Good News from the Workplace: Toyota's Tradition

Now, more than ever, we all could use exposure to more good news than the other kind. As I run across positive stories taking place in America's workplaces - employees doing good at work, companies doing the right thing, and small business owners thriving in today's tumultuous marketplace, I'll pass it on here. Sit back and read what good things are happening under the radar and be sure to post your own experiences of all the good that still happens in our world.

Good News:
At Toyota’s San Antonio, TX and Princeton, IN plants where they annually crank out 30-40,000 Tundra pickups and Sequoia SUVs, production was halted for 3 months due to a fall in sales. This could have meant real financial trouble for some of the 4500 employees and their families. But, in keeping with their tradition of “no layoffs during hard times”, they’ve found creative ways to keep these folks busy while earning their full paychecks and benefits. They will be attending non-stop classes and training specifically for improving their auto assembly skills. Then when production steps up again in November, Toyota will reap the reward of more skilled, and I would presume, a happier and more efficient workforce. How’s that for a retention program?

In addition, they have another piece to this solution: In the event they run through the retraining program with time left before November, employees will be sent out into the community to work with San Antonio and Princeton service agencies. They soon may be sprucing up public parks, scrubbing graffiti off of buildings, and even cleaning up the shoreline of a Texas lake. How’s that for social responsibility?

Doing the Right Thing
So what can each of us do to make the workplace more secure and enjoyable during these interesting times? We can make our own good things happen; in this case - helping our employees, co-workers, and clients to see the positive at work by pointing out accomplishments and reasons to celebrate. Perfect attendance, a new client, a substantial order, a new skill, or anything else that causes improvement and a feeling of achievement - all things worthy of a compliment. Catch someone doing good in your workplace or theirs and let them know you noticed. It’s just the right thing to do!

Please post your comments about the good you've seen in your workplace or elsewhere.