Upcoming Fireside Chat: Attracting and Maintaining a Diverse Workforce in the Plastics Industry

One of the greatest challenges facing our industry is a growing talent shortage. Plastics first felt the decline in young, diverse talent between 1990 and early 2000 as college graduates moved away from jobs in manufacturing and plastics in favor of those in higher profile industries such as technology, investment banking, and healthcare. Today, plastics companies are competing on a global scale for a wide range of skills, from marketing and finance to engineering and skilled labor. Throughout the industry, companies are starting to explore ways to draw a younger workforce, while also retaining the hallmarks that helped shape the industry.

The growing concern surrounding the industry’s workforce is the theme for our first M. Holland Fireside Chat of the year. Originally scheduled for January 30 and postponed due to weather, the event will take place on March 14th at 1 p.m. CT when Cindy Fisher, director of talent management and organizational effectiveness at Eaton Corporation; Jeffrey Moss, founder and CEO at Parker Dewey, LLC; Donna Sinnery, CHRO at Teknor Apex; and Greg Watkins, talent acquisition manager at M. Holland Company, will highlight strategies to boost recruitment and retention of younger, more diverse employees. The panelists will share their experiences and describe how to attract a diverse talent pool without alienating valued employees.

Following is a preview of the advice our panel will deliver:

• It’s in the Training: Engage with universities and inform them of the skills your company needs. By working with these institutions to create training platforms specific to the plastics industry, companies can grow a future employee hub.
• Diversify Your Recruitment Practices: Shake up your traditional recruitment process. Posting jobs on the same services or engaging with the same head hunter groups? Find new online platforms or relationships to broadcast your openings to a wider audience. Once candidates are through the door, enlist a diverse group of employees who represent your ideal workforce to interview them.
• Retain Your New Employees: Onboarding can be a stressful experience for new employees. Consider creating employee resource groups that connect employees with similar skill sets, interests, and background. These groups not only provide support systems, but they also foster deeper connections among employees and with the company.

Please join us on March 14th at 1 p.m. CT for what is sure to be an engaging and insightful discussion on one of the plastics industry’s biggest challenges. To register for this Fireside Chat, please click here and be sure to follow our Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter pages for ongoing Fireside Chat registration information and updates.

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