Mill records positive year for safety and financial performance
Boise Inc. is rewarding its employees for performance through an incentive program.
“We are very proud of our 2009 performance as a company,” said Karen Punch, Boise Inc. communications manager. “2009 was one of our safest years on record.”
In addition, the company recorded $382 million in free cash flow, according to Punch, and reduced its net total debt by $345 million, or nearly one-third of its 2008 total.
Punch said that operating well during 2009 allowed the company to do well, even under challenging economic times nationwide. She said that employees have driven the company’s success.
An employee incentive program was designed to reward employees for their contribution to company performance, specifically safety and financial goals.
While Boise has previously used an incentive program, the company restructured the rewards for most of its employees for 2010, so they occur monthly rather than annually. Incentives are location specific, meaning International Falls mill employees will get incentives for goals met at that location.
The company grew sales volume on several of its products, including label and release, flexible packaging and office papers, many of which are among the items manufactured in Borderland.
“There are a laundry list of things that people can do to participate,” Punch said of the program, noting that all levels of employees are eligible to participate.
Several safety program examples include: participate on a safety team; conduct behavior-based safety observations; participate in a safety audit, led by the safety department; lead or develop safety training; lead a safety meeting; be a volunteer safety coordinator; and share a safety experience in the Straight News employee newsletter or at a safety meeting.
Punch said that although 2009 saw many goals realized, the company is still looking in the future to continue to improve safety performance, and also operating and serving customers well.
Punch said that she is confident with “persistence and passion” the company can continue to grow on its strengths.
“We look forward to building on the success,” she said.
