SAFETY – 4TH QUARTER BLITZ
Like last year, Ozinga wants to continue making an added effort to keep our people safe through the busy months that round out the year and push new ideas surrounding our leading causes of incidents
Slips, trips and falls lead the way as always, with more than 75 incidents since the beginning of 2021. This resulted in hurting approximately 27 of our people.
To address this topic, this year’s slogan for the 4th Quarter Blitz is Every Step of the Way. We want everyone to focus on every step of the way, not only from your vehicle to your truck, office or loader, but also every step of the way throughout your career and your personal milestones.
We must encourage coworkers to become more aware of our surroundings so that we will recognize hazards, and we can do this by asking everyone “why” they want to go home safe. Is it to lower the risk at work or is it to be able to go home and enjoy personal time with no limitations or injuries?
This quarter especially, we are asking you all to think about your why and to ensure you are putting safety at the forefront of all you do.
Ask the Safety department or group leaders to see how you can be involved.
TELL US YOUR WHY
We want to know why our coworkers work safe every day. Maybe it’s because of your family, or to spend more time doing your favorite hobbies, or because you’re looking forward to some big life event. Whatever it is, please share it with us by visiting: https://bit.ly/oz-safety. Everyone who shares will receive a gift, while supplies last.
RETIREE ROUNDUP: OZINGA ALUMNI BUSY IN RETIREMENT
RETIREMENT BREAKFASTS
Illinois retirees met for breakfast on September 10 at Olympic Star restaurant in Tinley Park.
ALUMNI BASEBALL OUTING
Ozinga Alumni came together August 2 to enjoy a baseball game at Ozinga Field in Crestwood. Like a pro, Hank Huizinga threw out the first pitch.
ALUMNI BASEBALL OUTING
Paul Ozinga and Marty Ozinga attended with a few of their sons to meet the Alumni and enjoy the game.
HUMANS - MESSY & TIME-CONSUMING OR INTRIGUING & VALUABLE?
By Rex Jameson, on behalf of Talent Development & Workforce Planning“Some people,” I said in a huff, “just don’t have a clue.” He had left his grocery cart diagonally across the aisle and stood across from it staring at the shelves as I waited, impatiently, to get by. “What is wrong with them?” I asked myself in frustration. I was in a hurry to get through the store before my Klondike bars began to melt.
As I look back on my frustration, I am amused by the thought that I work in Human Resources, daily preaching the value of people and the importance of their work. How ironic that such a simple thing would frustrate me so. Why are people so frustrating and their flaws so visible and annoying?
Perhaps it’s because people are messy and time-consuming, and when we are focused on a goal or a task or a deadline, we want easy and fast. Whether it’s getting the kids to cooperate, getting your spouse to agree, getting your teammates to row in unison or getting the guy in the grocery store to step aside, we just want to get stuff done. But maybe that’s the problem – our focus.
What if we focused more on how special people are and the value they bring? The Bible teaches that humans are uniquely created in God’s image. If we were to see people with this perspective, would it help us have a little less frustration and a little more respect?
Israel’s King David (of David and Goliath fame) thanked God that he had been “fearfully and wonderfully made” and that God had “train[ed his] hands for battle.” David was recognizing that humans are wonderfully complex and uniquely gifted. Being wonderfully complex gives them amazing versatility and innovative capacities. Being uniquely gifted gives them a specific contribution to make to the world.
Let’s be curious about what that contribution is and how people can add value at home, here at work or in the community. Managers, let’s be diligent about looking for unique gifts as we hire and as we assign work. If you need some questions you can ask others to learn more about them and the value they might bring, we can help.
When the Klondike bars are all gone, it’ll still take people to move us forward.
OUR FOURTH ANNUAL OZINGA COWORKER EXPERIENCE SURVEY IS UNDERWAY
By sharing your honest feedback, we can better understand what we are doing well and where we can come together to make progressive changes. You are the foundation of what makes Ozinga a great place to work, and we want you to feel and know your value.
Please mark your calendar!
Who: All Ozinga coworkers
What: A 12-question, quick survey that takes just a few minutes to complete
Where: All yards, offices and Ozinga locations
When: October 10 – October 24, 2022
How: Each location will have access to a kiosk station equipped with tablets and/or QR code postings that will allow you to complete the survey via a mobile device.
UKG GOES LIVE IN A FEW WEEKS
UKG training is now underway, and you should have either received an email or a printed training packet as a resource to get trained on Phase 1: Punching in/out and Timecard Tasks (depending on your role).
If you are an hourly coworker who punches in and out, your first punches will be required in the new system beginning the week of October 23. All coworkers will receive their first paychecks through the new system on Friday, November 4. New uses of UKG will come out in phases, announced accordingly.
We look forward to adopting these changes with you as they enhance how we manage our personal data, give us more access to communication across the company, and allow us to use technology to embrace learning and development personally and professionally.
OZINGA EARNS TWO ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS
Ozinga’s Henry and Channahon, IL locations were recently awarded Bronzelevel Environmental Excellence Awards from the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA).
The Excellence Awards recognize operations that actively demonstrate a commitment to the exemplary use of environmental controls and systems.
“I am extremely proud of our coworkers and managers at these locations,” said Tim Theobald, General Manager of Sales and Operations for Ozinga’s aggregates business unit. “The pride, commitment and ownership needed to continually earn these types of achievements is the undeniable difference in our culture.”
Ozinga earned this award in 2020 as well.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR TO SEE THE MERRY MIXER
The Merry Mixer is coming to a town near you. Be sure to visit ozinga.com/merrymixer for an updated schedule.
OZINGA DONATES PROCEEDS FROM PINK READY MIX TRUCK TO LOCAL CHARITIES
Throughout the month of October, proceeds from Ozinga’s pink-and-white striped ready mix truck will support various efforts to aid those affected by breast cancer, including American Cancer Society and The Cancer Support Center in Mokena.
“Ozinga’s purpose is to make a positive impact on individuals, their families and the community for generations,” said Justin Ozinga, President. “While raising awareness is important, we knew there was more we could do for those who have been impacted by the disease. Supporting these two organizations is one small way we can use the truck to make a positive impact.”
Ozinga painted one of our concrete mixers pink and white back in May 2022. The idea to transform the truck came from Alivia Ozinga, who is daughter to Justin Ozinga.
The Ozinga family has been personally affected by breast cancer. Justin Ozinga’s grandmother passed away from the disease, and Jeff Ozinga’s mother passed away from it as well.
Nov. 5 Grand Christmas Lighted Parade - Shipshewana, IN
Nov. 12 Lighted Parade - Fort Atkinson, WI
Nov. 18 Winter Lights Parade - Aurora, IL
Nov. 19 Parade of Light - Mokena, IL
Nov. 25 Lighted Christmas Parade - Highland, IN
Nov. 26 Festival of Lights Parade - Fox Lake, IL
Nov. 27 Holiday Parade - Orland Park, IL
Dec. 1 Merry Mixer Merrymaking Event - Mokena, IL
Dec. 3 Christmas Parade - West Allis, WI
Dec. 4 Parade of Lights - Tinley Park, IL
Dec. 9 Holiday Light Parade - South Bend, IN
The pink ready mix truck, which is a 2015 Kenworth W900B, runs on compressed natural gas and was given truck number 0001 as a testament to the 1 in 8 individuals who are diagnosed with breast cancer. It currently operates in our Chicago region.
The truck will also be on display at three American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walks:
October 2 in Wheaton, IL
October 9 in Orland Park, IL
October 16 in Crown Point, IN
