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Read All About It! AMS News and Local Updates

AMS’ safety record is no accident: Workforce safety during COVID #13

Warehouse safety - AMS FulfillmentIn our safety blog #11 we talked about AMS’ compliance with standards from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, known as OSHA. We focused on forklift training, as according to OSHA, injuries in forklift accidents are some of the most serious in the warehouse.

Another type of injury that most of us are familiar with is described by OSHA as movement injuries or ergonomic injuries: lifting heavy items, bending, reaching overhead, pushing and pulling heavy loads, working in awkward body postures and performing the same or similar tasks repetitively.

OSHA refers to ergonomic injuries as MSDs, which means musculoskeletal disorders. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2013, MSD cases accounted for 33% of all worker injury and illness cases. OSHA guidelines include the following common-sense recommendations:

Provide Management Support –
Involve Workers –
Provide Training –
Identify Problems –
Encourage Early Reporting of MSD Symptoms –
Implement Solutions to Control Hazards –
Evaluate Progress –

AMS is doing all of these things, with training, listening to employees and encouraging early reporting. Our safety team is very watchful in noticing any hazards and we evaluate how we’re doing and create solutions. Communication between managers and associates is vital. Clearly, prevention of MSD injuries is a daily task.

Matthew Warholy, AMS’ Security & Safety Supervisor, had this to say about AMS’ training, and how the team handles the daily task of prevention:

“AMS Fulfillment prides itself on safety training when it comes to ergonomic issues. We instruct employees to complete tasks such as lifting with their legs and not their backs, don’t overreach, don’t lift heavy objects by yourself and ask for help if a task is beyond your capacity. Often, we find that many physical injuries happen in a rush or due to lack of attention.

“When it comes to ergonomic injuries, some don’t show up right away. For example, an injury can happen over time and the employee doesn’t notice until that evening or the next day. Sometimes, it takes weeks or months to notice. We look at how an employee works and try to give them different tasks to break up the repetitive movement. One employee who is very tall, was scanning packages at a ship station and noticed that his back hurt every night, but didn’t equate his injury to the fact that he was bent over all day. Ken Wiseman noticed it and had the maintenance crew build a simple wooden platform for him to work on so he could stand up straight. A simple solution can make a world of difference and prevent lost time injuries.”

AMS has a great safety record and we created that great record through continuous training and routine safety practices. Thank you to Ken Wiseman, Chief Workforce Development Officer, and thank you to Matt and the entire team!

Click here to access the LA County recommendations for business   

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AMS Employees Help YAL Families Enjoy Thanksgiving 2020

Community service - AMS FulfillmentFor the tenth year in a row, AMS employees have reached in their pockets and donated full Thanksgiving dinners to SCV families in need. This year is an exceptional one for all due to the effects of the COVID pandemic and the resulting hardships on families.

In response to the time and the need, AMS employees donated funds to supply a full dinner to 55 selected families, and 30 turkeys to additional families! Vallarta Supermarket (Valencia – Lyons) participated as well by offering the volunteers a 5% discount on the dinners. Also present at the event were volunteers from Valencia Hills Church, which gave out boxes of food for the holiday.

The recipient families are participants in the Santa Clarita Youth Activities League (YAL) ‘Adopt a Family’ program. The Youth Activity League is a very beneficial nonprofit organized by the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department for young people in the Los Angeles community. Deputy Brian Rooney, stationed in Santa Clarita, is actively involved with the Val Verde YAL program.

On the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, volunteers met with the families at the Val Verde YAL. Jimmy Briano, the YAL Center Site Manager, had selected the recipient families and arranged for them to receive their donation. Jimmy was joined by Deputy Rooney and AMS retired CEO, now Chief Workforce Development Officer, Ken Wiseman as well as AMS volunteers Erica and Gene. For the safety of all, Jimmy and his team arranged for the dinner and turkey recipients to stay in their cars and proceed past the AMS truck where the dinners were loaded into their cars.

AMS President, Betty-Lou Wiseman, administers the company’s giving programs, including this annual Thanksgiving effort. She is supported by long-time employee and volunteer, Erica Martinez. Regarding the needs of families during this difficult year, Betty-Lou said, “The Holiday Season has always warmed all of our hearts to give, and this year is extraordinary for all of us. We are so proud of the generosity of AMS employees, and their desire to make Thanksgiving great for even more YAL families. Our Christmas families are next!”

Regarding the opportunity of giving, Erica said, “It is such a great honor to participate every year in bringing families together and see them smile. This year it was even more of joy to be there. Our families were so happy.”

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Series: What B Corporations do for the World #11

B Corporation - AMS FulfillmentIn this week’s B Corp series we return to one of our major events of the year, the AMS “March for Change.” We will look into how AMS is doing with regard to instituting changes in the company’s diversity and inclusivity practices.

Our subject is inspired by the weekly message from B The Change:

“The events of this year — the inequitable impact of COVID-19 and police killings of People of Color among them — are bringing long overdue conversations about racism and social justice to the forefront and prompting a re-examination and reshaping of systems and structures.”

In June of this year AMS employees organized and conducted a “March for Change” in response to the police killing of George Floyd. The employees gathered to hear a guest speaker, and a statement from Ken Wiseman, AMS Chief Workforce Development Officer, where Ken laid out plans for change and promised that AMS could and would do more.

Following up on Ken’s speech, in September we published a blog laying out plans for change in following areas:

1) Make the Diversity & Inclusion Breakfast a paid meeting at the start of the workday; 2) Make Learning Opportunities more convenient and have them take place during workday; 3) Involve more discussion on Empathy, Respect, Trigger and Action plan in our leadership classes; 4) Change Role Playing in the leadership classes; 5) Develop an Up-Skill matrix for employees who want to move up in their careers; 6) Launch a Paycom job registration allowing people to register for positions they are interested in; 7) Hold 90-minute lunch meetings with supervisors and 8) Encourage employees to share their journey at the breakfast meeting, giving opportunity for the leadership team to listen.

In this week’s report, we have turned to Carmen Kernek, AMS’ Human Resources Director, for an update on how we are doing:

“AMS is strong and committed to positive change. In order to have more positive learning experiences, we use a variety of training methods to achieve success, from Classroom-Based Training, to Interactive Training and certainly, On the Job Training. We have also added Social Learning and online training as well. Our goal is to create an inclusive training experience for all learners. We have waiting list in most all training areas for 2021!”

AMS is a medium to large company with more than 400 employees. Hopefully our example can provide guidance for other companies of a similar size. We’d also like to feature an article about how small businesses can develop diversity and inclusion planning. From the B the Change website:

How Small Businesses Can Activate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plans Now
B Corp Commits to Anti-Racist Learning and Action

“The company I work for is a small, woman-owned Certified B Corporation. We have always believed business should be a force for good. And while our intention is genuine, our clarity of intent and activation have been inconsistent.

“When George Floyd was murdered in our hometown this summer, everything shifted — for us, the community and the nation. We knew it was time to listen, learn and do more. The racial justice movement that followed has strengthened our resolve to be more active, vocal and consistent.

“Like many other small B Corps, Beehive Strategic Communication’s time and resources are limited. We are mostly white and don’t have a diversity, equity and inclusion expert on staff. These are all things that could have become excuses preventing us from taking action — and, to be honest, they slowed us down. So we know it can feel challenging and overwhelming for small companies to get started on this critical work. And yet, to do nothing right now — for any organization, especially a B Corp — is simply not an option.”

Read the full article HERE.

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AMS Fulfillment Employees ‘Adopt a Family’ for Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving - AMS FulfillmentValencia, CA, November 20, 2020 – This Thanksgiving marks the tenth year that AMS employees have joined with the Val Verde Sheriff’s Youth Activity League (YAL) to provide Thanksgiving meals to families in need. The families are participants in the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station YAL ‘Adopt a Family’ program.

AMS President Betty-Lou Wiseman is in charge of the effort, assisted by long-time employee Erica Martinez. For the past few weeks Erica and her team of volunteers have put up flyers and sent out emails companywide, seeking donations to purchase Thanksgiving dinners for the YAL families.

Jimmy Briano, the YAL Center Site Manager, had this to say about the donation and the importance of the “Adopt a Family” program, especially this year. “AMS Really makes this holiday special for the parents, and these are families that would have difficulty providing such a meal on Thanksgiving. They are excited to receive the meals and so grateful.”

With regard to the LASD Sheriff Department’s YAL, he said, “The Youth Activity League is nonprofit that serves kids from 7-17 in so many ways. Every day 50 or 60 kids come to the homework club where they can do their homework and use our computers. We have after school field trips, we have a rec room, sports programs, softball, arts and crafts – a little bit of everything. It’s somewhere for the kids to go. Deputy Rooney has always been amazing. He does so much for the kids.”

AMS employees have been generous and very appreciative of the opportunity as they contributed funds to purchase 55 full meals. Vallarta Supermarket (Valencia – Lyons) participated as well by offering the volunteers a 5% discount on the dinners. Betty Lou and Ken Wiseman, Erica Martinez and several more from AMS will bring the meals and meet with the families. They will be joined at the YAL Center by Deputy Rooney and Jimmy Briano.

Regarding the annual drive, Erica said, “Being able to help for the past several years has been a blessing! It’s not how much we give but how much Joy – Love we all put into giving!”

Fully in the spirit of making Thanksgiving 2020 a day of gratitude for Life and Health in an unprecedented time, AMS is giving 360+ Turkeys to AMS employees to help with their meal, and as an additional thank you, the company is giving Seas Candy to the part time and seasonal workers.

# # # #
For more information please contact:

AMS Fulfillment
Steven Helmle
VP Business Development
661-775-0611
[email protected]

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AMS’ safety record is no accident: Workforce safety during COVID #12

Workforce Safety - AMS FulfillmentRecently AMS CEO, Jay Catlin, sent out two messages that touched on COVID-19 Safety during Peak Season. The first mentioned “COVID Fatigue”. The phrase refers to people becoming fatigued by the precautions of wearing a mask and keeping safe through distancing.

He said, “I remind you and implore you all to please stay safe… during your personal time and also within the walls of AMS. Wear your masks, wash your hands, don’t come in if you’re feeling ill or feverish, socially distance (especially during lunch w/ masks off)… we absolutely need to stay strong on the COVID-19 front for everyone’s sake!”

The second message was with regard to new employees. The ads are out there – We’re Hiring at AMS!! Every year when Peak Season comes around AMS brings on new employees to handle a greatly increased workload. This year the new employees will need to fully understand and follow our COVID safety practices that have been established.

In the second message Jay said, “…we will double up on all of our safety practices in addition to controlling the number of people operating at any one time by running double shifts.”

Our VP of Operations, Marco Pelaez, reported the following about the COVID safety training and expectations of new employees, including seasonal workers and temporary help.

Marco said, “We are taking all of the necessary precautions when bringing seasonal employees and temporary help to deal with the spike of orders. Seasonal employees are advised to keep their mask on while they are working, keep their social distancing as they are taking breaks and lunches and wear their mask while at lunch when moving to a different area from their lunch spot area.”

Regarding COVID fatigue, he said, “We are having a meeting with all buildings to remind them about the virus and ask them to keep safe and healthy. We continue sanitizing all work areas where employees are working. We are working with the temp agencies, asking them to remind their employees that they must wear their mask while they are in our facilities. We also advise people that they need to comply with our face mask policy to keep it on while at work.”

AMS has a great safety record and we work hard to keep it that way. Thank you Jay and Marco! Let’s have a super safe Peak Season.

Click here to access the LA County recommendations for business   

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Series: What B Corporations do for the World #10

B Corporation - AMS Fulfillment“Every B Corp should make it part of their mission to educate their employees, customers, and suppliers about why being a B Corp is important.” — Jared Meyers, Chairman of Legacy Vacation Resorts and Salt Palm Development in Florida and one of the founders of Florida for Good.

The intention of AMS’ B Corporation series is to do just that – educate all of our readers about why AMS is a B Corporation and why B Corps are important in the changing world.

Education is vital. If given a choice, everything being equal, and one of the companies is a B Corporation, people who are knowledgeable about B Corps will naturally consider it a plus. The B Corp might be the one they want to do business with. And with that choice comes growth and a world changing for the better.

Ultimately we want business to be good for the world: for the people who work at the business, for the customers and clients, for the surrounding community, for the environment, and for the owners or investors. It’s not too much to desire and it is clearly possible… because businesses are doing it!

This week’s blog features an interview with Jared Meyers, the Chairman of Legacy Vacation Resorts and founder of Florida for Good. Mr. Meyers is quoted above. The article also features an interview with Kevin Christopher, Founder and Principal of Rockridge Venture Law in Tennessee and a founder of B Tennessee. Both are champions of the B Corp movement.

We hope you enjoy the article.

Making It Easy to Choose Better Business: Southeast U.S. B Corp Champions Build Regional Movement

Local Networks Provide Opportunity to Build Community in Multiple Ways

“While the global Certified B Corporation community now includes more than 3,500 companies — and continues to grow — many people around the world remain unfamiliar with businesses operating as a force for good. Certain regions of the United States, including the Southeast and the Midwest, have lower concentrations of B Corps than other areas. To raise awareness of B Corps and attract more businesses to the movement, two Southeast U.S. business leaders are among those building local networks and organizing outreach and education.

“It’s no accident that B Corps include community as one of their stakeholders that drives business decisions and practices: The local level is where many companies can make the biggest impact through close connections that provide strength, especially during challenging times.

“As part of my research on purpose-driven business I recently talked with B Corp leaders in the Southeastern U.S., a region where the stakeholder-minded certification remains fairly novel, about their efforts to raise awareness of B Corps and encourage others to learn how business can be a force for good.”

Read the full article HERE.

 

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Series: What B Corporations do for the World #9

B Corporation - AMS FulfillmentOne would be hard pressed to find a B Corporation that is not focused on their company’s impact on the environment. Being earth-conscious is a part of being good for the world, and B Corporations, no matter what their primary focus, will be focused on ‘green’ practices.

When AMS began doing business in 2002 it engaged in the ‘green’ practices of the time, such as recycling and thoughtful purchasing. Through the years the company reduced waste, purchased recycled packaging and kept the company’s impact on the environment as small as possible.

In 2017 a group of employees under the guidance of President (now CEO) Jay Catlin decided to organize a Green Team. The Green Team would monitor AMS business practices within each of the operating warehouses and recommend additional ways to reduce the ecological footprint.

The Green Team looked at some additional ways to face the environmental challenges of a fulfillment company: waterless urinals; non-toxic cleaning products; reducing copy paper waste and going electronic; separating comingled trash, paper and food in order to properly recycle and so on.

Since that time the Green Team has been hard at work. Today the team is under the guidance of AMS CFO, Anthony (Tony) Shepherd who has assumed the role of Green Team Executive Administrator. In a future blog we will focus exclusively on the Green Team and take a look at the changes that they have accomplished and the information they’ve gathered on ways for AMS to be Good for the World.

This week’s featured ‘B The Change’ article about the United Nations Climate Change Conference and the way that B Corporations are responding to the climate crisis. We hope you enjoy the article.

Earth Rising: The Global B Corp Community Responds to the Climate Emergency

Optimism and Radical Collaboration on the Road to a Zero-Carbon Future

On December 11, 2019, on the floor of the United Nations Climate Change Conference known as COP25 in Madrid, Spain, Commander Luca Parmitano of the European Space Agency connected by video from the International Space Station (ISS) and spoke directly to the thousands of delegates assembled. As he floated above Earth, with the blue-green hues swirling across the marble-like surface of our planet below, Commander Parmitano made an emotional appeal for world leaders to step up their pace on climate action. “Our planet is incredibly beautiful. We also see its incredible fragility. … I have seen with my own eyes the terrible effects of climate change.” The ISS itself, the largest manned object ever put into space, was built through a historic triumph of international cooperation and knowledge sharing by 16 nations and five space agencies.

That same day, on the same stage at COP25, 533 Certified B Corporations from 33 countries committed to Net Zero by 2030. It was the largest and most aggressive climate commitment to date by a group of businesses — and 20 years ahead of the Paris Agreement 2050 targets.

Both of these are shining examples of what humans can achieve when they are united in purpose and hope.

There are now nearly 800 B Corps committed to Net Zero by 2030.

You can read the full article HERE.

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AMS’ safety record is no accident: Workforce safety during COVID #11

Workforce Safety - AMS FulfillmentIn this week’s Safety Blog we will look more closely at AMS’ compliance and stellar record with OSHA safety standards. In Blog #9 we talked about our AMS Team’s monthly OSHA safety walk. This week we’ll go into the subject further.

Safety in American warehouses is regulated by a series of standards from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, known as OHSA. Congress created OSHA under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, which was signed into law in 1970. The main focus of OSHA is to prevent work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths.

When our safety team takes the OSHA walk around the warehouse they review the top areas of concern. They are given a comprehensive workbook that covers all of the areas OSHA cites plus more of concern to AMS. The workbook makes it clear – all employees are asked to, “Speak Up if you find anything – as small as it may be – that you feel could be done better, or may become a safety issue or cause of injuries.”

First on the list of safety concerns is Forklifts.

Forklifts can be dangerous. OSHA records about 100 warehouse employees are killed and 95,000 injured every year in forklift accidents while operating forklifts. The majority of fatalities are caused by forklift turnovers.

OHSA issues guidelines on forklift operation including the following:

“Train, evaluate and certify all operators to ensure that they can operate forklifts safely, follow safe procedures for picking up, putting down and stacking loads. Drive safely, never exceeding 5 mph and slow down in congested areas. Maintain sufficiently safe clearances for aisles and at loading docks or passages where forklifts are used.”

AMS has two active certified trainers that perform a classroom style instruction and test prior to an actual session of training on our three types of Powered Industrial Trucks.

Our trainers have developed study materials that allow employees to take the classroom portion by themselves. Once they have finished with the self-study, the test is given to them. After passing the test they move on to a one-on-one training. Students are given instructions on the controls and safety devices prior to stepping on each type of forklift, and then the real training begins.

Student materials include a 33-page manual that goes fully into how forklift trucks operate, what are the rules of the road and what can cause a forklift accident or to flip over. The manual goes over careless mistakes and reckless operations that can create dangerous situations. Responsibility for safety is strongly emphasized as students are instructed on AMS’ rules on the operation vehicles and the expectation that the operator will have the vehicle under control at all times.

With more than 400 employees in six warehouses, AMS’ safety record is remarkable: only one lost-time injury in more than 2 1/2 years! Congratulations to the entire safety team, and keep up the good work!!

Click here to access the LA County recommendations for business   

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Series: What B Corporations do for the World #8

B Corporation - AMS FulfillmentThis week in our B Corporation series we will focus on the B Corporation responses to two subjects of strong interest to us – COVID-19 safety and employee development.

Like the first of the featured corporations AMS has addressed COVID-19 safety in a CDC-based, determined and broad ranging manner. We have published a number of safety blogs on the subject relaying in detail the changes that were made and decisions that were taken. We invite you to read those blogs HERE at our blog page. Also like the featured B Corp, Cabot Creamery, we have had no cases originate in our warehouses as we also got ahead of it early.

The second article features interviews with business leaders from a fairly new Black-owned, Iowa-based B Corp called BLK and Bold, and South Mountain Company, one of the founding B Corps. The article talks about employee development and putting the local community first. AMS has a long and very inspiring history of workforce development and working closely with organizations in the community to hire individuals who have faced obstacles in finding employment. So this subject too is of interest to us.

We hope you enjoy reading about the many things B Corporations do to ‘Be the Change’ and be good for the world.

B Corp Cabot Creamery Leans on Interdependence to Safely Address COVID-19

Stakeholder-Based Adaptations Help Cooperative Manage Distribution Issues in Dairy Industry

“As many of us spend more time in our homes than we previously did, the beginning of this year can seem like a distant past in which we were able to go about our day-to-day lives without fear of the novel coronavirus. But even though the virus had not yet spread through the United States, its effects were being felt in other parts of the world. Noticing the significant toll the coronavirus was taking on countries in Europe and Asia, Cabot Creamery, a Certified B Corporation dairy cooperative based in Vermont, began shifting operations to anticipate its arrival in the United States early in 2020.

“We have been fortunate to not have any COVID-19 cases in any of our plants,” says Bill Beaton, the recently appointed CEO of Cabot. “And that is really because we got ahead of it so early. We jumped on it in February and early March.”

Read the full article HERE.

What It Looks Like When Businesses Put Employee Development and Their Local Community First — Even in Challenging Times

How B Corp Certification Improves Impact Strategies in Unexpected Ways

“The thousands of businesses around the world that have joined the Certified B Corporation community since 2008 represent a variety of industries and sizes, but they share a common focus on business success beyond the bottom line. By striving to create benefit for people and planet as well as profit, B Corps also establish strong company values that keep them rooted through turbulent times.

“This year has tested those values, and many B Corps have found new strength in their purpose-driven values and impact strategies. To hear firsthand how B Corp values have provided stability in an ever-changing reality, B The Change spoke with business leaders from BLK & Bold, a Black-owned, Des Moines, Iowa-based specialty coffee and tea roastery and wholesaler launched in 2018, and South Mountain Company, a 45-year-old architecture, engineering, building, and renewable energy business based on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. South Mountain is among the initial founding B Corps, gaining certification in 2008, while BLK & Bold is a newly certified B Corp.”

Read the full article HERE:

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AMS’ safety record is no accident: Workforce safety during COVID #10

Workforce Safety - AMS FulfillmentIt’s week #10 of our Safety Series and we’ve covered a lot of ground. We began by demonstrating how the AMS safety team was protecting employees and making our warehouses and work, lunchroom and classroom spaces ‘pandemic safe’. We then covered how we were using Zoom for communication and working from home, handling visitors, giving potential clients ‘virtual’ tours, and continuing ongoing OSHA compliance in all areas.

This week our Security & Safety Supervisor, Matthew Warholy, and our Operations Manager, Eric Wiseman, take us into an area that not every warehouse or office contends with… earthquake safety. In the following paragraphs we learn the what, why and how of the annual Great California Shakeout drill at AMS Fulfillment.

Matt and Eric offered the following:

Every year, on the third Thursday in October, California businesses, schools and individuals participate in the Great California Shakeout. This is an earthquake preparedness drill that simulates a real earthquake scenario (without the shaking). This year, the drill was on 10/15 at 10:15 AM. Over 6.6 million Californians participated this year in preparation of the “Big One.” Of course, AMS needs to be prepared for any earthquake in our line of work so, it is in our best interest to make sure that we all know what to do when it happens. All warehouse and office personnel participate in the drill at the same time for maximum effect.

We could tell you that AMS prepares a few weeks in advance and makes sure that we sound the alarm at the chosen time, everyone evacuates safely, and we are done. It is much more complicated than that.

AMS is in preparation mode every day because of the way that our warehouses are set up. Like Ken Wiseman says, “Our Safety Record is No Accident”.

  • We make sure that pallets loaded with product do not exceed the weight limit of our racks
  • We use approved pallets for the weight of our products
  • Our racking is also bolted to the floor and braced together for maximum stability and meant to sway with the shaking of an earthquake
  • We make sure that exits are never blocked inside or outside in case of evacuation
  • Most importantly, we prepare our employees with our monthly OSHA walks to learn about safety and empower them to be our safety advocates in such an emergency

These are all important points to consider in case of any natural disaster or accident in our warehouses.

In the weeks prior, AMS prepares our Directors, Managers and Supervisors to speak with employees in their safety meetings on what will happen when an earthquake occurs. On the day of the drill, air horns are sounded signifying that an earthquake is occurring. Employees need to stop, take cover, wait until the shaking stops & then evacuate safely out of the warehouses. We instruct them to evacuate to pre-determined areas and check in with a supervisor. In the case of a real earthquake, we want to make sure that each employee is accounted for. Supervisors observe employees taking cover, evacuation times and if there are any issues stopping them from evacuating safely. We also give them instructions on staying safe at home with their families.

This year was one of our most successful. Out of four warehouses, we had an average evacuation time of just over 1 minute 20 seconds. There were mistakes made and we look for those errors to correct in our training process. Some people evacuated without taking cover. Some did not take cover at all. As a company, we take all these factors into account to correct for when the “Big One” happens for real.

Click here to access the LA County recommendations for business   

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Series: What B Corporations do for the World #7

B Corporation - AMS FulfillmentMuch of the B Corporation news in the US this week is about how businesses can help and encourage their employees to participate in the democracy by voting. We know that voting decisions have much more to do with our lives than simply choosing the President and the Congress. At AMS Fulfillment we encourage all employees to familiarize themselves with the elected representatives near to us, in our local communities, as well as those who represent us in the State and Federal Government, and to cast an informed vote that represents their values.

At the B The Change website we see the following encouragement to vote:

“This year, B Corporations and other businesses are doing their part to make sure their employees and other community members can vote safely, whether by providing paid time off for voting and volunteering or encouraging them to make a plan to ensure their ballots are cast.”

This week we’re presenting two articles. The first is regarding an organization of B Corporations that works to prevent voter suppression. The second is about a B Corporation, Rivanna Natural Designs, that has been creating jobs for recently arrived refugees. They are committed to helping their employees overcome obstacles to voting and participating in the democracy.

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B Corps Address Voter Suppression in 2020 and What to Remember When Taking Action
During Its First Virtual BLD Conference, B Local Bay Area Highlights Voter Suppression and the Upcoming U.S. Election

“As business leaders, we believe that democracy works best when all eligible voters can have their voices heard and that every vote matters. But what can we do to address voter suppression in the coming weeks leading up to and on Election Day in the United States? And after the election, what can we do to support and protect the democratic process moving forward? There’s so much information out there, and it’s hard to know where to start. As part of BLD Bay Area 2020, Certified B Corporation community leaders set out to answer these questions, provide attendees with the resources, and empower them to take immediate action.

“BLD (B Corp Leadership Development) began seven years ago by B Corps determined to foster community among the 30,000 B Corp employees throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Each BLD is organized entirely by volunteers from local B Corp communities every year. This year was B Local Bay Area’s first-ever virtual BLD. Attendees included employees of B Corps and members of the greater B Economy, including students, academics, investors, and community members representing benefit corporations, aspiring B Corps, and nonprofit organizations.”

Read the full article HERE.

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How Businesses Can Help Employees Vote Safely
Ensuring Workers Have the Time and Tools They Need to Participate in the 2020 Election

“As the COVID-19 pandemic rolls on and the election draws near, business leaders across the United States are working to ensure that their employees and the communities they serve have a safe and healthy voting experience. At our Certified B Corporation, Rivanna Natural Designs, voting has a special significance. Since 2001, we’ve been creating jobs for recently arrived refugees. For almost two decades, our coworkers have been rebuilding their lives from scratch, learning English, passing their U.S. citizenship tests, and earning their right to vote.

“As members of a team that has always included individuals who have fled persecution, war, and violence, we take elections seriously. For us, voting is a privilege and a priority. Our additional priority, in this election, is health and safety.

“We’re joining fellow B Corps and other businesses in making a concerted effort to provide employees with the time and the tools they need to be active and engaged citizens while protecting themselves, their families, and their communities. Here’s some of what we and others recommend.”

Read the full article HERE.

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AMS’ safety record is no accident: Workforce safety during COVID #9

Workforce Safety - AMS FulfillmentAMS Fulfillment has been publishing a weekly safety blog covering our efforts to keep employees safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. For us, and for all work environments considered essential, COVID safety has been seen as having primary importance since early in 2020. But that doesn’t mean that other areas of warehouse safety can be neglected. In this blog we’ll talk about how to give equal attention to warehouse safety in general.

When our safety teams take their OSHA walk around the warehouse they look at the following areas for any violations or neglect: Forklift Charging Areas, Cardboard Balers, Dock Areas and Doors, Racking Systems, Shipping Areas, Electrical Drops and Extension Cords, Egress, Fire Extinguishers, Fire Risers, Housekeeping, Safety Data Sheets (SDS), Broken and Good Pallets.

OSHA refers to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. This government entity sets standards to ensure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women. They not only set and enforce standards, they provide training, outreach, education and assistance.

We spoke to Matthew Warholy, Security & Safety Supervisor for AMS, about the most recent walk (see photos):

“We pride ourselves on our safety record, our OSHA compliance and stellar record of below average lost time injuries. When Eric Wiseman, Mark Fese and I conduct the monthly OSHA walks, we not only point out potential safety hazards, but we are empowering each attendee to be our safety advocates in the warehouses. We follow the mantra here at AMS… ‘If You See Something, Say Something’. This gives each employee the encouragement to point out a safety or ergonomic issue with no fear of reprimand.

“They can point it out to me as I walk each warehouse, or they can tell a supervisor or manager and even AMS’ Chief Workforce Development Officer, Ken Wiseman. The best part is that they will never get reprimanded for pointing out a safety issue. I personally, came from an environment where I pointed out a potentially deadly safety violation and was let go from that company because I spoke up. They didn’t want anyone making waves. Ken encourages you to speak up no matter what your role is here at AMS.

“Because of Ken starting these monthly OSHA tours, we now have a large number of employees as our own personal safety advocates and it keeps growing. We can’t be successful without their help. Another mantra for Ken is, ‘Our Safety Record Is No Accident’. It’s the truth.”

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