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News & Announcements
8/5/2010 | Project approach shows ideas and teamwork valued: manager
Devising an approach to mitigate risk and maximize safety to BLJC contractors cleaning a sewer system on a client’s construction project demonstrate innovation and employee engagement at work, says health, safety and environment manager Darryl Berger.
They are two of the five values recently announced by the company that register strongly with Berger. On this task, he says, an innovative, teamwork approach was utilized to come up with a method that was lower risk, avoided confined space entry and met other objectives.
“It’s finding a better way to do it and not resting on our laurels,” says Berger, who has only been with BLJC since March but has much experience in the Lean manufacturing method, which breaks down a process to weed out wasteful steps and find improvement.
Describing himself as a self-starter, Berger says he finds the value that BLJC places on ideas and the promotion of creative approaches very appealing and makes it a “very forward-looking company.”
He says employee engagement is important because it builds a culture of excellent performance, teamwork and leadership. A sense of ownership is also nurtured.
Communication is key to engaging team members. In his position, for example, Berger says weekly meetings are held within his department to share knowledge. In this way, best practices implemented with clients may be transferred to other clients.
Along with this “cascading (of) knowledge,” Berger says BLJC’s open-door policy to discuss issues or ideas applies from the boardroom to the warehouse floor.
This is one of the behaviours that helps to reinforce the values.
Accountability is another.
“If people say they will do something, their word is their bond and they follow up on that,” Berger says.
These types of behaviours are exhibited from the top, and throughout the company.
“You can see demonstrated visible leadership throughout the employee base, and I think that is transparent and that’s a good thing so you know where people stand.”
The values not only present opportunities for business growth but also continued development of BLJC’s own resources and expertise.
Citing the number internal promotions he’s seen and human resources’ emphasis on personnel development as examples, Berger says BLJC is “a company that strives to develop their own talent and looks at their employees as their No. 1 resource.”
He says sustainability, another of the values, is reinforced with initiatives like the current Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design training taking place as well the many well-attended, charity-oriented events and activities which promote community involvement.
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