Local manufacturer increases pay for entry-level positions
“I don’t think about ways to keep our payroll down. I’m seeking to find how much we can pay our employees.” That’s how Len Morris, founder and owner of Viewrail/StairSupplies, a manufacturer of stairways and railing, discusses the company’s new compensation policy.
“And we’re not done at $25 per hour or $55,000 per year. We expect to continue to grow and our associates income can grow with us. We want to put world-class tools in our employees hands to improve productivity, so that we provide more value to them and in turn, can provide more value to our customers. By this fall, every employee will have spent at least a half-day in our new Training Center, getting hands-on experience with every aspect of our products. When people understand how crucial their role is, they are able to gain more enrichment in their professional lives,” he said.
“We manufacture premium products, and we want the best possible team members in every position in the company,” Morris continued. “It more than simply paying a competitive wage in a competitive environment. We believe this is the right step to take for all our stakeholders, including our current employees, new hires, our company itself, and our customers. For example, if you’re interested in learning Computer Aided Design, we’ll make that available to you.”
“We’ve had roughly 70 employees complete 12 different product training modules in the past year. We are also in the midst of a floating stairs training blitz with more than 60 employees receiving a special 4-hour training on the specifics of that product line during the month of May,” said Troy Burns, Chief Leadership and Learning Officer.
Kirk Morrison, one of five employees in the glass shop, commented that “I’ve been with the company for 10 months, and this is such a blessing for me and my family. I think it’s great for recruiting and retaining employees.”
Viewrail/StairSupplies occupies nine facilities in Goshen, including wood, metal, and glass shops, an extensive shipping facility, as well as sales and customer service and other office staff. Viewrail/StairSupplies currently employs 320 people, and is looking to hire 50 to 75 more by the end of the year.
Viewrail recently started a new allied business, Viewrail Installations LLC, to install the company’s FLIGHT floating stairs nationwide. Operations are active in a number of locations including Indianapolis, Austin TX and central FL.
About Viewrail/StairSupplies
Viewrail, based in Goshen IN, is the leading manufacturer of modern stairs and railing in the U.S. Viewrail manufactures floating stair systems along with premium glass, rod, and cable railing, while StairSupplies manufactures traditional stair components. All components are manufactured in-house in one of nine specialized facilities in Goshen.