Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/1390499
PalletCentral • July-August 2021 35 "We want people to know that they are not discarded," says Ruder of employees from second chance situations. "The circles we hire from – they are the nature of our business; we are never going to have the first pick. So what can we do with those who we do get? The best candidate may be the one sitting in front of us. Some people who have made mistakes are far more intelligent and capable than other candidates and deserve a second chance. Even so, as an employer we are very selective. We look for a cultural fit into the company." Expectations are Never Compromised For all of L&R Pallet's employment programs, workplace expectations are not diminished. "Show up on time, maintain a positive attitude, do your best, work safe," says Ruder of standards. Enforcing standards provides opportunity for people to take pride in their work, he says, but people also have a lot happening in their lives at times. "We want to be leaders who say, 'I need you to give me some grace and it goes both ways – we are a partner in this together.'" "At the end of the day, I don't want to be just a paycheck guy," Ruder says. "If we can do this differently, maybe we can change bigger things. I knew I needed to step up to the plate as the boss. And if we are going to have turnover, I wanted good turnover where people leave to do bigger things, like entering a trade they love, becoming an electrician, or becoming a police officer. That is worthwhile turnover to have." Always Working For You – Join Us! The National Wooden Pallet and Container Association (NWPCA) is always on the job, working on your behalf. In unique times such as this, membership matters! We invite you to join us today and be recognized as an industry partner. There are many benefits, and we'd love for you to take advantage of them! To learn more, reach out to NWPCA's Senior Director-Business Partnerships Mark Barford at mbarford@palletcentral.com or phone him directly at 703-519-0186.