Working Environment

Associate Engagement

Associate input is invaluable to our continuous improvement, as associates see day-to-day how well our environments and processes work in practice. Knowing that their opinions are valued, and that they can express them freely without fear of retaliation, helps associates better participate not only in the company’s success, but their own, as well.

The complement to receiving associate input is to engage them in the information they need to be knowledgeable about the company, its performance and its vision, and the role they play as individuals in our collective success.

In 2007, our U.S. Operations made a number of important strides in associate communications that, coupled with vehicles already in place, represent a dynamic system for receiving input and delivering information, as well as for applying the learnings in real work environments. These include the administration of the OfficeMax All-Associate Engagement Survey and the introduction of a number of electronic communications vehicles under the Advantage banner.

Our desire to interact directly with associates extends to our approach for maintaining excellent associate relations. The company, of course, observes and upholds the legal right of associates to exercise freedom of association, but believes that we can be more responsive to associates’ needs working together directly.