Quality of Life Issues and Costs from Dee Sands

Several Team Members have asked me,” If we are having such hard times with our profitability, why are we building the additional area for breaks for our Team?  Couldn’t that money be better spent on giving everyone a bigger raise?  That is a very fair questions and I’ll answer it as honestly as I can. Although it is certainly not normal to share financial information with everyone, sometimes it is important to help everyone understand a specific decision.

We do certain things to add what are referred to as Quality of Life Issues.  These are t hose things that make it easier, more comfortable and a more pleasant place to work.  Things we have planned this year are improvements to the parking situation as well as adding ventilating fans to the plant. All these are needed but if not done, our plant would still be able to make parts.  It may be a little less comfortable but we could do it.  Some spending decisions are discretionary like the ones listed above, some are absolutely necessary like buying steel, safety glasses and paying wages.

The example I will use it the new Southern Breeze Pavilion.  The cost was $16,000.  Now could that money have been given in terms of raises to the Team Members? Yes, but to understand the decision made we need to understand the investments in terms of real costs.  There is a term used for large additions of equipment, or permanent structures like the Pavilion.  We amortize it over a period of years, usually tied to the tax code and the expected life of the equipment or building.  In most cases this is seven years.  Without considering overtime , we will expect to work about 9,900,800 hours during that period.  This means that the $16,000 investment would mean a difference of a little more than 1/10th of a penny per hour on each person’s check or about $3.36 per year, before you pay taxes on your total earnings each year.  So each Team Member “contributes” about $2.60 per year so we can have a little better quality of life.  Is it the best decision?  I don’t know but I do know we can’t build a great place to work if we don’t continue to build the little things that make life a little easier and SMART a better place to work.

    SMART'S SPRING TEAM MEMBER DAY

BIG BENEFIT NEWS !!

Our Health Insurance Premium is decreasing because of responsible use by each of you we were able to negotiate a decrease in your premiums.  The new rates will come into effect in May.Before rates for SINGLE was $30.88 New rate will be $27.83 a decrease of $3.05.Before rates for FAMILY was $76.29 New rate will be $68.81 a decrease of $7.48.

                             TOGETHER WE DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!

ARMY AVIATION Center Federal Credit Union

The ATM Machine is now in production, you may use the machine to make simple transactions.  If you are a member of the AACFCU their will be no charge to use the machine and if you are not a member $1.00 fee for each time you withdraw from your account.  If you would like to sign up for the credit union you will need to see Yu K. Kalipi in the Human Resource Department and she will help you to get what you need

Safety Department helps Luverne Fire and Rescue

SMARTpresented a donation to the Luverne Fire Department on Wednesday, January 31st to help the fire department purchase a hose rack for their new fire truck.  The First Responders presented the donation to the Luverne Volunteer Fire Department.  Seen pictured is back row left side Ronnie Faulk, Anthony Jones a member of SMART and the Fire Department, Raymond Franklin, and W.A. Neal with the LFD.  Front row left to right Joe Passek, Melissa Bagents, Tammy Green, Scott Kelley and Bill McManigle LFD Fire Chief.