MyTana Blog

The young people aging into the workforce are causing quite a stir. Commentators love to write off Generation Y, or millennials, (born approximately 1980 through the mid-1990s) and Generation Z (born roughly between 1996 and 2013) as unreliable and lazy. But while there are a few bad apples in any group, it’s not a label that should be applied to entire generations.

These traits can be found in people from every generation! Millennials' length of time at a job is no shorter than Gen X-ers when they were entering the workforce, according to a Pew Research study. The tendency to "job-hop" is not a problem with the people born during a certain decade: it’s an age-group flaw. But it is true that these up-and-coming generations are changing the workforce. For the trade industry, these changes can be jarring.

To do a job right, you need the right tools. When it comes to cable machines, the appropriate blade type and proper application are essential to success. Before unclogging a drain, inspect both the blockage and the line to figure out which attachments will be best. The pipe diameter determines the cable size you should use, which end tools will work, and how the end tools attach.

Did you know the average small business waits 21 days to get paid? Or that the average small business has only 27 days worth of cash reserves on hand? These stats are jarring because cash flow problems can have major ramifications for your plumbing and drain cleaning business. Healthy cash flow is important to survival, and it requires more than the right amounts of money coming in and out; you have to take timing into account, too. Getting paid on time and in full is key to the success of your business.

Finding the words to describe a job isn’t easy. While there’s no way to include every little detail, it’s important to convey enough information for applicants to get a sense of role requirements and responsibilities. Without a clear, easy-to-read job description, everyone ends of wasting time. You’ll end up sifting through unqualified applicants, and candidates waste time applying to a job they don’t understand.

According to a Wall Street Journal study, applicants only spend about a minute reading through a job description before deciding if it’s a good fit. So, how can you write a description that captures the important points quickly and clearly? Consider the job description to be a first impression.

Eighty-two percent of all businesses fail because of poor money management. Given this number, ensuring effective money management should be a priority for any small business looking to thrive and succeed in today’s economic environment. And having a thought-out, well-written and executable budget is a necessary component of running a business that can withstand common financial roadblocks. Budgeting can help your business become financially sustainable by helping you:

As a small business owner, deciding your hourly rates is one of the most important tasks that you face. You have to look at your business in a holistic manner, balancing costs with profit, and calculate a number that can satisfy both.

When one of the largest malls in the world ran into trouble during an expansion, its team called in Keith Mittl. The $100-million project had come to a halt after developers became concerned about inconsistencies in their sewer plans, and they couldn’t move forward until they were confident of the system’s layout. Keith arrived, camera and equipment on hand, and he quickly identified major errors in the existing blueprints. The variations were so significant that many doubted his report, but Keith stood by his work. Upon further inspection, the mall’s developers confirmed that the sewer layout was indeed different than the available plans. Keith—and his MyTana equipment—were spot on.

What’s the most dangerous part of working a cable machine? Building up torque.

Merriam-Webster defines torque as “a turning or twisting force.” In a cable machine, this force is generated when the reel spins and cable is fed into the pipe, but an obstruction stops the rotation of the cutting blade. When this happens, the tension known as torque builds rapidly.

Is Your Crew Ready for National Safety Month?

Keeping people safe on the job is crucial to the success of any business and the morale of its employees. However, safety training is too often overlooked during on-boarding and throughout the tenure of your crew. In any case, keeping employees safe on the job is more than just a good business practice — it’s the law. Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) of 1970, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthful workplace, and safety training is an important aspect of complying with this requirement. When was the last time you thought about your training program? June is National Safety Month, so now is the perfect time to improve or reevaluate how you’re helping your employees stay safe on the job.

With the many strange and gross things that end up down the toilet, drain cleaning isn’t a job for the squeamish. It’s also not a job for the careless. Drain cleaners are exposed to a variety of dangerous pathogens and substances in the course of their work. Preventing contact with these hazards, and maintaining a firm barrier between “clean” spaces and “dirty” spaces, is vital to their health.