From the President’s Desk
Rick Lindemann

Greetings All:

Hey everyone, I hope your summer is going well, even if it’s
flying by too fast. Maybe it would help if retailers wouldn’t
remind us with Back-to-School sales already.
Recently I had the chance to travel out west and visit with
several companies. The number one topic is the workforce. It’s
amazing how much this impacts our daily lives. I stopped
at a convenience store to grab a bottle of water after
getting gas. The sign at the cash register read: “Due to a shortage of
cashiers, our checkout line may belong. We appreciate your patience and ask that
you be considerate as you wait.”
A shuttle bus driver for the hotel told me that he drives the same bus for four different hotels because
they can’t get drivers.
One company owner in the logging industry mentioned that their logging truck drivers can makeover
$100,000 per year (make no mistake: some long hours and hard work). He has one truck sitting idle
because he can’t find a driver.
Several companies told us of examples of turning down work and losing customers because they can’t
take on the work that’s out there. The workforce has truly become a growth inhibitor.
Most of us have struggled with this issue for a long time. Now, many of our suppliers are struggling to
keep sending us products, often because of labor shortage.
For years we have worked very hard to attract and obtain employees to work for us. Now we must also
go on defense and protect the workforce we have created from poachers. If companies can’t find viable
candidates for their company, the alternative is lure someone away from their current job. Some of the
signing bonuses out there are staggering.
Don’t like it but it’s a fact of life today.
So, what do you do? How do you keep the employees you have? You must strive to make your company
a great place to work: on-time reviews, constant employee benefits evaluation, competitive pay,
improved working conditions, flexible work schedules, and career advancement opportunities. Team
building and employee appreciation events are also great ways to make your company a desirable place
to work.
Many employee surveys have told us that co-workers are an important part of why people stay. Keeping
your team together is extremely important.
In a sense, this is really nothing new. We have been competing for customers forever, now we are
competing for employees. The same rules apply!
Enjoy your summer. Stay cool, and take some time off if you can.
Till next month, best regards,
Rick Lindemann

Greetings All:
Hey everyone, I hope your summer is going well, even if it’s
flying by too fast. Maybe it would help if retailers wouldn’t
remind us with Back-to-School sales already.
Recently I had the chance to travel out west and visit with
several companies. The number one topic is the workforce. It’s
amazing how much this impacts our daily lives. I stopped
at a convenience store to grab a bottle of water after
getting gas. The sign at the cash register read: “Due to a shortage of
cashiers, our checkout line may belong. We appreciate your patience and ask that
you be considerate as you wait.”
A shuttle bus driver for the hotel told me that he drives the same bus for four different hotels because
they can’t get drivers.
One company owner in the logging industry mentioned that their logging truck drivers can makeover
$100,000 per year (make no mistake: some long hours and hard work). He has one truck sitting idle
because he can’t find a driver.
Several companies told us of examples of turning down work and losing customers because they can’t
take on the work that’s out there. The workforce has truly become a growth inhibitor.
Most of us have struggled with this issue for a long time. Now, many of our suppliers are struggling to
keep sending us products, often because of labor shortage.
For years we have worked very hard to attract and obtain employees to work for us. Now we must also
go on defense and protect the workforce we have created from poachers. If companies can’t find viable
candidates for their company, the alternative is lure someone away from their current job. Some of the
signing bonuses out there are staggering.
Don’t like it but it’s a fact of life today.
So, what do you do? How do you keep the employees you have? You must strive to make your company
a great place to work: on-time reviews, constant employee benefits evaluation, competitive pay,
improved working conditions, flexible work schedules, and career advancement opportunities. Team
building and employee appreciation events are also great ways to make your company a desirable place
to work.
Many employee surveys have told us that co-workers are an important part of why people stay. Keeping
your team together is extremely important.
In a sense, this is really nothing new. We have been competing for customers forever, now we are
competing for employees. The same rules apply!
Enjoy your summer. Stay cool, and take some time off if you can.

Till next month, best regards,
Rick Lindemann