Cutbacks? Not at this employer — $1,000 gifts instead

[Omaha Steve]

Posted in GD this morning. It got one reply.

Video here: http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=5001&v=14850

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=1208&u_sid=10606858

Published Friday April 10, 2009
Cutbacks? Not at this employer — $1,000 gifts instead
BY STEVE JORDON
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER



Nichole Kern expected bad news when her employer unexpectedly announced a staff meeting Thursday afternoon.

Her husband's workweek has been shortened, and bad economic news seems to be everywhere.

The couple are expecting and thrilled about the arrival of their baby girl in June, but that involves financial uncertainties as well.


Employees at Midwest Laboratories in Omaha react Thursday as co-owner John DeBoer announces they all will receive $1,000 "stimulus" checks. In foreground are Julie Menghini, left, and Ashley Dimauro.


Kern's employers, however, had good news to announce.

Ken Pohlman, John DeBoer and John Torpy, owners of Midwest Laboratories Inc., are depositing an extra $1,000, minus taxes and withholding, into each of their 100 employees' bank accounts Friday with instructions to use the money to help the economy.

"It's our own stimulus package," DeBoer said.

Kern knew right away where the money would go.

"My baby," she said fluttering her hand in front of her face to fend off tears. "They made us so happy. It really means a lot."

Reading from a statement, DeBoer told employees gathered in the company's lobby that Midwest Laboratories has escaped most effects of the recession.

"We want to do our part to help rebuild our country's economic stability," he read. "As a result, we will give each full-time employee a stimulus check of $1,000 . . . "

There was an audible gasp, followed by applause.

FULL story at link.

[TK421]

1. One reply, huh? How about a K&R?

and thanks for posting this....just when everyone feels like it is a hopeless situation you hear a story like this one

[dcsmart]

2. it is always good to hear good news

wealth that workers create coming back to them, hope it catches on.

[NYC_SKP]

3. K&R nt

[HillbillyBob]

4. Applause to this employer.

I don't get to go through much here, I am sorry I only get to latest, not having time/energy to go into all the links.
I am so glad to hear one employer that did this, the employers I have worked for took every opportunity to cheat us..even to making us work over time without pay.

[lapfog_1]

5. Don't forget to keep buying Lance / Archway

cookies and snacks.

They did a good thing (very much like this) back around Christmas time. Let's try to keep rewarding employers that employ
Americans.

[jannyk]

6. Happy ro send this to the 'front page'. Kick!

[grace0418]

7. It's good to hear a story like this. Contrast to my former employer. He laid off most of

my department in December (including me). He froze wages and cut 401k matching for everyone left. He keeps laying off a few more people here and there just to make sure everyone is terrified of being next (and keeps piling more work on everyone).

Oh, but he's taken 3 vacations since the beginning of the year. He really likes to show how much he cares. :eyes:

[Djinn]

8. there are decent employers

who don't feel the need to horde all the profits that are made in the most part by their workers.

A friend of mine is a junior engineer and his firm, like most engineering firms have had a big drop in work, each partner has chosen to work 4 days instead of 5 rather than lay anyone off. If it gets worse then everyone will be asked to drop one day in order to keep everyone employed.

It's a total lie when the ruling class claims that ALL people are motivated purely by profit, they're simply projecting their own greed on to others.

[OneBlueSky]

9. reminds me of the mill owner in Lowell (I think), Massachusetts . . .

who, when his factory burned down a few years ago, decided to keep all of his employees on at full pay while rebuilding . . . from what I read, he was a genuinely good guy just trying to do right by his people . . .