Skip to main content

American Laundry News - November 2019

Page 1

NOVEMBER 2019

Late News W.Va. laundry pays $66,641 in back wages, damages FAIRMONT, W.Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor reports that after an investigation by its Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Superior Industrial Laundries Inc., a commercial laundry facility based here, has paid $66,641 in back wages and liquidated damages to 36 employees to resolve overtime violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). WHD investigators found that Superior Industrial Laundries Inc., doing business as Superior Laundries, misapplied an exemption from the FLSA’s overtime requirements to its delivery drivers and certain sales staff. “Exemptions from the law’s overtime requirements require very specific criteria to be met,” says WHD Director John DuMont. “We invite all employers to use the wide variety of tools we offer to help them understand those criteria, and ultimately their responsibilities under the law. Employers or workers with questions can also call us, or visit any of our offices, to speak directly with a trained Wage and Hour professional.” ALN

Not your normal commercial laundry No laundry facility, wildfires haven’t kept Californian from achieving success BY MATT POE, EDITOR LOS ANGELES — On paper, Royal Quality Laundry, based here, seems like a “normal” commercial laundry operation. It offers daily pickup and delivery. It works with big and small customers, including residential customers and commercial accounts, such as spas, salons, rehabilitation homes, hotels, motels, vacation rentals, gyms, schools, camps and special events, and more. The company also has expertise in disease control laundry and has a rush emergency laundry service for that. But Royal Quality Laundry is missing something that most commercial laundries have: a laundry plant. The company uses a laundromat during its off hours. “I don’t actually own a facility,” says Natalie Camacho, founder and president. “That took many overhead costs out of my model.”

Natalie Camacho (center) and the team of Royal Quality Laundry in Malibu, Calif. (Photo: Royal Quality Laundry) BEGINNINGS, BUSINESS MODEL

Camacho didn’t set out to start a laundry company with no facility. In fact, she didn’t set out to get into the laundry business at all. Before becoming involved in the laundry industry, she was working to obtain a career in nursing.

“It always was an industry I wanted to be in,” shares Camacho. “I was in my second year starting as a certified nurse assistant (CNA) before I had a terrible ski accident. Completely severing my ACL and damaging See ROYAL on Page 6

Employee enhancement through training Laundry operations can use different types of programs to train employees BY DEANA GRIFFIN STAUNTON, Va. — A great question for the hiring professional: If you were given a choice between two different doctors—one was trained, the other not— which one would you choose? Trained, right? But what if there as was no “up-front” cost for the untrained doctor? You still wouldn’t do it? Probably not, since the training required for a doctor is so specialized. However, many business owners do not recognize the importance, and value, of See EMPLOYEE on Page 8

www.americanlaundrynews.com

Volume 45, Number 11

INSIDE Columnist at Large In this issue, Eric Frederick examines how work schedules impact employee relations.

1119aln_p01,06,08.FINAL.indd 1

Employees offered enhanced skill training by employers are happier and produce better work. (Image licensed by Ingram Publishing)

[4]

Panel of Experts The experts share strategies to reduce expenses and run a more costefficient laundry.

The Newspaper of Record for Laundry & Linen Management

[16]

Choosing New Textiles Find out how to make the best choices when it comes to new textiles on the market.

[18]

10/16/19 3:19 PM


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
American Laundry News - November 2019 by American Trade Magazines - Issuu