Thanksgiving 2020! A message from Gus Schroeder, President – Schroeder Industries
In the age of transparency, we believe that companies should highlight their strengths (and sometimes weaknesses) especially during a pandemic. Our goal with this post is to shine a light on what we feel we’ve done right and possibly spark ideas for growth, for others, in an otherwise stagnant time.
This email was sent to staff on Monday, November 23. We feel it exhibits strong leadership and pays tribute to a team and not just an individual or select group. This pandemic has really challenged all of us and it really takes all of us to triumph over it.
The email read…
“From: Schroeder, Gus <schroederindustries.com>
Sent: Monday, November 23, 2020 6:02 PM
Subject: Thanksgiving 2020! Thank You
All,
2020 has been a year like no other!
Thank you to everyone for the commitment, the sacrifices and the continued efforts to succeed in a very different and difficult working environment.
I am thankful for our team! I am thankful for our teams ability to stay as connected and as well-functioning as possible and as I reflect I think its important that we recognize everyone and their role in making this year work.
Thank you….
To the sales/ marketing and product teams who have been upended and challenged in every way. Selling is an active process where communication is everything. From calls with the team every morning in the beginning to make and change plans, to all new ways of selling, we planned to win as much as possible and we keep doing it.
Thank You To all of you who have been working remotely for the first time in the past 8 months. Thank you! Purchasing, CS and Most of Engineering Thank you! Keep your heads up ! Remain as connected as possible even though you are remote! Talking with people is one way to do that. It’s important for your mental health and it is enjoyable when we solve problems, introduce new ideas and make them come to fruition.
Thank you to all of you who have been in the office, the lab and on the production floor every day! I cannot thank you enough and I am so proud of your efforts, commitment and your ability to be safe at work no matter how much all of us dislike wearing masks, dislike the ever changing rules, and dislike the constant uncertainty that every day brings.
Production, Quality and Production Planning: You are the heart of our team and in times when we were all truly unsure of the environment, you stayed together no matter how frustrating the day became. We have longer to go in this fight but I am truly thankful for all that you have done!
The Lab: I am thankful for the commitment from the lab. In this environment, their work has helped more than ever to deliver additional new business. It has not been easy without getting the immediate answers, the answers that are attainable when we are all here.
Accounting: I want to thank accounting who has maintained constant contact and flexibility with our customers.
Thank you to our HR department! I cannot remember a year where there was so much pressure on the HR department. They have had to maintain sanity in what has been a less than sane world. I am thankful for your commitment to all of us, to our safety and again we must remember that there will soon be a day when we return to normal.
Finally, I am thankful that we are in manufacturing! It is a difficult job and the world has changed but we know one thing… Our work has value! We know this because our jobs are essential and we are able to work. We can work because without our efforts, the world will not function for long! Yes we suffered this year, and yes some days in 2020 have tested us all, tested us all in different ways, but we made it in one piece.
We will make it the rest of the way in 2021 and we can have our Thanksgiving dinner knowing that better times will come. I always say it before the holidays but as we celebrate this holiday, more than ever, BE SAFE, Be smart in your choices and remember that we are going to look back on this time and know that as a team we are doing our best and for everyone’s effort, in that, I am thankful.
Thank you all again & have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Gus Schroeder
President
Schroeder Industries
www.schroederindustries.com”
To not show our biases, we believe this email was well thought out and motivational to all employees. What do you think? Leave your comments below.