Masonry Magazine October 2004 Page. 42
News
DOL continued from page 38
English proficiency expected by local employers; how the level of English proficiency required varies with the type of work performed; methods used by employers to assess applicant proficiency; and services or programs employers use to help workers improve workplace communication.
"This administration is committed to ensuring that workers with limited English proficiency have opportunities to increase their language skills," says Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Emily Stover DeRocco. "Hispanic Americans are an increasingly vital part of our workforce. Learning more about the employment barriers they face will help the public employment and training system better prepare them for careers in industries that need good workers now and into the future."
The National Hispanic Worker Initiative is part of a larger effort to link the resources of the $15 billion public workforce investment system to jobs in demand. Currently, the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration has identified 12 high-growth industries-construction, automotive, advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, energy, financial services, geospatial, health care, hospitality, information technology (IT), retail and transportation and is funding unique, industry-driven demonstration projects through the President's High Growth Job Training Initiative. These include Hispanic workers in their overall service strategy.
For more information, visit the U.S. Department of Labor web site at www.dol.gov.
Industry News
Bil-Jax, Inc., Achieves ISO 9001:2000 Re-certification
Archibold, Ohio-based Bil-Jax, Inc., announces it has completed the three-year full ISO 9001:2000 re-certification of its manufacturing facilities.
In accordance with the ISO standards, annual review audits are required each year with a full re-certification once every three years. Bil-Jax first achieved certification in December 2001.
Bil-Jax is the only full-service scaffolding manufacturer in the United States certified to this rigorous standard.
Bilco Brick Announces Expanded Team
Bilco Brick, a Texas-based brick manufacturer, has hired Mitch Minter as Purchasing Manager and promoted Gilbert Tamez as the new Plant Manager.
They have also expanded their sales team, hiring Gary C. Freels as Sales Manager. Representing the Dallas/Fort Worth area are Mike Morrison, Casey Land and Scott Odom. Their Houston sales team has also expanded to include David Webster and John Kauffman.
Is everyone in the company pulling in the same direction?
MASONRY NEWS CONTRACTOR TIP
Years ago, my father-in-law-who was the President of the local Eagles club- asked if I would help him settle a tug-of-war battle his club was having with the Jacksonville, Ohio, club. No other club could beat the Jacksonville team.
So, I gathered the biggest, strongest men I could find and took them to the annual contest. We won the first two matches and were in the semifinals. Our opponents were the champs from Jacksonville. I remember my team of huskies standing across the field from the champs. We were laughing because they were so scrawny, we must have had them outweighed by 50%. We were saying to one another, "These guys don't have a chance against us." Then the match began.
Our team was slowly moving them toward the mud that was placed between the teams. All of the sudden the front man on their team started yelling "pull!"-then he would pause for a second and yell "pull!" again. When he would pause, our team would move them back a couple inches but this didn't help much. When they would all pull on his command, the force of their whole team pulling together at once would surge us six inches back. He must have yelled "Pull!" 15 times. In 30 seconds, our team was in the mud.
I was just starting my own business at the time. I wondered how strong a company could become if everyone in the company would pull at the right times and in the same direction. Then I started to set up some systems in my company that would encourage people to think and work in this manner. Now, 17 years later, my experience has proven to me that when everyone pulls together in the same direction, the company and its people become virtually unstoppable.
Because of this, I encourage everyone to make sure when you set up your systems and pay structures that you encourage everyone to pull together in the same direction. Remember, people work for themselves. Make sure the company and all of your employees have the chance to benefit from the systems in place.
Of course, there will be some employees who are not interested in pulling in the same direction as the company. My suggestion is to remove them from the payroll. If we do, it will leave space and opportunity for the ones that do care to grow much faster. Our best people will be happier, and our company and its employees will all benefit in the process. I like win-win situations, don't you?