Survey indicates ambivalence about outsourcing

CHICAGO — According to a survey conducted by AlturaSolutions Communications and requested by Tornado Industries Inc., cleaning contractors have mixed views about outsourcing janitorial work, according to a press release.
The survey was performed through various social media websites and includes roughly 100 respondents, the release stated.
Jolynn Kennedy, marketing manager for Tornado, said: "Instead of hiring employees, some building service contractors outsource cleaning work to independent/sub contractors. This can be a cost savings, and with the current state of the economy, we wanted to know if more building service contractors were considering this option. Interestingly, even though there are mixed feelings about outsourcing, nearly 60 percent say they believe outsourcing will play a greater role in the industry five years from now. This may be a reflection of the tight economy and hopes that building service contractors can cut costs by outsourcing instead of hiring employees directly."
Compared to five years ago, 55 percent say they are not outsourcing more janitorial work today; thirty-six percent say they are; and the remainder indicate that their use of outside contractors is "about the same," the release noted.
According to the release, nearly 42 percent of respondents say they would not recommend outsourcing janitorial work to other building service contractors — 33 percent say they would.
Nearly 67 percent indicate the key benefit of outsourcing janitorial work was "cost savings" while 42 percent say the main problem with outsourcing janitorial work is "too little control over the work performed," the release added.