Everybody wins when employees come first

One of the most common business principles throughout the ages has been ?customers first.? It?s hard to argue with that model for building and sustaining a financially successful company. Customers generate revenue; revenue pays the bills, supports investment, and drives growth.

?Our employees have always been the top priority at Mickey Truck Bodies,? says Tom Arland, Mickey President. ?We provide them with a safe and collaborative work environment, proper training, and the tools they need to do a good job. They are proud of the Mickey brand and are committed to delivering the highest quality products and services to our customers. Our high rates of employee and customer retention is proof of the pudding. Happy employees make for happy customers.?

?Our mission is to be a great advocate for the Mickey team,? says Melanie Weber, Director of Human Resources. ?When we engage and empower the entire Mickey team, everybody wins together ? the company, the employees and, certainly, our customers.?

Since joining Mickey earlier this year, Melanie, a U.S. Navy veteran, and her teammates – HR Generalists Tekia Scales in High Point, and Crystal Arndt at the company?s Berwick, PA plant – have focused on reinforcing four key pillars of the HR strategy.

1 Follow up. ?We have made it a point to follow up personally with team members on issues, comments, ideas and questions,? says Melanie. ?Face to face is still the best form of communications. That?s how we build trusting relationships.?
2 Building morale. ?We are getting to know every Mickey team member on a personal level so they will embrace HR as advocates, get them to open up to us and start meaningful discussions without any concern of reprisals or repercussions,? Melanie explains. ?We all want the same thing ? to generate and act upon ideas that keep our company moving in a positive direction. Mickey has an open-door policy, and that means every door is open to every team member.?
3 Community involvement. ?Mickey employees have always stepped up when it comes to contributing to the well-being of our community. It not only speaks to our collective compassion and generosity, it also fosters great team spirit,? says Melanie. ?Going forward, we?re going to come up with ways to make our participation in these events more fun, more competitive. That will take our team spirit to a new level. Competition is fun.?
4 Employee recognition. ?We have outstanding team incentive programs for safety, quality, productivity,? says Melanie. ?We?re all about teams, but great teams can have standout players. We want to celebrate our individual achievements as well as our team milestones.?

One of the most popular phrases in American industry is: ?Our people are our greatest asset.? According to Melanie, ?The key is to turn those words into a culture. That?s what we?re doing here at Mickey through our actions.?

Meet the Mickey HR team
Melanie Weber, Director of Human Resources
Experience: Director of Human Resources, CPP Global
Sr. Manager, Human Resources, CV Products Consolidated; U.S. NAVY, 2001 – 2008; Six Sigma Certified; Master?s Degree, Human Resource Management

Tekia Scales, HR Generalist
Experience: HR Coordinator, CPP Global; HR Generalist/Recruiter, Bradley Personnel; Bachelor of Science, Business Administration

Crystal Arndt, HR Generalist
Experience: Relations Manager/HR Administrator, Reading and Northern Railroad/Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway; RAMP Certified; SHRM Member; Member MAEA (Northeast Manufacturers of America Association)