The People Behind the Power: Sunbelt Solomon Invests in Its Employee Experience

On a hot summer afternoon, employees at Sunbelt Solomon’s Solomon campus stepped away from their work for snow cones, conversation and a chance to cool down together.

Sunbelt Solomon employees and their families represented the company during the 50th Annual Solomon Festival Parade, celebrating the community they've called home for more than five decade

The Summer Cool Down event may  look like a simple employee treat, but it is part of a larger effort to support the people behind Sunbelt Solomon’s work.

Now in its fifth year, the event is one of several companywide engagement activities held throughout the year as part of the company’s engagement and wellness campaign. Other activities include an annual chili cook-off competition, team breakfast to recognize careers that support skilled trades during national Manufacturing Day each October and an off-site year-end appreciation event.

The investment goes beyond planning a fun afternoon said Brenda Meyer, Training and Development Manager at Sunbelt Solomon.

“We know that people bring their entire lives to work with them. When we connect with team members on both a personal and practical level it strengthens retention, builds relationships and gives everyone more reasons to stay and grow with our company.”

Sunbelt Solomon operates 42 locations across the United States, Canada and Chile and employs approximately 1,700 team members. Even as the company grows, Meyer said maintaining a collaborative culture and a sense of belonging remains a priority.

That includes creating opportunities for employees to connect, but it also means addressing professional needs that can affect their ability to succeed at work.

In addition to the engagement events held annually, team members receive four hours of paid volunteer time to support causes that matter to them. Through a partnership with OCCK, Sunbelt Solomon also provides transportation to and from work for employees in Salina and Abilene, helping remove transportation as a barrier to employment.

The Solomon campus is also home to an on-site health clinic staffed by an advanced nurse practioner and two medical assistants.. Team members and their families utilizing the company provided health benefits may receive care when they are ill and participate in preventive services such as personalized health assessments.

Sunbelt Solomon has also introduced a digital employee-recognition program through Awardco®. Similar to an internal social platform, it allows employees to publicly thank and recognize their coworkers. Team members can earn rewards that may be redeemed through options such as a company store or loaded onto a payment card.

In one recent month, employees shared approximately 300 recognition posts.

The company’s employee engagement survey typically receives participation from approximately 94% of employees. Meyer said Sunbelt Solomon's scores align with national averages for manufacturing occupations in areas including involvement and belonging, workplace safety and supervisor satisfaction.

Building Skills—and Careers

Employee investment is also visible inside Sunbelt Solomon’s new Learning Lab in Solomon. The space includes training transformers and cutaway equipment that allow employees to see inside a transformer, examine its components and gain hands-on experience in a controlled learning environment.

New employees complete an eight-module onboarding program covering safety expectations, technical knowledge, quality and the skills needed for their roles. A dedicated technical trainer guides employees through the process.

The company’s career-development program is designed to help employees progress from novice to expert through defined skill and competency milestones. As employees advance, they can earn new titles and compensation while also building skills through cross-training.

For a company whose work is highly specialized, Meyer said that investment is essential.

Sunbelt Solomon’s training helps employees build knowledge they can use to advance within the company—and potentially pursue opportunities at locations across the country.

That investment is something employees experience firsthand. Transformer Tech-Expert Charles Acosta said the company's commitment to continuous learning and employee appreciation has made a difference in his own experience.

 “Sunbelt Solomon gives us opportunities to keep learning and improving. Events like the Summer Cool Down are a chance to connect with others outside my team and remind us that the company appreciates us who do the work every day.”

Growing Without Losing Its Local Connection

Sunbelt Solomon has been part of the Solomon community for approximately 55 years. Although the company is scaling quickly, Meyer said the Solomon operation continues to offer a sense of connection often associated with a small-town workplace.

Local teams are encouraged to use  company funded Giving Back incentives for supporting their communities. The Solomon team collected 863 food items in support of the school district holiday drive. The company matched this with a $1,210 donation. Team members recently showed-up to interact with the town by participating in the 50^th annual Solomon Festival parade. These initiatives bring coworkers and families together while showing their connection to the community.

That local involvement is another part of the employee experience Meyer described—giving team members opportunities to connect not only within the workplace, but also with the communities Sunbelt Solomon calls home.

By investing in the people behind the power, Sunbelt Solomon is helping demonstrate what it means to be a Roadmarkable place to work in Dickinson County.

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Interested in seeing Sunbelt Solomon's employee investment in action? 

Join Driving Dickinson County for our next Morning Drive on Tuesday, August 4, from 8–9 a.m. at Sunbelt Solomon. Guests will have the opportunity to network over coffee and pastries, tour the company's new Learning Lab, explore a training transformer that allows participants to see inside the equipment, and enter a business-card raffle for a chance to win one of four prizes. The event is free and open to business professionals, community members and anyone interested in learning more about the employers helping make Dickinson County Roadmarkable. Learn more and RSVP: https://www.drivingdickinsoncounty.org/community-calendar

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