Discover your next big idea in food packaging & processing this Sept.
Experience a breakthrough in food packaging & processing—explore solutions from 2,300 suppliers spanning all industries at PACK EXPO Las Vegas.
REGISTER TODAY & SAVE

COVID-19 Response Boosts Employee Engagement

Bill Schreiber, CEO of Batavia, NY-based O-AT-KA Milk Products Cooperative, Inc., talks about how his firm’s response to COVID-19 has led to greater employee engagement.

Bill Schreiber

Packaging World:
What was your initial reaction as the seriousness of the pandemic began to sink in?

Bill Schreiber:
Initially there was a high level of uncertainty. There was no script and the guidance was evolving. At times the guidance seemed to change by the hour. Some people were of the mind that the situation was being blown out of proportion, that “It’s just the flu, it’s not as serious as it is being made out to be, and it certainly isn’t going to shut our business down.” Like others we planned for the worst and hoped for the best. But at the end of the day, COVID 19, for all of its heartbreak and unanticipated challenges, was transformational for O-AT-KA in terms of employee engagement. I had the unique opportunity to watch our succession plan play out before my eyes as leaders at all levels of the organization routinely demonstrated their trust, faith, and commitment. Our first objective was to make sure our employees were safe. This meant providing the knowledge and resources needed to create a safe work environment. These measures have proven effective still today. There is an expression that says, “Pain builds Character,” and this whole experience has been a reminder that you  can’t truly appreciate your own character or the character of your team until you have experienced the pain. As John Wooden once said, “… your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think of you.” It has been a wakeup call, and our team is stronger coming out of COVID 19 than we were heading into it.

I take it you managed to keep everybody safe while also keeping production up?
The team didn’t miss a beat on production. At one point our staffing levels were down by over 20%. People worked double shifts, came in early, came in on days off, and in some cases were operating with only 8 hours between shifts. Many of our senior managers spent more time on the plant floor in the last three months than they had in the previous nine. Leadership presence was important, but our frontline leaders carried the day. They refused to allow us to fail. At the height of the pandemic we weren’t just managing a process—we were managing fear, social media, speculation in the press, and concerned family members.

Researched List: Engineering Services Firms
Looking for engineering services? Our curated list features 100+ companies specializing in civil, process, structural, and electrical engineering. Many also offer construction, design, and architecture services. Download to access company names, markets served, key services, contact information, and more!
Download Now
Researched List: Engineering Services Firms
Dairy Food & Beverage Innovations Report
Discover cutting-edge packaging and processing solutions in the inaugural Packaging World/ProFood World Innovations Report. From high-speed filling machines to mono-material lids, see how the latest advancements from PACK EXPO International 2024 are driving safety, sustainability, and extended shelf life—shaping the future of dairy food and beverage packaging.
Access Now
Dairy Food & Beverage Innovations Report