This week we read from a news article published by CNBC about job satisfaction. The article can be found at:
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/08/12/job-unhappiness-is-at-a-staggering-all-time-high-according-to-gallup.html

According to the article, 60% of workers feel emotionally detached at work. 22% of workers feel sad at work. 18% of workers feel angry at work. To say that it is common to feel unsatisfied and unhappy at work is, in reality, a reflection of the damaged relationship between workers and employers. Unfortunately, so many people are used to working in an oppressive environment that they don't even think to question if there could be a better way.

One of our "why's" at Bridgeview is to challenge the way workers and employers currently interact and encourage everyone to shift their focus to a new paradigm of cooperation. American workers and American companies need each other. Workers need employers who can provide them with meaningful work, who see them as people and not merely a number on a spreadsheet, and who encourage instead of belittle. Companies need workers who believe in the mission of the company, who are loyal and stay with the company for years, and who get along with each other so that those in leadership don't feel like they're babysitting. 

How can employers shift away from how things are currently done today? One way is to change the hiring process. Bridgeview has a longer hiring process than most contract manufacturers. We conduct a 30-minute phone interview, then we bring the person to the shop for a 60-minute assessment of skills, and then we invite the person back to the shop a second time for a 30-minute group interview. The process can take anywhere from 3 days to 2 weeks, depending on how many applicants we have and how busy we are. We never rush into a new hire and we never hire solely based on the opinion of those in leadership. A potential new hire must meet everyone they would be working with and those people get to weigh in on how they thought the new person would fit in with the team. By adopting this hiring process, we have been able to hire on the most amazing and dedicated team members. These are people who believe in our mission, who are invested in succeeding, and who fit right in with the current team. 

How can employees shift away from how things are currently done today? Stop selling yourself short. Your work should mean something to you and to your employer. Stop applying to work at companies that see you as disposable. When you go to interviews, ask yourself these questions: Does the workspace seem oppressive or welcoming? Is the interview process all about skills, qualifications, and attendance, or is the interest in you as a person? Do you feel like you would be entering into a business transaction or into a lasting relationship?

What steps have you taken to shift to the new paradigm of employer/employee relationships?

Below:
Haley (left) is proud to work for her family's company. She helps to encourage her team with her humor and experience.  Richard (right) brings years of experience to his role at Bridgeview. He believes in our company's mission and feels like he is part of a bigger purpose.

We have made it to the end of our five-part blog series discussing the book The Go-Giver by Bob Burg and John David Mann. Over the past four weeks, we've discussed value, compensation, influence, and authenticity and how it relates to small businesses. Our final topic is about receiving.

We breathe in oxygen and we breathe out carbon dioxide. Trees "breathe" in carbon dioxide and they "breathe" out oxygen. We breathe in and receive the gift of oxygen that trees provide and we breathe out and give the gift of carbon dioxide that trees need to survive.  This giving and receiving creates a relationship, and, in this specific example, our very lives depend on that relationship.

In business, we have to be open to having a giving/receiving relationship with the people we interact with. Our team members, vendors, customers, and peers all have gifts they're willing to give us if only we are open to receiving. These gifts could come in the form of advice, referrals, a lunch out, or even a listening ear. Receiving allows us to enter into a relationship with those around us and those relationships are integral to building the kind of business that not only sustains us financially, but also sustains us mentally and emotionally.

What gifts have you received lately? 
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​Below: Richard (left) has given us great advice from his many years of working in manufacturing. Ashlee and Seth (right) give us a fun and light-hearted work environment. We are so grateful for our team members!

In our last blog post we talked about serving the people in your network. Today we're going to talk about being authentic. 

No one likes people who are pretending to be someone they are not. Can you trust a person if you don't know who they really are? What draws us to be in close relationships to the various people in our lives is that we can trust them to be authentic with us. The same is true with our customers; they trust us to be us.

At Bridgeview, we value friendship, kindness, generosity, and authenticity. We value teamwork, a job well done, keeping our word, and supporting our customers. We value small businesses, American manufacturing, and a symbiotic relationship between workers and employers. We strive to be the best version of ourselves and we know our customers appreciate that.

What do you value? Do you bring your authentic self to your relationships?

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Below: Peter (left) is busy twisting wires but still finds time to update everyone on the scores of the latest basketball games. Ashley, Seth, and Richard (right) work hard together as a team to make sure we meet a tough deadline.