substance, or the illegal use of drug(s), by anyone while acting in any employment capacity for the Company or on Company property, is strictly prohibited. Anyone found in violation of this standard will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including immediate termination of employment without prior notice or warning.

Unusual Behavior: If, in the opinion of management, your behavior is considered to be unusual and is or could be injurious to the Company or its employees, you may be subject to a drug/alcohol test as a condition of continued employment.

On-the-Job Injury: If you are involved in any on-the-job injury, the medical facility where you are sent will be asked to conduct a test to determine if drugs, alcohol, or any illegal substance was present that could have contributed to the cause of the injury. This test is mandatory and considered to be a condition of continued employment. Failure to comply with the directions from the medical facility or to take this test will result in immediate termination of employment without further notice or warning.

Test Results: A test result that reveals illegal substance use or substance abuse or alcohol influence will normally result in immediate termination of employment of the employee.

Prescribed and Over-the-Counter Drugs: The use of prescribed or over-the-counter drugs, or possession incident to such use, is not prohibited if:

·         The drug has been legally obtained and is being used for the purpose for which it was prescribed or manufactured; and

·         The drug is being used at the dosage prescribed or authorized; and

·         The use of the drug is not inconsistent with the safe and efficient performance of the employee’s duties.

If you have any questions on the above policy please contact your locations Direct Manager or the Training and Safety Manager.