This photo shows a section of the shipping room of the Carthage factory in the early 1930’s. This particular area was devoted to crating innerspring units on the Leggett-designed compressed-air baler. Innerspring units arrived at the crating area from the assemblers via an overhead track and were placed on the crating press (far left) for compression into bundles. The man shown on the right uses a wheelbarrow to deliver crated units to the warehouse.
With more people working remotely from home than ever before, we’re all finding ways to navigate this “new normal” and remain committed to our work. Here are a few tips we’ve picked up:
We talked to Cathy Johns from our Corporate HR team about working through various seasons of change throughout her career at L&P.
Can you tell us about your role at L&P?
I began my Leggett career as a general clerk almost 35 years ago. My dad was head of transportation and I’d help out in the offices during the summer. As the company grew, a lot of doors were opened to me.
Eventually, I earned my current role as the Qualified Benefits Manager in HR. Our group provides administration for retirement plans, as well as compliance and integration for all of L&P’s benefit plans.
This includes things like record keeping, calculation of benefits, assistance in setting up plans with payroll, processing paperwork, and communicating with enrolled participants. We also manage the administration of L&P’s Discount Stock Plan. All of this must be completed appropriately to ensure we aren’t being discriminatory and are maintaining compliance with a variety of laws and regulations.
A lot has changed over the years. At one point, the company had over 60 different benefit plans with many vendors due to all of the acquisitions we’d made. They eventually merged into 8 retirement plans, and we have a lot more employees taking advantage of them now.
You’ve obviously experienced a lot of change firsthand. How do you maintain a positive outlook rather than focusing on uncertainty?
For me, it’s all about perspective. With a recent companywide meeting, our leaders spoke directly about change. But things have been changing for a long time. As a company, L&P has been through so many different permutations over the years. Having experienced it, I’m confident we’re just in another season of change.
It’s normal to have feelings of uncertainty. However, it’s more productive to focus on the things you can control. Do what you can do, put your best face on it, and keep moving forward.
What have you enjoyed most about working at L&P?
I love a challenge. Every role within our company comes with its own set of problems to work through — mine just happen to be about benefits. The position is a great fit for me because I get really excited about working in spreadsheets. If that’s all I had to do all day, I’d be a happy clam!
Most importantly though, I see many unique qualities woven through the heart of Leggett. They’re consistent, despite all the changes we’ve seen over the years. You can count on things to be done a certain way here. Decisions are always made with our employees in mind, with our customers in mind — and with doing the right thing in mind.
As people around the world are impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, many are finding opportunities to step up and provide help, assistance, and resources in a great time of need. Our team at Genesis Seating is doing just that.
Genesis Seating in Kentwood, Michigan, typically produces upholstery for furniture. They’re now making cloth face masks for Spectrum Health, government and non-profit health care organizations.
“We started production this week and are hoping to produce roughly 80,000 masks for Spectrum,” said Kevin Kuske, Genesis Seating Private-Label President.
“We did not need to retool any equipment, but we did need to work with Steelcase and Spectrum to develop a design, source materials that do not conflict with other health care supply chains and train our sewing team to make these masks. We are bringing back to work employee volunteers to staff this effort.”
Kuske said employees greeted the opportunity with enthusiasm.
“Our team was ecstatic to help out,” he said. “Many of them have family members and friends who work for Spectrum and other health care groups and they want them protected. We all want to feel like we are helping bring this crisis to an end, and this is the part we can play to help protect those on the front line who are putting their health at risk every day to care for those in need.”
This story was originally written and published by Spectrum Health Beat.
Leggett & Platt is proud to join with many other US manufacturers to assist with the response to COVID-19. Between our foam lab producing hand sanitizer, furniture operations creating cloth face masks, and bedding facilities supplying both components and finished mattresses for emergency use, L&P employees are providing innovative solutions to meet the urgent supply needs.
“L&P is a critical supplier of wire components to US N95 mask producers,” explains Karl Glassman, CEO. “But, where they are able, our teams are doing so much more. We’ve redeployed raw materials for use by our branches and other companies in the manufacture of critical products, including the supply of foam bands used on face shields and the fabric required for many hospital applications.”
The Company is also partnering with other US mattress producers, which collectively have the ability to manufacture and deliver more than 400,000 mattresses a week for potential emergency use during the COVID-19 crisis. L&P is using its mattress and components production capabilities to aid US mattress producers in fulfilling urgent needs in states all across the country.
“No one person or company can do everything,” adds Glassman. “But if we all do what we are able, we can accomplish big things together.”
US mattress manufacturers have reached out to the Administration and various local governments and hospitals to determine where needs exist and they stand ready to meet those needs. Click here to read more about what some of the US mattress producers are doing.
During these difficult times spent in isolation, it isn’t always easy to find ways to connect to each other and our communities. Despite this, our team at Peterson Chemicals in Fort Smith, Arkansas, found themselves in a unique position to give back to their fellow employees.
After learning about the nationwide shortage of hand sanitizer, the team got to work to find out how they could help.
As a chemical manufacturer, they recognized their ability to produce hand sanitizer in bulk, and they proactively took on this extra effort while still being able to provide other inputs to the supply chain. A team of about 10 employees significantly contributed to the hand sanitizer project, researching formulas, accessing chemical components, performing lab work, and becoming Hazmat certified to ship product all over the country.
In just one week, the branch moved from having never manufactured hand sanitizer to completing their first 40-gallon batch!
Their first several batches are being shipped domestically to internal L&P branches. The team at Peterson worked closely with our L&P Procurement team to gather details and materials for the shipping process. The Procurement team quickly helped secure hand pumps, containers, and shipping materials.
Having now completed the first few batches, the team at Peterson Chemicals is currently working with our L&P Legal Department to fast-track FDA registration for the product, which would allow them to also donate to the community and offer the product to hospitals, nursing homes, and other places in need of hand sanitizer.
Although their team is small, the work they’re doing for others is monumental. According to Product and Marketing Manager Courtney Hironaka, their goal is to do as much as they can. “This is a perfect example of teamwork and how much everyone here really cares about making an impact,” she says. Thank you to our Peterson Chemicals team for all you’re doing to keep us healthy!
As Leggett & Platt joins the world community in doing our part to flatten the curve of coronavirus exposure, we have worked to align our operations with CDC, local, and international authorities to ensure our workplaces are safe while we continue to operate for our critical infrastructure customers.
Rest assured Leggett & Platt is working hard to ensure a healthy future for us all.
We are all practicing social distancing, which has led to fewer people donating blood when hospitals worldwide need it most. Won’t you join others in your communities and take time now to donate blood? Reach out to your local Red Cross or other blood donation centers today.
At Leggett & Platt, our highest priority will always be the health and wellbeing of our employees and customers. As we navigate the evolving impact of COVID-19, we are doing our best to limit close contact and having employees work remotely where possible.
Thank you for your patience while we all work though these difficult times together. As events unfold, we will continue to monitor the latest developments to help us all be safe as we all follow local guidance on how to best protect our communities.
