The Chair of the Huron Manufacturing Association says now that COVID-19 restrictions are being lifted, they hope they’ll get more traction on their GEARS (General Employee Attraction and Retention Strategies) program.
Larry Livingston says they got some funding from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) to start the program about the time that COVID arrived. He says they supplied nine of their manufacturers with Human Resources solutions. Livingston says the following year they re-vamped their web site and put together an engaging tool box for the membership and one of the items that was involved with that was a rewards program that was set up. It is similar to an apprenticeship program but the criteria was set out by the manufacturer and at the end of it all, the employees were rewarded with a $100 gift certificate. Livingston says the manufacturers were free to add whatever incentives they felt were appropriate, including a raise.
Livingston says there is currently a critical shortage of workers so retention of existing staff is essential to the success of a business. He says part of the goal of their program is build a sense of belonging with their existing staff.
“We opened up with the program we offered three different job fairs in Exeter, Clinton and Wingham. This year our goal is to evolve into an Employee Appreciation Day and appreciate their employees with a big BBQ,” he said.
Livingston says they’re hoping to do that in July and it will be held at the Raceway in Clinton.
