Alcan Packaging Food Americas Wins the 2007 Right Workplace Award

The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and Right Management Consultants have announced that Alcan Packaging Food Americas has won the 2007 Right Workplace Award. The award is given to organisations with human resources policies and programs that have positively affected business results.

“We are honored to receive this recognition of Alcan Packaging Food Americas as an exceptional place to work,” said Mike Schmitt, president, Alcan Packaging Food Americas. “We are committed to all of our workplace initiatives and policies,” he added. “And, we will continue to emphasise initiatives such as employee training, development, health, safety and community involvement,” Schmitt said.

Alcan Packaging Food Americas’ winning efforts are a product of its strategic human resources planning and programs implemented since 2004. The planning and programs were put in place following a period of acquisitions of and integrations with other packaging companies. Having a strategy effective at identifying human resources needs and implementing actions and driving results was key to Food Americas’ success.

In identifying Alcan Packaging Food Americas as a 2007 award recipient, the judging committee made note of the company's significant results metrics. Among Food 's accomplishments:

• Between 2004 and 2007, workplace injuries fell from 4.61% to 1.17%, a 75% decrease;
• During the same period, the company achieved a 55% average internal promotion rate, with a decrease of 3% in voluntary salaried turnover;
• More than 200 employees have received Green Belts after undergoing Lean Six Sigma training. By 2009, the goal is to have all 4,800 employees certified as White, Yellow, Green or Black Belts;
• Participation in the global employee survey increased 32%, with more than 87% of employees responding;
• Community outreach programming, limited in 2003, now includes involvement and volunteer work in the , Greater Chicago Food Depository, as well as more than 150 other charities. The Group has also adopted an elementary school in ;
• Work-Life Effectiveness initiatives have generated flexible hour and job sharing programs;
• Within the last three years, Food Americas plants doubled solid waste recycling rates to 76%, or 23 million pounds.

Alcan Packaging Food Americas was one of three companies honored for winning 2007 Right Workplace Awards at a recognition ceremony held on November 8.