Weaver Leather
Encouraging Strong Relationships

Weaver Leather does everything in its power to create a unique family-friendly workplace that centers on employees.

Weaver Leather’s mission states, “At Weaver Leather, our people (team members) and their families come first. Corporately, we will do all we can to promote and encourage close-knit, caring relationships among team members and their families, our customers and our suppliers.” The organization clearly exhibits this by accommodating work schedules, flexible scheduling, work at home options, and part time options.

Rewarding Superior Performance
Awards and recognition are an essential part of Weaver Leather’s great workplace. The organization
distributes departmental awards and recognizes top performers and superior customer service in the
monthly newsletter, and customer. It also provides managers with note cards on which they can write thankyou notes to recognize contributions, even of employees in another department. Weaver Leather also puts on “Character First Meetings.” Each month, employees learn about one of 48 character traits identified as important to the success of Weaver Leather. Employees that demonstrate these traits can be nominated by co-workers, supervisors, or managers to receive special recognition at the meeting. The organization also recognizes employees for service with the organization with personalized gifts including monogrammed logo fleece blanket with monogrammed logo duffle bag, handmade large leather basket with monogrammed Cutco gift set, and a custom made, large wooded wall clock with a leather face, laser engraved with name and years of service. At each five year milestones, an additional week of vacation and $100 for EACH year of service. The organization also provides “quick bucks” $10 gift certificates to local restaurants and stores that managers can access and distribute at their discretion.

Weaver Leather has a program called “Coffee with Chris” which is a series of weekly breakfast meetings
with 8-10 employees from different departments with the company president, Chris Weaver. The group
discusses the status of the company and asks questions or raise concerns. Each employee receives a
“thank you” note and follow-up to any open issues or concerns afterwards. Additionally, Weaver Leather has a generous profit sharing program. When the 10% corporate net profit goal is met, all employees with more than 2 years of services receive a bonus of 10% of their gross earnings for the year. Those with less than 2 years service get a pro-rated bonus. Finally, the organization uses electronic message boards which allow employees to track progress on electronic boards located in the warehouse and manufacturing. Includes real time info on total dollars shipped for the day, number of orders shipped, total orders, and dollars waiting to be shipped.

Building Leaders
Using its Weaver 101, 201, 301 training programs, Weaver Leather trains and develops employees of all
levels including new hires, managers, supervisors, executives. Internally developed training programs for
new hires, managers, supervisors, executives and VPs. Weaver Leather has mentoring groups which are small groups of 3-4 managers and supervisors led by a member of the executive team. Each manager and supervisor must create his or her own personal mission statement that incorporates both the personal and professional areas of their lives. The organization also has created a Leadership Library which includes over 500 books, tapes, CDs, and videos, community programs including Leadership Holmes County, Holmes County Leadership Development Series, and provides ongoing feedback.

Committed to Safety
The organization is highly committed to safety. This is evident in the resources they devote to safety
including a committee, coordinator, and incentive program. Weaver Leather also will pay employees wages for lost time up to 5 days until his or her Workers’ Compensation kicks in. They also have a Community Safety Council. Weaver Leather has an Employee Benevolence Fund which seeds money raised through benefits bake sales and silent auctions to assist employees in times of medical emergencies. The organization also matches all contributions made by employees. If a need arises, the company uses the fund to host a benefit luncheon. Employees make donations to cover the cost of their lunch and all proceeds are donated to the employee in need. Weaver Leather also sends new birth gifts, medical leave absence gifts, and provides food and flowers when an employee loses a relative.

Hiring Top Talent
Weaver Leather is committed to a high performing workforce. It only hires top notch candidates. It evaluates new hires after 90 days, when managers are asked, “Given the chance, would you rehire this person again to do this job?” The organization also performs employment assessments.