Category Archives: Culture

Congratulations, Gino!

Gino Mancini, Controller at Sponge-Cushion, recently celebrated 42 years of dedicated service to L&P.

Gino started at L&P in 1981 as a General Accountant. In 1986, he was promoted to Controller and has held that position since. We asked Gino to share about his time with L&P and the lessons he’s learned.

What have you enjoyed most about your career?

I’ve enjoyed working with and getting to know many people along the way. Everyone has a different background and environment they come from, which is not only interesting but helps in understanding the person. Also, with the help of others, I’ve enjoyed being able to solve some of the daily problems that arise. There’s a certain satisfaction in that.

What has been the most valuable lesson that’s added to the longevity of your career?

I’ve always tried to be transparent and straightforward with others. When you have no hidden agenda and remain consistent, it helps smooth out the highs and lows.

What advice would you give your younger self about life and business?

Stuff happens! Try to be as prepared as you can and as flexible as possible. Life and business will present you with situations you didn’t expect, so know they’re coming.

How have you seen Leggett change over the years you’ve been here? 

Leggett & Platt has been a consistent and well-run company, which is something to be admired. In recent years, there has been more focus on employees and social issues, which has been great.

Do you have plans to retire, and if so, what will you miss the most about your time at Sponge-Cushion? 

At the moment, I don’t have a specific date set, but I can tell you it’s close! I’ll miss the consistency, the interactions, the challenges, and the adrenaline rush of dealing with a hectic day. At the same time, I look forward to seeing what the next chapter in my life brings.

Please join us in congratulating Gino on this incredible achievement!

All Work and No Play? Not Today!

April 6 is International Fun at Work Day—a day to remind ourselves that work doesn’t have to be a fun-free zone.

Studies show that having fun at work enhances communication, collaboration, and productivity. We spend a lot of time with our coworkers, so let’s make it fun! Here are some ideas for you to try with your teams:

  • 👀 Two Truths, One Lie — Ask them to prepare two facts and one lie about themselves. Each person takes a turn to say their two truths and one lie without revealing what’s true and what’s not. Ask your coworkers to guess what’s true and what’s false.
  • 🔁 Would You Rather — Ask them a would-you-rather question. Here are two questions to get you started: 1. Would you rather sing every part of your work presentations or perform an interpretative dance of your presentations? 2. During work meetings, would you rather stand on one foot or sit on a child-sized chair?
  • 🍵 Tea Time — Schedule some time to share a drink or snack with your coworkers and catch up on life.
  • 💻 Group GIFs — This idea is great for virtual teams. Give your coworkers a scenario and ask them to respond with a GIF. Ask everyone to choose their favorites.

Earth Month at L&P

It’s Earth Month! At L&P, we are committed to fostering a culture that cares about our planet and providing sustainable solutions for our customers. Throughout the month of April, we’ll be sharing our efforts to be responsible stewards of the environment and communities where we live and work.

Our Commitment

The continued success of our company is built upon the culture and values of our nearly 20,000 employees who are dedicated to creating innovative and sustainable solutions, ensuring a safe and inclusive workplace, and driving value for our shareholders.

Our commitment to corporate sustainability reflects and reinforces our culture and our values. Our businesses are building sustainability into product development processes and designing products for improved durability, recovery, and recycling at end of life. We ensure compliance with environmental regulations everywhere we operate and engage employees in the development and implementation of sustainability and environmental programs.

Ideas for Celebrating Earth Month

If you’re looking for ways to care for and appreciate our planet, check out the following ideas:

  • 🧹 Community Cleanup — Notice a lot of litter around your community? Consider talking to your local government to see if a litter cleanup program exists and how you can get involved.
  • ♻️ Composting — Help keep waste out of landfills by turning your food and yard waste into compost that can be added to your yard’s soil. To get started with composting, check out the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Composting At Home resource.
  • 🌿 Appreciating Nature — In our busy lives, we may forget to notice nature’s beauty and all it provides. Take time to reconnect with nature by watching a nature documentary, going for a walk, visiting a park, or checking out what’s in your own yard.
  • 🛍️ Reusable Shopping Bags — Instead of using plastic bags at a store checkout, consider purchasing or using reusable shopping bags to help keep plastic out of landfills. You can also make your own reusable shopping bags.

Sackner Achieves Safety Milestone

Our Home Furniture branch in Sackner, North Carolina, reached a tremendous safety milestone: 500 days without a recordable accident. We talked with Branch Manager, Joe Dishman, about the achievement, the safety culture at Sackner, and how this milestone supports our company value of putting people first.

Who made the 500-day safety milestone possible at Sackner?

This achievement takes every person at the branch to work safely, report near-misses, and safety suggestions, so we can continuously improve. Everyone must be engaged in the process to make this happen.

What is the safety culture at Sackner, and what kind of safety trainings does your branch perform?

One of the most important aspects of our safety culture is making sure every employee is aware that they have the right to shut down equipment that they feel is unsafe and bring it to their supervisor’s or manager’s attention. We also have a safety board at the time clock which displays safety, first aid, and near-miss information on it. This board also has an LED spotlight that can change to flashing yellow in the event of a near-miss to help bring awareness to the incident.

Weekly Toolbox Talks are led by supervisors and operators. We also have a monthly safety team meeting comprised of management, supervisors, and production employees. Employees are rotated in and out, so everyone has a chance to be in the team meetings.

How does L&P’s value of Putting People First contribute to this safety milestone?

Sackner has around 50 employees, so every employee knows each other well. We know about others’ families, friends, interests, and hobbies. When our employees feel more like family, then we all want to look out for each other and keep each other safe.

At Sackner, employees volunteer to share why safety is important to them. Their quote is made into a banner and displayed in the facility. It adds a familiar face to the safety messages.

What does the 500-day safety milestone mean to everyone at Sackner, and do you have a future goal in mind?

We are very proud of this accomplishment. Since we run three shifts, seven days a week, we do have some days when operators are working without management or a supervisor presence. Sackner’s safety program speaks for itself through these great achievements.

Our goal is to drive to zero, meaning zero accidents. The next milestone we are quickly approaching is 2 years accident free. In the meantime, we will continue to keep safety at the forefront of our culture.

Congratulations to the entire Sackner team!

L&P Table Design Wins Top Award

Roxanne Willard, Demand/Office Manager at Carthage Spring (Branch One), recently used her talents to design a centerpiece for the Leggett & Platt table at the Carthage Chamber of Commerce’s annual banquet. Her creative design won the banquet’s top award!

Her table design incorporated elements that were representative of and inspired by Branch One. For example, the denim-like material used for the cat’s vest, place mats, pillow, wall covering, and box spring were all used from scrap materials. The brick wall resembles the wall from the original Branch One building built in 1883.

“My goal was for our community to understand what we do at Branch One,” she said. “I was very proud that I represented Leggett & Platt to the best of my ability, and it paid off!”

Congratulations, Roxanne!

Celebrate Happiness!

Today is International Day of Happiness! Here are a few things you can do to celebrate and promote happiness.

😄 Smile. No matter your culture or language, a smile is universal. Sharing a simple smile can make a difference in someone’s day.

😄 Laugh. Not only is laughter contagious, but it’s also good for you! Laughing releases endorphins, which make you feel good.

😄 Have fun – it makes time fly! We’ve all heard the saying, “time flies when you’re having fun.” Science proves it’s true! When we are happy and having fun, our brain releases a hormone called dopamine, which makes our brains perceive time to pass faster than it has.

L&P Celebrates Employee Appreciation Day

Our employees recently celebrated Employee Appreciation Day by giving thanks for one another and enjoying a variety of snacks and activities. Check out some of the photos from our teams’ celebrations around the world:

Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

London, Ontario, Canada

Middletown, Connecticut, United States

Shanghai and Guangzhou, China

Zhaoqing, Guangdong, China

Wuxi, Jiangsu, China

Changsha, Hunan, China

Changshu, Jiangsu, China

Suizhou, Hubei, China

Sasang-gu, Busan, South Korea

“A Day to Inspire and Empower Women”

In honor of International Women’s Day, Sonia Smith, President of L&P Automotive, shares what this day means to her:

I wanted to share with you the significance of International Women’s Day for me, personally. As a woman, I have encountered numerous challenges and obstacles that women face in various aspects of life, including, but not limited to, gender discrimination in the workplace, unequal access to education and healthcare, and limited opportunities for advancement.

With that said, I have been so fortunate that here, in the Leggett family, I was given so many opportunities to advance my career, learn new skills and have exposure to different aspects of the business. Not only does it fill me with pride to be able to do what I enjoy so much, it drives the sense of responsibility that I feel to ensure that others get such opportunities so that they may thrive as I do.

International Women’s Day is an annual global event that is observed on March 8th to commemorate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women worldwide. It is also a day to advocate for women’s rights and gender equality and to raise awareness about the ongoing struggles and challenges faced by women.

For me, this day holds a special meaning as it provides an opportunity to reflect on the experiences of women from diverse backgrounds, to celebrate their achievements and contributions, and to advocate for their rights and equal opportunities. It is a day to recognize the tireless efforts of women who have made significant strides towards gender equality and to acknowledge the work that still needs to be done.

International Women’s Day is not just a symbolic event, but a powerful platform for women to raise their voices and advocate for their rights. It is a day to inspire and empower women to overcome challenges, break stereotypes, and pursue their dreams.

International Women’s Day is an important occasion for me and for women around the world to celebrate, reflect, and take action towards achieving gender equality. I hope that we can all join hands to create a more inclusive and equitable world where women can thrive and reach their full potential.

Happy Employee Appreciation Day!

Today is Employee Appreciation Day! Thanks to our team members for defining what it means to be a Leggett & Platt employee.

Kindness Is Contagious—Pass It On!

February 17 is Random Acts of Kindness Day—an opportunity to make someone’s day a little brighter by being kind.

At L&P, we put people first by being kind to one another. Kindness allows us to connect above our differences and create a place of mutual respect, empathy, and belonging.

No matter how small it seems, something as simple as smiling at someone or sending an uplifting message can cause a ripple effect because kindness is contagious. When we are kind to someone, the person on the receiving end is more likely to act kindly towards others. Even witnessing an act of kindness can make us kinder.

Looking for ideas and inspiration on how to make someone’s day a little brighter? Check out the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation.