3.What % of your pallet/container business falls under the following two categories?

% new pallets/containers

% used and recycled pallets/containers (include combo and remanufactured)

% other (explain )

100% Total

4.How do you plan to change your production capacity in the future? (Check all that apply)

a.) Add another shift.

b.) Add employees. (Please indicate a rough guess of how many people you intend to add.) Add people.

c.) Add machinery to reduce the number of people needed. (not including robots)

d.) Add robotics as soon as possible.

e.) Open a new location to better service customers.

f.) Reduce the number of employees. (Please indicate a rough guess of how many people you intend to cut.) Cut people.

g.) Cut hours or move more people to part-time hours.

h.) Close a location.

i.) Keep everything the same.

j.) Other (explain)

5.Given the tight labor market, what are you doing to attract good workers? (Check all that apply AND rank in order from 1 to 10, which ones are the most effective.)

a.) Using temp services

b.) Running ads

c.) Asking existing employees

d.) Offering referral bonuses to existing employees

e.) Working with sheltered workshop or prison inmate employees

f.) Visiting known areas where day workers tend to congregate

g.) Post jobs online

h.) Working with job placement services, church or charities to identify possible workers

i.) Improving website to focus on job prospects

j.) Other:

Please provide additional comments for what has worked best:

6.Given the labor challenges emerging, what areas of your production process could most benefit from robotics or advanced automation technology? (Check all that apply)

a.) Primary breakdown sawmill

b.) Resaw line

c.) Pallet nailing

d.) Lumber feeding for automated nailers

e.) Pallet stacking

f.) Pallet sortation

g.) Pallet dismantling

h.) Pallet repair

i.) Forklifts

j.) Trim Saws

k.) Other (explain )

12. Looking at your planning for future ownership, which of the following describes your current situation? (check one)

a.) Have a full succession plan in place with family member or other person selected to take over the business.

b.) Have a succession plan in place but are not sure who will lead the company in the future.

c.) Have a partial succession plan in place with some questions.

d.) Nobody in the family or current ownership organization will want to lead after the current owners retire.

e.) Are prepping the business to sell in the next 5-10 years.

f.) I haven’t really thought about it.

g.) Other (explain )

13.Given the importance of company culture to retention, which of the following have you done to improve worker morale over the past year? (Check all that apply AND rank effectiveness in order from 1 to 11.)

a.) Conducted at least one employee engagement survey

b.) Developed more training programs or resources for managers and supervisors

c.) Deployed a chaplain initiative to care for workers

d.) Developed a caring or employee emergency fund to provide some resources for employee emergencies

e.) Found a local or national non-profit partner for employees to assist through either service or donations

f.) Held more employee lunches, parties or events

g.) Used more social media to communicate with staff about company activities and events

h.) Provided life skills or other non-work-related training

i.) Changed management structure to provide for more, closer supervision

j.) Altered onboarding or training approach

k.)Other:

14.What has driven wage changes the most in your business over the past 2-3 years? (Rank in order from 1 to 7)

a.) Local or state-wide minimum wage increases

b.) General inflation

c.) COVID-related expenses

d.) Wage competition from other industries or local competitors in the industry

e.) Difficulty of the job compared to other industries

f.) Government benefits making unemployment more attractive

g.)Other:

15. How did COVID-19 change your company policies and approach during the pandemic? (Select all that apply)

a) Change sick leave policies

b.) Develop COVID protocols

c.) Institute new cleaning and sanitation requirements

d.) Change social distancing requirements

e.) Require employees to wear masks

f.) Recommend or require that employees get vaccinated

g.) Stagger breaks and shifts to reduce employee interaction

h.) Require testing for any employees with COVID symptoms

i.) Other:

16.How has the labor pool changed in your area over the past year? (Select One Only)

a.) It is the worst availability on record, just can't find people.

b.) We can get enough people but they lack critical skills we need.

c.) Availability is a little worse this year compared to last year.

d.) This year is about the same as last year.

e.) It was worse last year in 2021. This year (2022) it has gotten a bit better.

f.) Labor pool is much better this year compared to last year.

g.) Other:

GENERAL COMMENTS: