Training and Development At Glatfelter, our most important assets are our PEOPLE. We understand that, in order for our company to innovate, manage through change and continuously improve, we must help Glatfelter PEOPLE unlock their full potential. Providing opportunities for training and professional growth is central to developing our workforce. In turn, this will enable us to realize our vision of becoming the global supplier of choice in specialty papers and engineered products. Globally, training at Glatfelter encompasses a variety of programs, from apprenticeships and machinespecific skill development to grant-funded partnerships, Six Sigma training and leadership skills courses. These skills are necessary to achieve Glatfelter s vision, to carry out our strategy, and to live out our Core Values. They advance our collaborative approach to workplace efficiency issues that affect both labor and management. In 2016, Glatfelter s Training and Development team helped thousands of employees through training programs and consulting solutions that fostered individual, team and organizational growth, change and effectiveness across the company. Our goal is that each employee be involved in targeted training activities each year. 2016 Training & Development Accomplishments: Make the Difference and Support the Business As Glatfelter continues to evolve and the global business environment becomes increasingly complex, it is more important than ever that we align employee core competencies with the business strategies of the organization. Developed by Glatfelter PEOPLE for Glatfelter PEOPLE, our new Impact Zone Leadership core competencies represent the framework for hiring, promoting, assessing and developing our workforce. These vital actions are needed to successfully execute our long-term strategy and achieve our vision of becoming the global supplier of choice in specialty papers and engineered products. We established the new competency framework in 2015. In 2016, close to 95% of our salaried and white-collar workforce globally were able to connect their role to the five competencies through classroom education and exercises and group discussion. In the Philippines, three separate educational opportunities focused on the safety of Glatfelter PEOPLE, including updated fire safety awareness, evacuation and firefighting drills; first aid and CPR training with the Philippine Red Cross; and hands-on CPR training with the Philippine Heart Association. Launched in 2013 and graduating its first participants in 2014, the LEAD (Learning, Engagement, Agility, Diversity) Program continues at Glatfelter. The second group of six new participants began their LEAD journey in 2016 through an intensive 15-month program that will continue through 2017. Composed of three modules, LEAD combined on-site learning sessions, executive coaching, mentoring, assessment and
individual development plans. Participants also engage in an action learning project with a diverse group from each business unit and our corporate office. This leadership development initiative aims to: 1. Build skills through a deeper understanding of self and personal talents 2. Develop a practical understanding of how to apply leadership skills 3. Enable personal effectiveness in strategy and visioning 4. Achieve successful interactions in a rapidly changing business environment across cultures and borders The hands-on project encourages participants to use the tools and insight gained during the program to provide recommendations to refine Glatfelter s growth strategy. The LEAD program is assessed based on improved leadership skills and competencies of the participants, ROI of the program, and productivity improvements. Training & Development Global Initiatives Among our top global initiatives is Impact Zone Leadership (IZL), Glatfelter s new competency model. A model that aligns employee capabilities and behaviors to Glatfelter s business needs and is clearly linked to the company s business strategies. Glatfelter PEOPLE complete numerous courses each year to ensure compliance and a practical understanding of Glatfelter s Code of Business Conduct, including training in ethical behavior, antiharassment and anti-bribery laws and expectations, and mutual respect. Globally, we give executives, supervisors and managers access to external resources to develop leadership skills, such as learning modules from Harvard Manage Mentor that 40 Glatfelter leaders completed in 2016. We provide training courses to foster a basic understanding of financial principles; the ability to manage multiple tasks and objectives; and team building, collaboration, communication and listening skills. Rosetta Stone continues play an important role with our global workforce, with 30 PEOPLE engaged in 2016. Glatfelter holds regular safety training sessions for all employees, including first aid and fire safety, to increase awareness and encourage safe working practices. We offer tuition reimbursement for approved job-related courses through accredited colleges and universities. Glatfelter PEOPLE participate in meeting official quality standards such as ISO 9001, 18001, BRC, FSC, and are consistently trained and developed in these areas to ensure accreditation and customer satisfaction.
Lean Principles are emphasized globally to help Glatfelter PEOPLE all over the world learn how to drive out inefficiencies. Examples are managing for daily improvement, Kaizen and other lean tools, and project management. The Value of Apprenticeships Within our Composite Fibers Business Unit (CFBU), each year we sponsor apprenticeship programs for trainees. So far, we have sponsored these for: Papermakers Electronic Technicians Industrial Mechanics Industrial Clerks IT Specialists Bachelor of Arts (B.A) degrees Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degrees Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng) degrees As a globally active company, Glatfelter also sponsors regional university programs such as the Northern Institute of Technology (NIT) Management in Hamburg, Germany. Glatfelter Gernsbach grants attractive scholarships (including tuition, accommodations and semester fees) to students studying at the NIT. Every two years, after their second semester at NIT, the most qualified foreign student completes an internship at our Gernsbach location from August to November. For the last six years Glatfelter, in partnership with 60 other local businesses, has sponsored a local apprenticeship fair in Gernsbach. In 2016, we also participated in an apprenticeship fair in the Badnerhalle in Rastatt. These apprenticeship fairs are regionally recognized and are successful at attracting new talent to our company. We must also recognize the importance of providing Glatfelter PEOPLE with the opportunity to grow. To this end, in June two of our Gernsbach PEOPLE earned Master Craftsman certification; these employees are highly regarded by their colleagues for their professional work. Our Human Resources teams in Lydney, UK and Gernsbach, Germany have partnered together to create a unique apprenticeship program for English speaking students. Four students will be offered a Paper Making apprenticeship experience in which they will learn about paper-making through the Paper School in Gernsbach, and following each instruction module, the apprentices will return to Lydney to practice what
they have learned in an operational environment. After three years, the apprentices will earn a Craftsperson degree and a permanent position with Glatfelter Lydney. At our Ober-Schmitten facility, we have tripled the number of our apprentices and are collaborating with the Gernsbach apprenticeship program. This has been received very positively. Apprentices from Gernsbach traveled to Ober-Schmitten to share best practices, product training, and a presentation on processes, technical plant practices and machinery. In addition to these programs, our Scaër operation initiated an exchange program with the French papermaking school Pagora. This program is designed to develop young students into Paper Engineers. The practical training involved supplements their course of study and extends theoretical knowledge they learned at universities. It is our aim to build the foundations to attract and recruit young talent to help us to become the global supplier of choice in specialty papers and engineered products. In 2016, Scaër also welcomed ten students in work placement: three from schools in the community and three who are family members of Glatfelter PEOPLE. We also offer an apprenticeship for paper making in Glatfelter Dresden in cooperation with the paper making college, Altenburg, which has been providing apprenticeships in the papermaking industry for 100 years. In Pennsylvania, our Specialty Papers Business Unit (SPBU) hosted a program for college students participating in an internship or summer student role. The curriculum consisted of real world preparatory classes, including career preparation, communication workshops, company benefits and much more. In 2016, 20 students graduated from this program. Within our Advanced Airlaid Materials Business Unit (AMBU), our Falkenhagen facility in Germany offers a dynamic apprenticeship and student learning experience. In fact, in 2016, Glatfelter Falkenhagen was named the Top Company Providing Vocational Training in Prignitz County, Brandenburg, Germany. Since 2001, 105 vocational trainees have successfully completed our training program there; 90% of these graduates have continued their employment with the Company. In 2016, we hosted approximately 30 apprentices and students, who received formal coursework, on-the-job training, housing support, financial support for school books, and additional opportunities for international internships. We are quite proud of the fact that Glatfelter Falkenhagen is the only company in the state of Bradenburg to offer a Paper Technologist apprenticeship.
Maximizing Grant-Funded Training Year over year, through various new and continuing government grants, we strengthen our operations and performance with skill upgrades and ensure that our training dollars go further. Through grant and nongrant support, examples of our training and development initiatives around the world include: Purchasing HAZMAT recertification Hydraulic troubleshooting Safety Supervisor/leadership programs Introductory & advanced Excel Advanced maintenance Human resources Tech service Machine-specific skills IT skills LEAN training Fiber Specialist training Project management training