For Sylvester Hester, President and CEO of LM Manufacturing, building a successful workforce means recognizing when employees need support beyond the workplace.
As a Tier 1 automotive supplier, LM Manufacturing has worked closely with Detroit at Work to identify workforce challenges and develop solutions that help employees remain successful on the job.
One of those challenges was transportation.
For some LM Manufacturing employees, a lack of reliable transportation created a barrier to getting to work and maintaining employment. Rather than lose employees because of circumstances outside of the workplace, Hester and LM Manufacturing looked for a way to help.
“Sometimes we have to help our employees be successful because they have no one else, and this effort helped us to achieve that goal,” Hester said.
Through the Transportation and Barrier Removal grant, LM Manufacturing purchased vehicles for employees experiencing transportation barriers. Employees who had worked for the company for at least one year and demonstrated strong performance were eligible for the assistance.
In total, LM Manufacturing purchased 41 vehicles for its employees, an investment that contributed to an almost 10% improvement in employee retention.
The vehicle initiative reflects a larger commitment by Hester and LM Manufacturing to invest in solutions that strengthen both employees and the company’s workforce.
That commitment also extends to the next generation.
LM Manufacturing participates in Manufacturing Week by introducing young people to careers in manufacturing and the supplier industry and providing early work experiences across the high-demand field. Through these experiences, young people have an opportunity to learn more about the industry and the variety of career paths available within it.
LM Manufacturing’s relationship with Detroit at Work continues as the company looks for additional ways to address workforce challenges and create opportunities for Detroit residents, demonstrating how addressing barriers outside the workplace can affect the workplace.