Company News and Highlights

January 20, 2021

AMS Learning Center adds ‘Wall of Justice’ Mural

Ken Wiseman, AMS’ Chief Workforce Development Officer, offered some inspiring words on the mural installation “This ‘Wall of Justice Mural’ memorializes and reflects our pledge towards Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity. Pause to look at it now and again, as its images and words represent the best of AMS moving forward.”

Across the US, January 18th was designated as the day in which we honor the life of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It was 35 years ago, in 1986, that the first federal holiday honoring Dr. King was held, designated as the first Monday in January. On the MLK holiday, many Americans evaluate the progress we have made as a culture and as a system with regard to racism and discrimination.

At AMS, on MLK Day, employees gained approval to install a very special mural on the wall of the “Advance My Skills” learning center. The learning center was created and equipped several years ago for use in offering free college and trade school classes to all AMS employees, and is a space that employees consider their own.

The AMS Leadership Team made the following announcement: “In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Junior, we are pleased to announce the approval of the “Wall of Justice” mural, which will be put up in the Advanced Learning Center. We hope this mural helps all of us recall the commitment we have made towards Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity.”

The commitment referred to is one made following the AMS March for Change, organized by AMS employees in response to the killing of George Floyd in early June. Following that shocking and painful event, there was a strong desire within the AMS family to do something to bring about change; to bring an end to the racism and race-based prejudice and discrimination so damaging to us all. In a speech to the marchers, Ken Wiseman, AMS’ former CEO and current Chief Workforce Development Officer, spoke about working harder, with a stronger commitment to create opportunities and shed our biases, both conscious and unconscious.

When employees returned to their work locations after the march, they had the commitment of AMS ownership, the executive team and everyone in attendance to achieve even greater diversity goals. Three months later a second meeting with employees was held in which Ken spoke about the ambitious initiatives that AMS has undertaken in order to keep the promises, including: an ongoing Diversity & Inclusion Breakfast, increased learning opportunities, role-playing with employees to confront bias, an up-skill matrix development program, registering career objectives, 90 minute lunch meetings, ‘Share Our Journey’ opportunities, and an Empathy, Respect, Trigger and Action plan.

The Wall of Justice mural contains images of marchers and the following quotes from the signs carried at the March for Change:

- Some knew the value of education by having it. I knew it’s value by not having it. – Frederick Douglass
- It is never too late to give up your prejudices. – Henry David Thoreau
- Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. – Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
- There was one of two things I had a right to: liberty or death. If I could not have one, I would have the other, for no man should take me alive. – Harriet Tubman
- Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test of our civilization. – Mahatma Bandhi
- Men build too many walls and not enough bridges. – Joseph Fort Newton
- Hating people because of their color is wrong. And it doesn’t matter which color does the hating. It’s just plain wrong. – Muhammad Ali
- If the soul is left in darkness, sins will be committed. The guilty one is not he who commits the sin, but he who causes the darkness. – Victor Hugo
- Harmony creates equality. -Jon Luvelli

January 19, 2021

AMS Joins the Meals-On-Wheels Love Run

Few things matter more to a culture or community than caring for the senior citizens. This past year has been a time of great challenges for America’s seniors and we are thankful for organizations that have stepped up to meet those challenges. For AMS, Senior Concerns is an organization doing a great work in our community and we not only support them in their fundraising efforts, but we have been personally involved as volunteers as well.

Coming up soon, in February, Senior Concerns is holding a month long virtual event to raise funds in support of their Meals on Wheels program. It’s called the Love Run! In the past the Love Run was not a virtual event, but this year requires an adaptation… a virtual RUN! Participants can run or walk a half marathon, 10K, 5K or One Mile race from wherever they are, any time during the month of February, and then log their time and distance online. They’ll also be able to see how they stack up to the other Love Runners. Click HERE for Love Run info.

This year AMS will team up in the Love Run with David and the Catlin Family at the Gold Sponsor level. David Catlin, one of the founding owners of AMS, along with his wife Linda, has long been involved with Senior Concerns. David served on the Board and he and Linda have dedicated time and energy to the organization out of concern for the Seniors in need in our community.

Senior Concerns is now delivering more than 4,000 meals a week, and their efforts have never been more vital to the lives and well-being of homebound seniors. In addition to freshly prepared, nutritious meals, they are also delivering nonperishable household essentials – things like shelf stable food, hard to find cleaning products, paper goods and personal care items. And, perhaps even more importantly, the team of volunteers who deliver the meals is providing a social connection for homebound seniors.

Meals on Wheels is but one of many quality-of-life programs offered by Senior Concerns. It is a private, non-profit organization that has served the community since 1975. The organization serves with a focus on frail and special-need seniors, caregivers and families. All Senior programs are offered without regard for the ability to pay. Read more about the organization HERE.

Andrea Gallagher, President of Senior Concerns, had this to say about her hopes for the Love Run: “Our Meals on Wheels program has never been more needed than it is now, and our hope is that the virtual Love Run will be embraced by the community. We are grateful to the Catlin family and AMS Fulfillment for participating and for their ongoing support.”

We encourage all readers to join in the February Love Run, and help this outstanding organization continue to serve a vulnerable community. We have all been negatively impacted by COVID-19 this past year, but none more than our Seniors. Click HERE to join and run during the month of February.

January 14, 2021

AMS’ safety record is no accident: Workforce safety Series #16

In our first safety blog of the new year, we will look into ‘Lost Time Injuries’ – what are these injuries and what are we doing at AMS to avoid them.

The definition of Lost Time Injuries is as follows: In the United States, a metric, designated by OSHA, is used: DART. This stands for Days Away, Restricted, or Transferred. As the term implies, this refers to any injury or illness that results in someone being unable to work a full shift, being restricted from their normal work duties, or needing to be transferred. A more general lost time injury definition is: a work-related incident that results in a worker being unable to return to work. Other similar terms include “lost time incident,” “lost time case,” and “lost time accident.”

AMS has an amazing record with regard to these injuries, with very few occurring over the past several years. We have experienced only 5 lost time injuries over the last 3-years. The average for our industry for a population of 300 warehouse employees would be close to 36 lost time injuries over the same time period.

Matthew Warholy, AMS’ Security & Safety Supervisor, had this to say about our safety record:

“Lost Time Injuries not only hurt the employee involved, but AMS as well. Insurance rates increase of course, but other employees have to fill in where that employee is now missing. It’s a negative chain reaction.

“This is precisely why we have our monthly OSHA safety classes. When a participant is done with the class, they become a safety advocate for AMS. They learn emergency procedures, warehouse safety, how injuries happen and how to avoid personal injury by paying attention.

“Since most injuries happen from a lack of attention, the OSHA safety class is actually a positive chain reaction. The OSHA class minimizes the risk for the employee and AMS.”

As further incentive, AMS holds a drawing in each warehouse to reward employees for every month that lost time injuries are avoided. Every injury-free month brings an increase in the rewards, so when December comes around, and there are no injuries, 12- $100 gift cards are in each drawing, for each of AMS’s four West Coast facilities!

According to Samantha Hicks, Sr. Administrator, HR, the most often occurring lost time Injury is muscle strain. How do you work to prevent such strain? In a previous blog we heard about an adaptation in the workstation that served to keep an employee from having to bend over due to his being taller than average. We also know that reducing repetition through job rotation is effective in reducing injuries. So, solutions come with training and also with ‘paying attention’ and adapting.

Samantha explained that, “AMS’ goal is to get the employee back to work as soon as they are medically able, and if necessary provide the opportunity for reasonable accommodation, modified, or alternative work under the ADA. Studies show that the longer you are off work, the harder it is to get back to your original job and wages.”

Readers can view our previous safety blogs HERE.

January 13, 2021

Series: What B Corporations do for the world #14

In our weekly B Corporation blog series, we visit the various news and opinion articles written about or by B Corporations. We’re a part of the B Corp community and like any community, we enjoy seeing what’s on the mind other businesses committed to ‘B the Change’. In this first week of the 2021, not surprisingly, there is conversation reviewing the past year with a focus on resilience, hope and gratitude.

As a company that is essential to the economy and supply chain, what AMS focused upon during 2020 was safety, diversity and community. We published 15 weeks of blogs describing the safety measures that AMS has taken in order to protect our workers from exposure to the COVID-19 virus. Our hope has been that sharing our experience will help guide other fulfillment companies and warehouses in how to stay safe. AMS employees take a risk, and they are compensated with bonus pay. We protect them in every way we can.

We have also placed a strong focus on diversity. After employees organized a march in protest of the murder of George Floyd, we committed to improve and to do more. We are a diverse fulfillment company and we consider our employees vital to our success – we are a corporate family.

Our third focus has been on helping the community in which we live. We know that many of our neighbors are struggling to feed their families, and we’ve done our best to help them with donations of food and gift cards.

This week we’re publishing two articles in which B Corporations talk about their year. The first article covers what was discussed in a virtual gathering of B Corps and the second is about systemic change and the role of B Corporations in bringing it to pass. We hope you enjoy!

Meeting the Moments of 2020 with Resilience and Gratitude
B in Community Event Highlights

Messages of gratitude and love launched the recent B in Community event, a year-end celebration for Certified B Corporations in the U.S. and Canada. In honoring all that B Corp leaders have been through in 2020 — working separately to keep businesses afloat, adjusting to shifting supply and demand, protecting frontline workers, and more — the virtual gathering offered the community a time to reflect and regroup before the calendar turns to 2021.

As members of a business community founded on the power of connections, B Corps have an opportunity to lead the way toward a more resilient and inclusive economy that works for all people and protects the future of the planet — stepping up to meet the moment.

Read the full article HERE:

A Business Community of Hope and Resilience Amid Crises: 2020 B Corp Year in Review
The Lessons and Events of 2020 to Carry Us Forward Into 2021

The events of 2020 revealed the resilience and hope that can be found in community, even during times of crisis. When the COVID-19 pandemic rattled the global economy and exposed systemic inequalities, business leaders and people around the world faced a new reality and an uncertain future. When the ongoing killings of Black people led to racial justice rallies and calls for real action, companies offered support and promise for change.

With the growing realization that things will not go “back to normal,” the effort to shape an economy that works for all stakeholders holds greater importance and urgency. During the turbulence of 2020, thousands of businesses in the Certified B Corporation community made decisions and changes with multiple stakeholders in mind — workers, customers, community, environment, and shareholders among them.

Read the full article HERE.

January 11, 2021

Getting to Know Our Diverse World

AMS Fulfillment enjoys the many benefits of a diverse workforce. Like many other B Corporations, we find that diversity stimulates growth and innovation as it strengthens and enlivens our corporate family.

The diversity of peoples and cultures and nature itself is the treasure of this world. When we see how people and things differ, it teaches us, broadens us and gives guidance to the wise. We human beings are anything but ‘the same’ and that is a very good thing. And so we begin 2021 by taking a moment to look at the ‘when and how’ different Peoples of the earth mark the new year and celebrate.

In our last blog we talked about Chinese New Year, which begins on February 12th. According to Chinese astrology, based on the Lunar calendar, 2021 is the year of the Ox. The celebration in past years has been a time when millions of people travel home, businesses close and even the ports close and shipping comes to a halt. This celebration is old and renowned.

In this blog we’ll look at how celebrations are done in Israel, Iran and India.

In addition to China, there are other cultures that do not celebrate the first day of January as the new year. Due to customs and traditions, their new year is marked on another day and month that sets them apart from the rest.

The first example is Israel and the Rosh Hashanah celebration.

Rosh Hashanah, translated as “Head of the Year,” is a time of rejoicing and introspection for Jewish people in Israel and around the world. It is the first of the High Holidays ending 10 days later with Yom Kippur. In 2020 the two-day Rosh Hashanah celebration started on September 18 and in 2021 it will begin on September 6th.

The celebration begins with the sounding of an instrument made of a ram’s horn, called the shofar. The horn is sounded to proclaim God as King of the Universe and to call the people to repentance and commitment to God. The shofar begins the “Ten Days of Repentance” which ends with the “Day of Atonement,” Yom Kippur.

Rosh Hashana is an ancient celebration with many meaningful traditions. Special symbolic foods are eaten, like dates, leeks, beets and pomegranates. Each food holds special meaning. Ancient meaning is given to apples dipped in honey. The apples and honey are always on the table, as this food is a tradition dating back hundreds of years. The apples were believed to have healing properties, and the honey signifies hope for a sweet new year.

The next celebration in our diversity journey takes place in Iran – it’s called Nowruz.

For 13 days, beginning March 21, 2021, people in Iran and also in Afghanistan celebrate the Persian New Year, Nowruz, which means “new day,” or the start of spring. Nowruz is an ancient celebration, around 4,000 years old. The Iranian and Zoroastrian communities celebrate this festival. It falls on the day of the vernal equinox, when night and day are about the same length

It is celebrated with families coming together and giving gifts. Wearing new clothes is important as new things represent a fresh start. A major part of the holiday is a deep cleaning for about three weeks during which homes are tidied and cleared of clutter, which also makes way for a fresh start.

A table is set in the home to represent wishes for the New Year. The foods includes sabzeh (sprouts growing in a dish) for renewal, senjed (dried fruit) for love, seeb (apples) for health, seer (garlic) for medicine, serkeh (vinegar) for patience, somaq (berries) for sunrise and samanu (sweet pudding) for wealth. On the eve of the New Year, children wear costumes, bang on pots and pans and visit their neighbors to ask for sweets. The final day of celebration is spent picnicking in the open air and enjoying many different kinds of pastries.

India is the next place we’ll look for a new year tradition.

There is a wonderful celebration in India that millions of people enjoy called Diwali – the festival of light!! The celebrations last for five days, and in 2021 they will begin on November 4th. Diwali celebrations coincide with the New Year, usually held between mid-October and mid-November, depending on the Hindu lunar calendar.

Different cultures celebrate Diwali for different reasons. For Hindus, it is a celebration of good over evil, based on a story of Rama, the lord of virtue, returning to his kingdom after a 14 year exile. Similar to the Nowruz celebration in Iran, Indian people clean their homes, getting rid of the old, and they wear new clothes, give gifts and eat sweets.

It is also a tradition for families to have feasts and watch exciting displays of fireworks. In addition to Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists take part in festivities, cleaning and decorating their homes. Children make clay lamps, called ‘diya’ to illuminate the house and bring good fortune.

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So there we have it – a look at the beautiful diversity of the Peoples of the earth in how we all welcome a new year. May all of our new years be peaceful and rewarding.

December 30, 2020

Responding to the ‘New Poverty’

In the past two months, AMS employees have gone into their bank accounts and contributed generously to make both the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays better for local families. Churches and organizations across Los Angeles contributed as well, as people have become aware of the ‘new poverty’ brought about by job losses and the COVID-19 illness and lockdowns.

News in December reported that Byonce was donating $5000 grants to people facing foreclosure. Reports a few weeks earlier pointed to lines of cars five miles long in Atlanta waiting to receive food donations from Tyler Perry Studios. We even watched Russell Brand on YouTube, working at a food bank and delivering bags of groceries in order to bring attention to an emerging crisis.

In order to understand the impact of the pandemic, we looked into one of the oldest, and most consistent caretakers of the poor and homeless – the wonderful Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen in New York City. The Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen has been around since 1982 in Chelsea on 9th Avenue and West 28th Street. We were fortunate to be able to interview a long-time volunteer with Holy Apostles, Donna Lamb.

Donna told us that they started seeing changes back in February when volunteers felt that they needed to stay at home due to the virus. The Kitchen had to suspend the volunteer program and employ staff, while asking administrators to pitch in on the floor. Employing chefs turned out well and things kept going.

Although the pandemic brought an end to indoor dining and many of the social services, the soup kitchen continued to provide hot meals for the people. Their Backpack Pantry Program provided food for soup kitchen guests, neighborhood children, and families with little access to food or the means to cook meals at home.

Donna explained that in the previous year they provided food for around 840 meals a week. In November of 2020 they provided enough food to prepare about 30,000 meals a week. This is a 3500 percent increase.

She said, “It has given me such joy, over the years, to volunteer at Holy Apostles. 2020 has brought such huge changes, but we have managed. What can we anticipate in 2021? I know that soup kitchens and pantries will need resources and I encourage everyone who can, to donate to an organization that serves the homeless or to a pantry that serves all who have need.”

For those who are doing well financially and not in need of food assistance or a stimulus, we hope you’re inspired to respond to the ‘new poverty’ and donate to meet increasing food and housing needs in 2021.

Happy New Year!!! Let’s make it beautiful.

Please enjoy an article from Grist.org: What California’s farmworkers can teach us during a season of giving.

December 25, 2020

AMS: Gifting ‘Green’ for the Holidays

Each year AMS says Happy Holidays to its clients with a gift of sweets or cookies for everyone in their office to enjoy. It has been an enjoyable tradition. But this year offices are not the same with so many working from home. This year we also have a deeper appreciation for our clients in that we have met the challenges together! We have climbed mountains together!!

Our clients know that we are a B Corporation, dedicated to serving them and more. Many have expressed appreciation that they can fulfil their products with a company that is focused on preserving the environment, caring for the community and advancing the education and training of their employees.

This year we have decided to make a contribution on behalf of our clients to the National Forest Foundation. It is exciting and a great pleasure to support our precious National Forests. Many of us have enjoyed these treasures at some point, driving, hiking or camping. Here below is a bit of information about our National Forests:

National Forests and Grasslands provide Americans with 193 million spectacular acres of wildlands.

*More than 9,000 miles of scenic byways to drive
*Almost 150,000 miles of trails to hike
*More than 4,400 miles of wild and scenic rivers to float
*At least 5,100 campgrounds in which to pitch our tents
*And 328 natural pools to swim in

All this and the chance to see elk and bear, ducks and deer, trout and trees, thousands of species of plants, and billions of stars in a midnight sky.

The National Forest Foundation, chartered by Congress, is the leading organization inspiring personal and meaningful connections to our National Forests, the centerpiece of America’s public lands. The NFF engages Americans in community-based and national programs that promote the health and public enjoyment of the 193-million-acre National Forest System and administers private gifts of funds and land for the benefit of the National Forests.

Working on behalf of the American public, the NFF leads forest conservation efforts and promotes responsible recreation. We believe these lands, and all they provide, are an American treasure and are vital to the health of our communities.

Regarding the contribution, AMS CFO Tony Shepherd offered, “AMS is proud to support the NFF on behalf of its clients, our employees, our community, and investors. For more information on the NFF, please visit their website at www.nationalforests.org.”

Happy Holidays to our clients! We look forward to working with you in the New Year!

December 24, 2020

A Very Special Story and Holiday Gift for All

At AMS we have some mighty fine employees and when one of our own brings our attention to a special story, we love to re-tell it right here – so here goes!!

The Transportation Billing Coordinator for AMS West in the Finance Department at HQ is a talented and kind-hearted man named Angad Gill. He came to AMS in July of 2019 starting as a temp-to-hire and he was hired officially in January of 2020. In his personal time, Angad works with young musicians from the school districts of Simi Valley, Moorpark, Thousand Oaks, and Westlake.

He connected with students initially through a nonprofit organization called “It’s a New Day” based in Simi Valley. It’s a New Day provided guidance, events, and opportunities for children and teens to explore the arts. Since Angad started with It’s a New Day, they reorganized merged with a larger nonprofit in Simi, but he maintained his connections with the performing arts departments of different schools and many of the artists themselves, and he created his own organization.

Angad’s organization is called Spare Oom Productions. Officially, Spare Oom is for musical enjoyment and learning. Angad said, “As I grow as a producer and as my life progresses it may become a for profit studio with a philanthropic program to foster the arts in young people. Right now I distribute my work through Soundcloud, however in the future I plan on releasing music on Spotify.” His music is free for anyone to listen to.

Every year Angad records and produces a holiday album featuring young artists in his community. The purpose is to broaden their experiences and spread holiday cheer. He said, “This year has been especially tough due to the pandemic, however in spite of these circumstances I’ve been able to record the music remotely with a couple of artists recording in their own homes.”

The performers are all singers; Angad, Cristy, Megan (known professionally as Megan Elyse), and Indi. All of the instruments were played by Angad. The image for this blog is the album cover. The Photo was taken by Angad, and the graphic design was done by Cristy Rodriguez Rivas. Below is a picture of Angad.

Please click the link below and ENJOY!!

https://soundcloud.com/angad-rowsdower-gill/sets/the-holidaep-20

December 22, 2020

AMS Employees Give Gifts to Val Verde Families

In past years, during the Holiday Season, AMS employees could be seen buying and wrapping gifts for children and young people who participate in the Val Verde Youth Activity League. The gift-giving is something the employees have made into a tradition, and it is a very much enjoyed tradition by all who participate. AMS President, Betty-Lou Wiseman, is in charge of the program, and Erica Martinez, Account Management, organizes a team, and works on the fundraising. Through this, a lot of AMS employees are able to enjoy the experience of giving to children who have might need a bit of extra love.

In the past the Christmas gift wrapping would take place in the AMS HQ lobby, with the lobby eventually full of bicycles, ribbons, boxes and bows. In photographs of those past events everybody is wearing a big smile.

“What can we do this year,” has been a question for the group. Things are different for us all, but the giving spirit is still the same, or maybe even stronger than before. The group was determined to make it special for the families, so a few weeks ago they began raising funds to support the gift program. They raised a lot of funds!!!

AMS employees responded by donating a total of $5,000 to divide into gift cards to share among almost 30 families. AMS also bought dinner vouchers from Vallarta Supermarket to share with the families. The families were selected from those that participate in the YAL “Adopt a Family” program. YAL is co-supported by both the Val Verde Community and our local Sheriff Station. The gift-giving took place on the evening of December 21st

While the office areas at AMS lay quiet this year from the bustle of gift wrapping, organizing, and infectious smiles, AMS associates prepared for this annual gift giving. They were working from desks remote, or working behind protective masks and safely distanced in offices or the warehouse. Still they showed their hearts with donations to those struggling this COVID year in our neighboring Val Verde community.

Our thanks go out to Erica and Betty-Lou for championing the very best, and to our generous AMS associates for doing the most healing thing we can do this Holiday Season… care about one another.

December 18, 2020

AMS’ safety record is no accident: Workforce safety during COVID #15

The year 2020 has been life-changing, and we have all been taking safety measures as best we can. Warehouses and fulfillment companies have come under a special kind of pressure. A working supply chain is vital to the lives of American citizens and therefore fulfillment companies are essential businesses in this rapidly adjusting world. Safety from a very contagious virus went quickly to the top of warehouse safety concerns.

Prior to 2020 AMS Fulfillment enjoyed an excellent safety record, and this was due to the strong focus on safety training and the determined efforts of the company’s management. COVID-19 brought new safety challenges never before faced. The AMS Safety Team went to work back in February and March, responding at the highest level as prescribed for business by the CDC. The Team’s decisions, efforts, purchases and policies are described in our weekly safety blogs #1 through #14, accompanied by photos. We are proud to say that our safety record is still excellent!

As we approach the end of the year we face a continuing threat, and that means continuing efforts to protect our employees. With that in mind, this week’s blog features a message from AMS’ Security & Safety Supervisor, Matthew Warholy. His message is as follows:

“Covid-19 has been prevalent in our minds for almost 10 months now. We are constantly bombarded with reminders to use face masks, social distancing & hand sanitizer. We all need these reminders because the virus is making a return with a vengeance. States and countries that had low numbers in the past, have spiked and infection rates are soaring worse than before. The news is filled with reports of infections, deaths and previously healthy folks that are now victims of the virus.

“Of course, social distancing, face masks & hand sanitizer are keys to keep yourself safe but what other reminders do we need? Stay home if you feel even the least bit sick. Why risk yourself and others if you are sick. Do NOT show up at work. Call in. You’re not only infecting co-workers by showing up, you’re risking the health of their families, people who come in contact with them, anything that you or they touch and so on. When we are in the warehouses or offices, stop and think of how many times a cart, a copier, a microwave or a door handle gets touched every day……or every hour. It’s mind boggling how many times we touch things and not think about how many other people have touched it too. Think of how many times we hand our credit card to a fast food employee in the drive thru. How many cards have they touched? What have they touched that others have touched?

“I saw a CNN News report 7 months ago about how quickly a virus can spread. A Japanese researcher created a mock buffet and gave one person a special liquid on his hands to simulate that he coughed into his hand. Then, people went through the buffet and ate their meals. When the lights were turned off, they turned on a black light to show how quickly and dangerously the virus had spread. It’s fascinating what happens. You can watch it here:”

Click HERE to view our AMS Blog list and our Safety Series #1 through #14.

Click here to access the LA County recommendations for business

December 14, 2020

AMS’ safety record is no accident: Workforce safety during COVID #14

It appears that we are facing a surge in COVID-19 cases, and in a number of states the stay at home restrictions are tightening because of it. AMS Fulfillment provides an essential service, so our employees are asked to leave home and do the order fulfillment work that is essential to the economy. Millions of people, staying at home, depend upon being able to order the products they need and have them delivered.

According to the Los Angeles Times, “…the stay-at-home restrictions that took hold at 11:59 p.m. Sunday (December 6th) across Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley will remain in place for at least three weeks, meaning those regions will not be able to emerge from the state’s latest stay-at-home order until Dec. 28 at the earliest.”

The surge has been attributed to family gatherings and travel during Thanksgiving. In an effort to give our employees peace of mind during this time, AMS has offered a rapid test to all of our employees where they can get tested and get their results back within 20 minutes. AMS has also purchased and offered to employees a home COVID-19 test kit so they can take the test at home, send it out themselves, and get the results back within 24 to 48 hours.

While there have been a small number of reported cases among our 400+ employees, at this time no employees have reported to us that their infection came from exposure at AMS. Rather, employees have in most cases pointed to family events or positive testing people living within their homes as their source of infection. We are encouraged by that and committed to continue and expand our efforts.

In our past safety blogs we have talked about the extensive adaptations that have been undertaken to keep our employees safe at work, and that effort continues daily. In response to the surge, we have increased the number of barriers in our warehouses to keep employees protected. We have also added more restrictions across all buildings, increasing the number of breaks and lunches to minimize the number of people gathering around the lunchroom area, and we have set up lunch and break areas outside the warehouses.

This is a very busy time for AMS, with seasonal employees coming in to help us meet the needs of clients. For that reason we are staying even more vigilant with masks, distancing, taking temperatures, sanitizing, and all of the other efforts to keep our employees safe while at work. We are very happy to give them some additional peace of mind with the rapid tests.

Click here to access the LA County recommendations for business

December 10, 2020

Series: What B Corporations do for the World #12

This week’s offering in our B Corporation series features the theme of Giving Back to the community. In the past we have published blogs about how AMS Fulfillment gives back to the community through volunteering, donating, serving on Boards and so forth. We know from long experience how giving back is beneficial for the community and for ourselves. This week we will talk about how AMS encourages employees in their support of non-profits.

Samantha Hicks, Sr. Administrator, Human Resources Benefits, administers a unique program wherein AMS employees who participate in or support a non-profit organization or non-profit extracurricular activity can apply to AMS and receive a $100 donation to their organization from AMS in appreciation of their community service. It’s called the AMS Employee Extra Curricular Donation Program. Each month three gifts of $100 are given to three nominated non-profits.

Recent donations include $100 to Valencia High School Sports Medicine Academy (see image below), AYSO Castaic Region, Breast Cancer Awareness- Girls Gone RX, Relay for Life and Antelope Valley High School ROTC Program.

This week we are also pleased to feature an article on Giving Back from the BCorporation.net website.

Giving Back Throughout the Year: 3 B Corps Share How to Create Mission-Aligned Charitable Partnerships

Companies of All Sizes Show Why Doing Good Is Good for Business

“In a year when many days were repetitive, we’ve hit the season when each day gets a commercial nickname: Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday.

“That final day — Giving Tuesday — has expanded from its start in 2012 at the Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact in New York City into the current global celebration of generosity that encourages millions of people to help others through donations of time or money. The center’s initial goal — to make giving a part of everyday life — is uplifted by the Certified B Corporation community, made up of businesses that operate with a stakeholder mindset that includes benefit to people and planet as well as the bottom line.

“For the three B Corps highlighted below — NEEV, a solo entrepreneur’s venture; Lemonade, a growing and innovative insurance midsize business; and Davines, a large international hair and skin care company — giving back to the community is an inherent part of doing business throughout the year. “

Read the full article HERE.

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