Tucked away in an industrial park in Zeeland, Mich., a plastics joining machine manufacturer is not only innovating in its market; the company is innovating in employee relations.
During a segment on Plastics News Now, we told you about how Extol Inc. is flipping conventional office space by putting engineers and designers right on the shop floor.
The company, run by brothers Ross and Chip Van Klompenberg, recently celebrated 30 years of being in business.
Bill Reed, the company's sales and marketing director (and “Good Guy Certified” — it said so right on his business card), told me about two other employee programs.
The first is something that is becoming more common these days: an open book policy. Extol workers, all 85 of them, gather monthly to get financial updates from company leaders.
The other program allows employees to take time off — above and beyond traditional vacation — to take part in service projects.
Reed explains both programs in the video above.