Today, we pause to honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Their courage and dedication remind us of the true cost of liberty. As we enjoy this day, let’s take a moment to remember and thank those who served.
Today, we pause to honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Their courage and dedication remind us of the true cost of liberty. As we enjoy this day, let’s take a moment to remember and thank those who served.
For several of our colleagues, wellbeing isn’t just a concept – it’s a daily commitment to movement, mindfulness, and mutual support. If you visit our Corporate campus in Carthage, MO, you’ll see people walking, soaking up the sunshine, and fitting in some steps during breaks and lunch.
This May, in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, we asked a few team members why they lace up their shoes and head outside. What they shared was honest, motivating, and impactful.
In our Accounts Payable Department, a casual conversation sparked a new routine. Trista Gripka shared with Tonya Cornell her desire to start walking for weight loss. Others took notice and joined in. Now, a dedicated group – including Trista, Tonya, Amanda Gilbird, Erika Mullin, and Michelle Daniels – takes afternoon walks together, aiming for at least a mile.
“With working an office job, we sit a lot,” the group said. “It refreshes our minds and bodies and gives us a break in the day. You can incorporate more movement in your day by taking the stairs, parking farther away from buildings, doing chair exercises, and standing up at your desk once every hour.”
David Young, SVP/Chief Information Officer, walks solo but with unwavering dedication. He walks three times a day, averaging seven fast miles, with the goal of lowering his A1C, losing weight, and enhancing his mental wellbeing. He finds that walking benefits him both physically and emotionally. To stay motivated, he uses a smartwatch to track his progress and make the activity more engaging.
“Make it a habit and get a smartwatch to help record the walks, remind you, and make it fun.”
Translation Services Supervisor, Liliana Cano Montoya, views walking as her personal sanctuary. She often listens to Mass, audiobooks, or the sounds of nature. Her short-term goal is to complete monthly challenges through her Garmin watch, and her long-term goal is to age gracefully with mobility. For Liliana, walking is a celebration of life and a step forward.
“Choose something that makes you happy, not something that feels like a burden. Anyone can start where they are at the moment and move forward. We cannot change the past, but certainly we can make a different ending by changing our here and now.”
These stories highlight that movement is more than just exercise – it’s an investment in health, clarity, and community.
At L&P, we do the right thing when we conduct business with integrity. This week, we’re spotlighting how our Internal Audit team helps us strengthen our reputation for integrity and how they take pride in their work!
Our internal auditors develop and execute an annual audit plan that conducts financial and IT audits. They perform a wide range of audits, including location-specific audits, anti-bribery audits, operational audits, risk-based audits, and internal control reviews. They also assist with fraud and Ethics Hotline investigations and proactively consult with and survey employees regarding potential ethical concerns.
“We strive to be value-added business partners that provide independent, objective assurance and advisory support,” says Rachel Krenz, Vice President of Internal Audit and Due Diligence. “We help L&P accomplish its objectives by bringing a systematic, disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of governance, risk management, and control processes.”
We asked members of our Internal Audit team how they take pride in their work:
A job well done is defined by our adherence to the highest standards of integrity and professionalism as we identify risks, provide guidance to enhance processes, and abide by regulations. By collaborating with teams across our global organization, we take pride not only in building strong, trusted relationships but also in achieving measurable improvements that advance L&P’s operations – together.
– Kevin Curtis, Senior IT Audit Manager
We take pride in our work by having a shared mission and vision that aligns with L&P’s. We also never settle into routine; instead, we continuously seek ways to improve our skills while being responsible stewards of L&P’s resources.
– Kaycia Frieden, Internal Audit Supervisor
We take pride in delivering quality results that reflect the complete picture. We ensure thorough investigations, ask questions, and verify all details to avoid any oversight before documenting an issue. Additionally, we treat everyone with respect, fostering a collaborative and positive work environment. I also find great satisfaction in contributing to the success of my team and L&P.
– Kathy Flinn, Internal Audit Supervisor
We take pride in our work by being transparent. As auditors, we know that our presence can be nerve-wracking, so it’s important to keep people in the loop. If we move in silence, we risk our observations being inaccurate and degrading the relationships we build around L&P. Communication is key.
– Morgan Pyle, Internal Auditor II
Thank you to our Internal Audit team for all your hard work and for taking pride in what you do!
May is Mental Health Awareness Month! This week, we’re spotlighting mindfulness and how our colleague, Éva Völgyi, uses it to boost her mental wellbeing.
Simply put, mindfulness is the practice of being aware of what’s currently happening within and around us moment by moment – it’s the opposite of living life on autopilot. Mindfulness can:
Studies show that regularly practicing mindfulness can reduce stress, increase our ability to focus, make us more resilient, increase happiness and joy, and help us cultivate self-compassion and compassion towards others.
Éva Völgyi, Human Resources Business Partner, joined L&P four years ago and regularly practices mindfulness at work and beyond. She supports L&P through a mixture of operational and strategic HR initiatives and planning activities, and she’s introduced many of our colleagues to mindfulness.
When and why did you become interested in mindfulness?
I became interested in mindfulness years ago when I realized the impact of stress on my wellbeing. Mindfulness offered a way to manage stress and improve my focus, leading to a more balanced and fulfilling life.
Practicing mindfulness can help us stay present and fully engaged in our activities. It can reduce stress, improve mental clarity, and enhance emotional resilience, making it a valuable practice for both our personal and professional lives.
How do you practice mindfulness at work?
I take regular breaks to reset, practice deep breathing exercises, use mindfulness apps for guided meditation, and stay present during meetings and tasks. This helps me maintain focus and reduce stress throughout the day.
What’s challenging about mindfulness and how do you address it?
One of the challenges is staying consistent, especially when we’re busy. To address this, I set reminders on my phone, schedule regular mindfulness sessions, and try to integrate mindfulness into daily activities – like walking, eating, or exercising.
Where can people go to learn more about mindfulness?
Here are a few helpful links that I’ve shared with colleagues:
Many thanks to Éva for sharing about mindfulness and how it can help our wellbeing!
Recently, a group of L&P employees attended Ooh-La Lafayette, the annual fundraiser for Lafayette House of Joplin, Missouri.
Lafayette House is a center that provides safety and healing to those suffering from domestic violence, sexual assault, and substance abuse disorders. Annually, Lafayette House serves nearly 1,000 residents of Southwest Missouri, over half of whom are seeking refuge from domestic violence.
The night’s theme was “Disco Garden Party,” complete with sequins, flowers, and attire reminiscent of the 70s disco era. Highlights of the evening included watercolor portraits, a photo booth, a silent auction, and a fashion show spotlighting local boutiques. All money raised supports the mission of Lafayette House.
The evening’s client spotlight featured a courageous woman named Jodie. Her journey with Lafayette House began in 2013, immediately after her son’s birth. Recognizing she needed help, she left the hospital and came straight to Lafayette House, calling it her baby’s “first home.” Her path hasn’t been easy, but each step forward has been a testament to her strength. She said, “I knew more than anything, I just had to try.”
Tammy Trent, Senior Vice President/Chief Accounting Officer and Board member of Lafayette House is thankful the House was there to help her when she was ready to take this step:
“While her story is unique, the underlying truth applies to us all. Sometimes, taking the first step and trying can be the hardest part, but if you never try, you never know what you can accomplish.”
Thank you to all of our L&P employees who attended Ooh-La Lafayette and supported the mission of Lafayette House!
In celebration of Earth Month and to raise awareness of sustainable practices, we asked employees to capture the beauty and significance of sustainability through their camera lens and share their photos with us. We received so many wonderful submissions, and chose four that spoke to our sustainability mission and will be published in this year’s sustainability report. Congratulations!
In addition, we want to share a few more of the outstanding submissions we received.
Thank you to everyone who shared their sustainability photos and celebrated Earth Month at L&P!
May is Mental Health Awareness Month! 🧠
Like physical health, everyone has mental health – an overall state of emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing. The quality of our mental health can change over time due to life experiences.
This month, consider scheduling some time to assess your mental health. If you want help deciding whether or not to speak with a health care provider about your mental health, or if you want tips for talking to a health care provider about your mental health, check out these two resources:
Administrative Professionals Day was Wednesday, April 23! The administrative professionals at Leggett & Platt are some of the most hard-working, unsung heroes of our business. They keep our departments running smoothly while wearing many hats – from managing schedules, organizing events, or ensuring our teams get paid on time, their roles are unique and dynamic.
To show our appreciation and say thank you – we’d like to introduce you to a few of the administrative professionals who epitomize our value of putting people first.
Meet Carolyn Stolarski. Carolyn joined Leggett & Platt Automotive 2.5 years ago as the Human Resources Administrator for the Global Automotive HR Team in Troy, MI.
As an HR Administrator, Carolyn wishes others understood the attention to detail required to do her job well. She spends a significant amount of time refining processes and improving the workday of their teams.
“What I enjoy most about my role is contributing to the development of more efficient processes for our HR team. By enhancing our efficiency, we can extend the same level of efficiency to our employees.”
Thank you, Carolyn, for your dedication to L&P Automotive and Leggett & Platt!
Administrative Professionals Day was Wednesday, April 23! The administrative professionals at Leggett & Platt are some of the most hard-working, unsung heroes of our business. They keep our departments running smoothly while wearing many hats – from managing schedules, organizing events, or ensuring our teams get paid on time, their roles are unique and dynamic.
To show our appreciation and say thank you – we’d like to introduce you to a few of the administrative professionals who epitomize our value of putting people first.
Meet Fran Liu. Fran joined Leggett & Platt Hydraulics 1.5 years ago as Finance Manager at Pacoma in Ningbo, China.
As a Finance Manager, Fran enjoys data-driven decision-making and working with cross-functional teams to align financial plans with business objectives.
“Finance provides a numerical foundation for business department decision-making, enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of these decisions.”
Fran believes that in today’s dynamic business environment, the role of finance extends beyond traditional boundaries.
“Finance is not merely a recorder and supervisor but a partner and supporter. The more finance is involved in the design and optimization of business processes, the greater the efficiency and higher the quality of decisions.”
Thank you, Fran, for your dedication to your team and Leggett & Platt!
Administrative Professionals Day was Wednesday, April 23! The administrative professionals at Leggett & Platt are some of the most hard-working, unsung heroes of our business. They keep our departments running smoothly while wearing many hats – from managing schedules, organizing events, or ensuring our teams get paid on time, their roles are unique and dynamic.
To show our appreciation and say thank you – we’d like to introduce you to a few of the administrative professionals who epitomize our value of putting people first.
Meet Mariana Fermin Gomez. Mariana joined Leggett & Platt in September as a Routing Coordinator at Leggett & Platt Flooring Products – Aurora but soon transitioned to Payroll/Receptionist.
Initially, the transition and changes in responsibility scared Mariana, but with time and determination, she grew more confident and is proud of her accomplishments. She credits her supportive coworkers with helping her significantly improve her English, even though her primary language is Spanish.
“Working with people from different nationalities and cultures, all united by the same goal of personal and company growth makes me proud to be part of Leggett & Platt.”
Kim Dolder, Regional Human Resource Manager, calls Mariana “a rising star” of Aurora.
Thank you, Mariana, for all you do for Leggett & Platt!