Investing in employees key to good business.

If you want to make money in business, you must invest money. The same principle applies to keeping quality employees on staff and motivating them to do their job well.

The turnover rate in the real estate services industry, which includes cleaners, security guards, messengers and restoration workers, is out of control. Security guards and cleaners at some companies report to work unkempt, unmotivated and ready ... to quit.

It doesn't have to be this way. Management can keep their employees happy and motivated by following certain guidelines and constantly finding ways to improve the company.

At Alliance Building Services, we are undergoing a major overhaul to our employee services and technology. We are making a very big investment to show our employees we care.

Since we are increasing our office space from 13,000 to 23.000 square feet, we've decided to set up a service center to address employee needs. The center will be staffed by people who are solely dedicated to addressing the needs of the Alliance workforce in all its divisions.

Whether it's a change in a cleaner's medical plan or a security guard with a concern about safety in his building, the staff will be attentive and responsive.

We also are upgrading our computer system and bringing in the latest technology, including new hardware and new software.

This will benefit both the employees and our bottom line by making all computerized operations more efficient.

We encourage our employees to strive for certain awards, such as Guard of the Year, Cleaner of the Year and Messenger of the Year. Each honoree is compensated with a bonus, a paid day off and a picture in Real Estate Weekly.

A good business owner or manager must value his or her employees as much as he or she values clients. Like any other investment, caring about your employees will pay dividends, particularly when they are confronted with difficult decisions in which they can choose to benefit the company or perhaps unethically benefit themselves. A motivated and happy worker will choose the company every time.

At First Quality Maintenance, we've had a cleaner return a large amount of cash and at Classic Security recently, a guard stopped a burglary, for which he was honored by the New York Police Department. Also at Classic Security, an employee helped in the arrest of drug dealers.

Unmotivated or bitter employees wouldn't have done these things.

Historically, people in our industry do not want to go to work. We want to create a culture where they look forward to going to the office and doing a great job.

A company that is growing to a new level can't lose sight of what it's doing for its employees.

Our company has grown tremendously, but if we don't invest in our people, we'll lose them and any growth we've achieved. Companies grow because of good people doing great work.

MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ

PRESIDENT, ALLIANCE BUILDING SERVICES