3. Supporting the DENSO Spirit One Celebration at a Time
It’s the little things that matter.
Scarlet Hoogakker, Advanced Human Resources Assistant at DENSO Manufacturing Michigan, Inc. (DMMI), says in the nearly 20 years she’s worked at DENSO, she’s seen and helped plan and implement numerous associate appreciation events.
“There are the big celebrations, such as the previous/pre-COVID, 25-Year Quarter Century Club associates’ celebrations. Associates were honored with a night out with a guest for dinner, awards and entertainment,” she said. “Another popular past event for our associates was a night at the casino, where they could enjoy an evening with dinner and music.”
And then there are other gestures of appreciation to associates, such as family picnics, “along with hot dog eating contests, cornhole and raffles. Children’s Christmas parties and Trunk-or-Treat for associates’ children also are popular.”
Some of the smallest things the DMMI Social Activities Committee does to raise morale, such as distributing free ice cream, really makes an impact. The associates’ “Ice Cream Day” is a favorite, where members serve ice cream bars to workers on all three shifts to appreciate and thank them for all their hard work.
“Our Social Activities Committee plans different events throughout the year, and our associates really appreciate their efforts. We get good feedback about changes to make and new things to try,” Hoogakker said.
“Plus, events do change as years go by. For instance, in the past we had an Associate Appreciation Luncheon, and we’d incorporate both Thanksgiving and Christmas,” she said. “Now, instead of hosting a holiday meal, DENSO gifts everyone with a ham or turkey as a way of showing appreciation to our associates and their families.”
“I think as long as associates know we’re trying to bring people together and make everyone feel valued and appreciated, then we’ll keep coming up with new ideas,” she said.
DENSO’s culture of recognizing associate value runs deeper than events,” Scarlet says. “Our people really care about each other. For example, if someone goes through the loss of a family member or is struggling with medical bills, I have seen different departments come together and lend a hand by doing a potluck, or a bake sale. Associates support each other by donating whatever they can.”
“Leadership is very supportive of these efforts, and it all contributes to the One DENSO Spirit. It’s attitudes like these that help retain good people,” Hoogakker said.
“I think it all starts when you feel valued by your leader. We all work really hard. When people come to work here, we want them to stay because they feel they are making a difference. They see us helping associates inside the plant and see our associates organizing community support events outside the plant in the local area,” she said.
“It all comes down to treating people with respect and showing we value them. They need to feel like they’re making a difference,” she concluded.
