News

At AMS we are not only committed to BE a B Corporation, we also seek to inform our readers about B Corporations. For this 42^nd blog in our Series, we are going to focus on DEI and JEDI. What is it, what can we learn about it and how do we put it into practice? Let’s see what B Corporation.net provides for us.

Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

At this first [LINK] readers will find a number of articles, 13 to be exact, that go into such subjects as anti-racism business resources, how B Corps are structuring anti-racism into their business models, engaging and retaining a diverse workforce and hiring formerly incarcerated employees.

AMS has been committed to justice, equity, diversity and inclusion for years. Our commitment to community led us to apply for B Corporation status, which we achieved in 2017. Searching through the listing of B Corps we find very few fulfillment companies. So, yes, AMS Fulfillment is relatively unique in our commitments to these five stakeholders: employees, community, environment, our clients and ourselves. We try our best to do right by all.

AMS Fulfillment has long-time, beneficial relationships with community organizations, and through these relationships we hire individuals with disabilities, persons who are homeless, at-risk youth, the aging population, single parents, and individuals involved with the justice system.

What is a ‘DEI Hire’?

We have heard people using “DEI hire” as a means of insult, implying that the person was not qualified for the job, but was hired in order to fill a quota regarding race or sexual identity. Such an accusation is both racist and sexist, and it is also not the way DEI works.

At AMS, when we hire individuals with disabilities, they are trained and well qualified by the community organizations we work with. The same goes for at-risk youth, the aging population, single parents and individuals involved with the justice system. And in addition, we provide free on-the-clock training and higher education for all employees.

A quote from DEI consultant, Adriele Parker, underlines the reality: “DEI can’t die as long as there are people. Our diversity is what makes us, us—humans…if we want to coexist peacefully in these shared spaces, DEI is a requirement. Folks may want to call it something else, but the core goal—fostering understanding and fairness amongst people—continues to be the same.”

If underserved individuals are not employed, they are not spending, which means businesses do not invest in capital and labor or try to expand to meet consumer demand. This translates into an economic slowdown and increasing unemployment.

Why do we practice DEI at AMS? We don’t do it to pretend to be virtuous. The answer is, we practice DEI because we believe, and we have seen, that diversity brings many benefits to us. It brings different perspectives and new information, better decision-making, more effective strategies, increased productivity, and improved communication. Our diverse workforce is our strength! We are happy to add to these benefits a better and more just world. We work to B the Change.

Information on DEI and JEDI

In our B Corporation Series we normally link readers to B Corporations where they can explore the various companies, and perhaps do some shopping. In this #42 of the Series, we are going to link readers to two articles with information about DEI and JEDI.

Our first article is entitled “Anti-Racism Business Resource: Commit and Act, Examples and Steps to Drive Real Change.” The following paragraph will serve as an introduction. Please click here [LINK] for the full article.

“We cannot credibly build an inclusive economic system without addressing the fundamental injustice, inequity and violence that disproportionately impacts Black people and other People of Color. Racism is pervasive in the very systems in which our businesses operate and in our communities, and it is only when we center People of Color that we will truly benefit everyone.”— Anthea Kelsick, Co-CEO, B Lab U.S. & Canada

Our second article is entitled “Growing a Diverse Workforce,” and it is described as a “Best Practice Guide to help diversify a company’s hiring pool and team.” The following paragraph will serve as an introduction and please click here [LINK] for the full article.

Looking to diversify your hiring pool and team? This Best Practice Guide focuses on making your recruiting practices more inclusive, reaching a more diverse pool of candidates, and removing bias from your hiring decisions. 

We hope you enjoy the articles available at bcorporation.net, and we hope you understand the true benefits of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI). AMS has a wonderful workforce, we value each individual highly, and we’re very pleased to be a B Corp.

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AMS Fulfillment is a Certified B Corporation, dedicated to People and Planet before Profit. We work to B the Change we wish to see in the world.

Wellness is something we should focus on year-round, so what is the purpose of a “wellness month?” As with all commemorations, it creates an opportunity to talk about wellness and focus for a moment on prioritizing self-care, managing stress, and promoting healthy routines year-round. So, let’s celebrate National Wellness Month!

We found an interesting guide for business leaders at a website called ExtensisHR [LINK], and we would like to share some of the good ideas. The article points to the employer offering the right benefits package and providing a healthy work environment.

“Since its inception in 2018, National Wellness Month has aimed to increase awareness of stress management, self-care, and healthy routines, such as drinking more water, regularly exercising, making healthier food choices, improving sleep habits, and more.

“National Wellness Month advocates for the wellness of all people, including employees. The majority of workers reported experiencing some form of burnout last year, making it the perfect time for business leaders to consider how to encourage healthy habits in the workplace during National Wellness Month and beyond.”

Employee Assistance Program

The recommendations that they make are, for the most part, steps that AMS has been taking for a number of years. They encourage employees to drink plenty of water, exercise, create wholesome habits like healthy eating, get good sleep and engage in self-care. And they encourage businesses to offer a great benefits package including mental health coverage.

“A healthy mind is just as important as a healthy body. And with over 40% of employees feeling “a lot of stress,” equipping them with mental health benefits is a must. These benefits can include access to an employee assistance program (EAP), therapy session coverage, and more.”

At AMS we do have an employee assistance program, and we encourage our employees to utilize it fully – it covers employees and their families. We recognize that these are stressful times and sometimes a conversation with a mental health provider can help us to de-stress and cope with the changes.

What are we “stressed out” about? Well, August is back to school month, and for employees with children in school, there will be stress. For AMS management, August is the time to get ready for the busy holiday seasons right around the corner. Stressful indeed! And need we even mention the news headlines? There are plenty of reasons for stress, including health and finances. The Employee Assistance Program is the perfect place to go, and all employees need to do is make a quick call to HR with a request.

We asked AMS’ ESG Program Manager, Samantha Hicks, to tell us more about the Employee Assistance Program. Samantha offered the following:

“Employees’ work may suffer not only from substance misuse or substance use disorders, but from mental disorders, social issues, marital and family turmoil; medical, financial, or legal problems; or psychological stressors. Providing employees with support for issues that affect their well-being and mental health will enhance the effectiveness of the workplace.

“An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a voluntary, confidential program that offers free mental health services to employees and their families. EAPs can help with a range of issues that affect mental and emotional well-being, including:

Stress
Grief
Family problems
Psychological disorders
Alcohol and substance abuse
Depression
Anxiety
Work-life balance

“EAPs can also help with other issues, such as legal, financial, and retirement assistance, and specialized trauma-intervention services. EAP counselors can provide short-term counseling, assessments, referrals, and follow-up services.”

A Positive Workplace

AMS is a B Corporation, and what that means, in essence, is that we want to be a Positive force in the world. Employee health and wellbeing is ‘up there’ in the goals that we set. We have stakeholders in every business decision we make, and those stakeholders are our employees, our community, our environment, our clients and ourselves. We are not in business for profit alone. We are committed to ‘do good’ in the world, and readers will see evidence of that in our employee benefits and EAP, also in our free education and training of employees, and in our safety programs.

To our valued employees we say, please do take steps to care for yourself. We will help you in any way we can, as you Matter! You are the reason our clients come to us and appreciate us – it is your mind, your time, and your labor that make AMS successful and we Thank You. The EAP can help with a whole lot of stressors, so please check it out, and utilize every benefit you need.

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AMS Fulfillment is a Certified B Corporation, dedicated to People and Planet before Profit. We work to B the Change we wish to see in the world.

Commemorative days exist in order to draw people’s attention to specific issues that need support, or to special achievements. This year on the date of August 9^th, the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is focused on the achievements and contributions that indigenous people make to improve world issues such as environmental protection.

AMS is dedicated to protecting the environment in any way we can, which includes monetary contributions to the Rainforest Trust. Like many others, we are very much concerned with the protection of the forests for the sake of the global environment. We are also very supportive of the rights of Indigenous Peoples to live as they have lived for millennia. The commemorative day of Indigenous Peoples this year is focused by the UN on protecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples who live in isolation from outside contact and this isolation is voluntary and beneficial.

According to the UN website, development for agriculture is not a positive with regard to the ecological system. Below is a quote from the UN [LINK].

“Around 200 groups of Indigenous Peoples currently live in voluntary isolation and initial contact. They reside in remote forests rich in natural resources in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Peru and Venezuela. They choose to live detached from the rest of the world and their mobility pattern allows them to engage in gathering and hunting, thereby preserving their cultures and languages. These peoples have a strict dependency on their ecological environment. Any changes to their natural habitat can harm both the survival of individual members and the group as a whole.

“Despite their right to autonomy as enshrined in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Indigenous Peoples in voluntary isolation and initial contact face unique challenges often overlooked by the surrounding world. Developments for agriculture, mining, tourism and natural resources in their territories is resulting in the deforestation of swathes of Indigenous Peoples’ forests, disrupting their way of life and destroying the natural environment that they have protected for generations.”

Indigenous People Have Rights

One of the most serious threats of contact with the developed world is exposure to diseases. Through isolation they can avoid the diseases from which they have no immunity. The focus of the commemoration this year is on protecting their right to live as they always have lived and thrive as they always have. We have become informed and wise enough to know that their survival is crucial to the environment, and therefore to our survival as well. The article points out the following:

“Indigenous Peoples in voluntary isolation and initial contact are the best protectors of the forest. Where their collective rights to lands and territories are protected, the forests thrive, alongside their societies. And not only is their survival crucial to the protection of our planet, but it is crucial to the protection of cultural and linguistic diversity.”

As we know, throughout history, the rights of Indigenous Peoples have not only been violated… they have been trampled. Genocide has been committed. Many Indigenous people have died from diseases and loss of their way of life. For the reason of respect and repair, the first meeting of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations was held in Geneva in 1982. The date of August 9 is related to this event. It wasn’t until 1994 that the UN General Assembly decided that the day should be commemorated annually.

Wikipedia provides some further information: “In April 2000, the Commission on Human Rights adopted a resolution to establish the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues that was endorsed by the Economic and Social Council. The forum’s mandate is to discuss indigenous issues related to culture, economic and social development, education, the environment, health and human rights.”

We appreciate what the United Nations is doing to protect Indigenous Peoples, and we appreciate all of the member States that support these efforts, as well as the States in the US that support and celebrate the Indigenous Peoples within our borders. Humanity is fortunately becoming more aware of the value of diversity, as well as human impact on the environment. We encourage support for Indigenous communities – all of them – and this support definitely includes the People who live in the forests and keep the forests alive and thriving. There are organizations that purchase and preserve threatened forests, and we encourage support of these organizations on this special day.

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AMS Fulfillment is a Certified B Corporation, dedicated to People and Planet before Profit. We work to B the Change we wish to see in the world.

Any time is the perfect time to shop with a Black-owned business and encourage Black entrepreneurship. We mention it and support it in this blog as August is recognized as Black Business Month. AMS is a company that believes in being the change – supporting diversity, and creating a better, more just world. We’re not just DE&I, we’re JEDI with the J standing for Justice.

We know that there is a persistent racial wealth gap putting Black entrepreneurs at a disadvantage when starting a business. Because the Black Community has been underrepresented when it comes to access to capital and opportunities to build wealth, it makes sense for justice-minded individuals to look for and support Black businesses. The sectors in which black-owned businesses operate include restaurants, social work, repair and maintenance, health care, beauty salons more.

In this article we will go into how to find these businesses but first a little history of the commemoration.

History of Black Business Month

According to an article in National Today, [LINK] Black Business Month is… “A time to acknowledge and appreciate black-owned businesses across the nation and all that they represent in the country’s continual striving for diversity and equality.”

The article tells us that Mr. Frederick E Jordan, who was an engineering entrepreneur, partnered with John William Templeton, who was president and executive editor of a publication called eAccess Corp, and through their efforts this annual commemoration came about. The year was 2004.

The article goes on to explain: “The intention of the pair was to “drive the policy agenda affecting the 2.6 million African-American businesses,” in order to highlight and empower Black business owners all over, especially given the unique challenges faced by minority business owners. This stemmed from Jordan’s own personal experience of the struggle to gain financial backing and funding when he began his own firm in San Francisco in 1969.”

Black-owned B Corporations

We went to the B Corporation website [LINK] for more information on Black Business Month and Black-owned B Corporations where we found some important statistics. (Readers will find a listing of Black-owned B Corporations at the above link.)

“In addition to generational wealth gaps, Black Americans face a challenge in accessing money to launch a business: Less than 1% of venture capital funds go to Black-owned startups, and banks are about 30% more likely to approve loans for white-owned businesses than for Black-owned businesses.”

The article states that… “Black business owners face economic, market, sociocultural, and institutional barriers, which are all linked to racial discrimination in the United States. These barriers harm Black business owners and communities as well as the overall U.S. economy, which would see a $200 billion revenue gain if Black-owned businesses gained parity with white-owned companies.”

Black people make up about 14% of the population, but Black-owned businesses comprise only 2.2% of America’s companies with more than one employee. The shortage of Black businesses throttles the development of Black communities. Perhaps we can help to change those realities by intentionally choosing to shop with a Black-owned business.

How to Observe Black Business Month

Finding Black-owned businesses is relatively easy nowadays. A quick Google search for ‘Black-owned businesses near me’ brings up a number of listings, and the same can be said for locating online Black businesses and Black-owned restaurants. If you go out to eat this month, definitely find a Black-owned restaurant and enjoy!

Here’s a bit more from the aforementioned article: “Look no farther than #BlackFoodFridays on Instagram to be part of the super-cool movement started by Charleston, South Carolina’s writer /activist /innovator — K. J. Kearney. The aim of the movement is simple; to direct peoples’ attention to black-owned restaurants all over the country. The idea is now developing into a business, with apps like ‘EatOkra’ also doing the same.”

We hope you enjoy Black Business Month and encourage readers to explore the Black-owned business in your area.

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AMS Fulfillment is a Certified B Corporation, dedicated to People and Planet before Profit. We work to B the Change we wish to see in the world.

Thank you for your exemplary performance during the month of June: ANTONIO S., DAILY G., JENNIFER W., VALENTIN M., JUANA R., ORVILLE M., GLORIA V., ROXANNE W., and ROCIO A.

In the fulfillment industry, employees directly serve the company’s clients, making their efforts vital to the growth and success of the business. At AMS Fulfillment we appreciate and value our employees, and we respect and invest in them. Every month we see our employees working hard with such outstanding dedication and we are continually impressed by the results they produce!

Congratulations to this month’s winners! All Winners will receive an Employee of the Month Certificate, T-Shirt, and Quarterly Celebration Lunch!

ANTONIO S., Operations Associate III (10/04/2022) Boulden

Antonio comes in every day ready to work and is an important part of the receiving/inventory team. Antonio is always willing to help on the dock with whatever we need. He doesn’t hesitate to jump on a reach lift to move pallets for us, or to check inventory when we have discrepancies. He will hop in the truck no matter what time it is to go to another building to pick up or deliver pallets. He makes sure at the end of the day the building is locked up and lights are off. Most importantly, he is always working safely and with a great attitude towards his peers and management. – Cory P. and Shaun R.

DAILY G., Operations Associate I (05/05/2024) Churchman’s

Daily started as a temp with us and we have since onboarded her as a full-time employee. We have watched her grow from doing little orders to completing very complex large orders for every retailer and being very helpful to every associate who has a question. She is willing to stay late and come in early as well as train new associates. We have watched Daily take the bus in the freezing cold every morning to earning her driver’s license (after 3 tries) which just shows her determination to complete something she starts. – Paul S.

JENNIFER W., Business Development Representative (09/22/2022) HQ- Sales

We (the entire Sales Team) are thrilled to nominate Jennifer W. for Employee of the Month. Jennifer exemplifies the qualities of a truly outstanding employee. She is constantly seeking opportunities to learn and grow, demonstrating an impressive enthusiasm for personal and professional development. Jennifer is an especially fast learner, mastering new skills and adapting to challenges with ease.

Jennifer is someone who represents AMS to potential new customers, and I greatly appreciate having her convey the AMS culture of positivity, fairness, openness, and kindness to the people she meets with every day. Companies want to work with Partners that are not only great at what they do, but fun and friendly as well… and Jennifer demonstrates the full scope of AMS with every interaction.  Jennifer and Jay have a big job to do between the two of them in managing the Sales Pipeline, and we wouldn’t be finding our success without her hard work, professionalism, and positivity.

Jennifer’s dedication to excellence shines through in every task she undertakes. She consistently goes above and beyond in her duties, readily lending a helping hand to colleagues. Her willingness to assist others makes her a reliable team player. Even in the face of adversity, Jennifer maintains a positive and optimistic outlook. Her resilience, excitement, and positivity inspire everyone around her. She is a valuable asset to our team and a shining example of excellence.

Jennifer’s passion for customer service is evident in every interaction. She brings a positive energy, follows up consistently, and engages thoughtfully with customers and partners. Jennifer takes the lead on projects, provides timely updates, and plays a pivotal role in our sales processes. We are immensely thankful for her partnership. For these reasons and more, we wholeheartedly nominate Jennifer Wrigley for Employee of the Month. Thank you, Jennifer, for all that you do. – Steven H., Jay C. & JayCo.

VALENTIN M., Inventory Receiving Specialist I (10/27/2021) Headquarters WH

We, HQ Receiving Team, nominate Valentin M. as he has shown improvement in the use of technology. He puts his mind to it and beats something he thought he couldn’t do. He struggled but persevered. He has also been a great asset in driving and assuring the deliveries are done quickly and efficiently. He continues to improve and greatly contributes to the company. – Ignacio F.

JUANA R., Operations Associate II (08/10/2022) Livingston

Juana is an Outstanding employee here at Livingston! Juana is a team player who is willing to help wherever she is needed, including working at our Williams facility where she is always welcomed, and where the ops leaders have the same positive feedback – dedicated, hard-working, and a team player. Juana comes to work every day and will give 110% effort; from the time she reports to work until the second she leaves work. Juana demonstrates dedication and excellent attendance, and her work ethic is AMAZING. I could always count on Juana to go the extra mile to help our team succeed. Thank you, Juana, for all your hard work and teamwork you present daily. Thank you! – Saul M.

ORVILLE M., Operations Associate I (10/31/2022) Newark

Orville has been with the company going on two years now and has really worked hard these past few weeks to be an example on the team. He always tries his best to make sure what he is working on is done correctly and anyone working with him is doing the same. He will go out of his way to ask questions if he doesn’t understand or isn’t positive about something. He has been going out of his way to learn new things in the building and always does the other things people overlook. Orville is always willing to stay late or come in early. We really do appreciate what you do, “O”, and the efforts you put into your work. Thank you!! – Amber S.

GLORIA V., Operations Associate II (03/23/2020) New Holland

Gloria has been a solid part of our team for over a year. She was trained on our pick to light process upon its launch and has been a crucial member of our team ever since. Gloria is trustworthy, reliable, and dependable daily no matter the task. Her attention to detail is impressive and very much appreciated. Gloria ensures each order is packed correctly as well as efficiently. Gloria does whatever is asked of her and knows what needs to be completed daily without questions.

I see Gloria go above and beyond every single day for her team and her department, consistently producing outstanding numbers. Gloria has been instrumental in the training of new associates and employees during our busy seasons ensuring they are following processes and keeping up pace. She is a phenomenal team member with a great attitude who is passionate about her job and is always willing to help others out when she can. Gloria, your work ethic, and quality of work are phenomenal. Thank you for being such a positive, productive, and all-around awesome part of our team. We appreciate all your hard work and dedication. You are beyond awesome! Keep up the great work! – Jade B. & Rachel P.

ROXANNE W., Operations Supervisor (Interim) (10/04/2021) Williams

We recognize Roxanne for her hard work and dedication to her job. Roxanne used to work in receiving and inventory and she was a great aspect of the team. Any questions or doubts she always made sure to ask the right questions. She has shown potential to grow with the company. She has stepped up to cover in a new position and she had to learn all the new processes on the operations side. Roxanne has managed to be able to capture the functions needed to make the clients happy and to get the orders out. She is a great person, always willing to help, willing to learn more, she’s always on time and very flexible when needed. We are so thankful to have Roxanne as part of William’s team and we thank her for all her hard work. Keep it up!! – Cristy G.

ROCIO A., Talent Acquisition Manager (08/15/2022) WIT-HR

It is with great pleasure that I recommend Rocio A. for Employee of the Month. Rocio has demonstrated exceptional growth and dedication in her role as an HR professional. Her meticulous attention to detail, empathetic approach to sensitive matters, and unwavering commitment to fairness and integrity have set a new standard for our HR department. Rocio’s ability to handle complex situations with professionalism and discretion has earned her the trust and respect of both her colleagues and those she supports. – Cindy B.

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To all of our Honorees, please know that whatever role you play, you are the reason for our success. Congratulations and Thank You!

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AMS Fulfillment is a Certified B Corporation, dedicated to People and Planet before Profit. We work to B the Change we wish to see in the world.

The online dictionary defines conservation as “prevention of wasteful use of a resource.” On July 28^th we join others around the world in raising awareness about conserving Earth’s resources and ecosystems. At AMS as we practice conservation of resources and we commit to continuous improvement in support of World Conservation Day.

There is no doubt that human beings have exploited the Earth’s resources and polluted the ecosystems. We, the people of the Earth, are becoming aware of changes we need to make, and environmental repair we need to engage in. AMS is dedicated to being a positive force in conservation and environmentalism, and we have been so since the company was formed.

AMS became a Certified B Corporation in 2017, and that means that the environment is now a stakeholder in our business decisions.

World Conservation

Quoting from National Day Calendar [LINK] we offer the following:

“Our planet’s natural resources consist of air, sunlight, soil, minerals, fuels and water. All of these things are found in nature and used by people. Currently, there are nearly 8 billion people that populate the Earth. This number is expected to exceed 9 billion by 2037. All of these people use the earth’s natural resources every day. Because these resources are getting used up so rapidly, many people are concerned they will become depleted. For this reason, many individuals and organizations stress the importance of conserving our natural resources.”

The article offers some ways to conserve our natural resources. As readers will see, AMS does engage in these conservation practices.

#1. Plant trees to reduce soil erosion: At AMS we have not only planted trees on our own grounds but we have annually donated financially to the Rainforest Trust to help preserve the rainforests so vital to the atmosphere.

#2. Reduce, reuse and recycle: In addition to curbside recycling, we recycle stretch plastic, we donate or reuse materials, we have reduced the use of single use plastics by installing multiple water dispensers at each facility, and we provide employees reuseable drink containers.

#3. Carpool with co-workers: Several years ago, AMS partnered with a Vanpool service for our CA employees who commute, and we also encourage carpooling whenever possible.

#4. Shut off lights when leaving a room: AMS has motion generated lighting in its warehouses. We also use energy efficient lighting and natural lighting.

#5. Go digital instead of printing things on paper: We have an in-house IT team, fully developed digital client portal, communications with our clients are digital, online or by phone, and the use of paper documentation is very limited. We partner with a shredding company for our confidential documents which are repurposed into new paper products.

#6. Volunteer for community cleanups: AMS has a very dedicated and active passionate Activities Committee, and our employees have participated in a number of community cleanups, led by our Activities Committee members. The Committee also does fundraisers and makes local charitable donations, the most recent being a fun and tasty Chili Cook-off!

#7. Use non-toxic cleaning supplies: Our Purchasing Department has done a great deal of research on non-toxic supplies, and we purchase and use only products that are not damaging to the environment. We also purchase and use sustainable packaging. Our AMS Green Team has developed a purchasing catalog with recommendations of earth-friendly packaging choices for our clients.

#8. Make your own compost: Our CA facilities are required by our municipal waste company to dispose of compost in a separate waste container for pickup. Our Green Team monitors proper disposal and engages employees to recycle right.

In addition to the above recommendations that we found in the article, we are proud to add a few more recommendations of our own.

#9. Carbon Neutral: AMS used carbon offsets by funding projects that reduce or remove emissions elsewhere to achieve carbon neutral status. Our goal is to further reduce our emissions and move towards being net-zero. We understand offsetting really needs to happen in conjunction with reduction: it should not be a free pass to just continue emitting.

#10. CDP: AMS annually reports to CDP where we have to answer a questionnaire about our environmental impact and actions taken to reduce them. In 2023, AMS reached the Management Level Band.

#11. Memberships: AMS is a member of The Sustainable Packaging Coalition and The Climate Registry (TCR).

A Little History

An excellent website called Universe Public School [LINK] tells us about the history of this day. They refer to it as World Nature Conservation Day.

“At the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1972, World Nature Conservation Day was formally established. The United Nations General Assembly formally declared July 28th to be a day to raise awareness of the value of safeguarding nature, acknowledging the critical need for international environmental action. The World Heritage Convention was adopted ten years ago on this date, which highlights the importance of protecting natural wonders even more.”

The article goes on to say, “Today, World Nature Conservation Day is celebrated worldwide with diverse activities and campaigns. It is an essential reminder of our duty to preserve the environment and create a sustainable future. The significance of this day is further highlighted by the persistent problems of resource depletion, biodiversity loss, and climate change. Future developments are expected to see World Nature Conservation Day take on new forms, addressing fresh environmental issues and encouraging creative fixes for a cleaner Earth.”

We also are encouraged by a timeline they provide:

2018 (A Buzzing Victory): The E.U. completely restricts the outdoor use of three neonicotinoids (a type of pesticide).

1995-1996 (Gray Wolves Return): 40 years after being wiped out by humans, thirty-one gray wolves from western Canada are released into Yellowstone National Park.

1973 (A Law to Protect Threatened Species): Encouraging the preservation of habitats that are vital to the survival of threatened and endangered species is the goal of the Endangered Species Act.

October 5, 1948 (The Establishment of Nature’s Conservation Body): The International Union for Conservation of Nature is founded in Fontainebleau, a small French town.

Respect the Earth – our beautiful shared Earth. Today we are called upon to correct the exploitation, waste of resources and environmental pollution of the past and find ways to care for and preserve the environment from this day forward. The foundation for a stable and healthy society is a healthy environment, and we encourage everyone to make the environment a stakeholder in their business and personal decisions. Here’s to Mother Nature!!

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AMS Fulfillment is a Certified B Corporation, dedicated to People and Planet before Profit. We work to B the Change we wish to see in the world.

We were surprised and pleased to see a focus on ‘Listening’ when we looked into July commemorative days! July 18^th is World Listening Day! We get to think about what it means for one person to listen to another!

First let’s look into what the organizers of this commemoration had in mind when establishing it. From Twinkl [LINK] we find the following:

“World Listening Day is a celebration of the power of listening, both to people and to our surroundings. The day also celebrates Acoustic Ecology which is the study of how human beings relate to the world through sound. Listening is an essential part of communication and something that we do not do often enough. World Listening Day proclaims that it is time to listen intently to the people in our lives and the worthy causes that are seeking attention. This requires engaging with listening as an active process, one that encourages listening with as much effort as speaking.”

That’s something worth noting – time to listen to the people in our lives, and that includes all people… family and ‘work family’ – our co-workers. Time to listen without thinking about a response – just listening and hearing. The article goes on to explain.

“World Listening Day began in 2010 as a celebration of listening and as an encouragement to listen actively and eagerly. The day has been celebrated every year since and shows no signs of slowing down. The date was selected because this is the birthday of R. Murray Schafer. He was a Canadian composer and a founding member of the movement of Acoustic Ecology. In addition to its academic goals, this field of study also seeks to end rampant noise pollution and bring about harmony between humans and the environment. World Listening Day draws attention to these causes and calls us to do what we can to reduce our noise pollution.”

Human Communication

Noise pollution – that certainly is a reality in our lives. And there are tons of voices asking for our attention – the phone, the email, the news, the social media… we are inundated with marketing and demands for our attention. Listen to me… no listen to me… no listen to me. Who or what should we be listening to? Let’s return to the article:

“Celebrating World Listening Day 2024 can be done in plenty of different ways but they all revolve around active listening. This requires us to be engaged when hearing others and putting in effort to really understand what they are saying.”

We can give that statement a big thumb’s up. We should be listening to ‘others’. That means other human beings, not our phones or social media. Whether it is a child, an elder, a family member or a co-worker – listening is one of the most human and humane things we can do.

Listening in the Workplace

At AMS, our “Mental Health in the Workplace” class started this week and that seems appropriate to mention. It is vital to think, and to speak, but how much more vital it is to listen to each other. We’re all human beings and we all have challenges in our lives.

In the workplace we may listen to instructions on how to do something, or maybe we listen to new ideas on accomplishing the job. Or it could be a “see something – say something” safety situation where we ask our supervisor to listen! Hopefully we don’t have to listen to too much noise pollution. Obviously there is a lot involved in listening in the workplace.

But, we all know the most human and humane listening is when we’re listening to ‘what’s going on’ with the other person and hearing and responding to the message with love and respect.

Let’s enjoy world listening day and see what messages we hear!!

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AMS Fulfillment is a Certified B Corporation, dedicated to People and Planet before Profit. We work to B the Change we wish to see in the world.

We are familiar with Pride Month and we have enjoyed the celebration throughout the month of June. But, did you know that July is Disability Pride Month? Since 1990 this month has been one in which disabled persons are encouraged to have pride in themselves and who they are.

From the American Bar Association [LINK] we read the following: “Disability Pride Month celebrates disabled persons embracing their disabilities as integral parts of who they are, reclaiming visibility in public and interacting fully with their disabilities out in the open, and rejecting shame and internalized ableism. It is a time for the disability community to come together, uplift, and amplify one another’s voices and be heard. Disability pride has been described as ‘accepting and honoring each person’s uniqueness and seeing it as a natural and beautiful part of human diversity.’”

Of course individuals with disabilities must be honored as unique persons and a beautiful part of human diversity. AMS Fulfillment has worked with community organizations to hire individuals with disabilities for many years and we plan to continue, as we know how beneficial it is to us, to welcome a diverse workforce.

A Diverse Workforce

Samantha Hicks, AMS’ ESG Program Manager, works with Desert Haven and Pleasantview Industries, which are organizations that help individuals with disabilities in their efforts to train and get hired for jobs that they want to do.

Regarding hiring individuals with disabilities, Samantha said, “Every day, Americans with disabilities bring their skills and talents to our nation’s workplaces. Yet, people with disabilities, including veterans with service-connected disabilities, have lower rates of employment than the general population. Fortunately, recruiting and hiring qualified people with disabilities doesn’t have to be challenging, thanks to the many organizations such as AMS.

“At AMS, we are committed to fostering a workplace culture that upholds the principles of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. We believe that creating an environment where all employees feel valued, respected, and empowered is not only essential for our business success but also integral to building a more just and equitable society. 

“People with disabilities have been solving problems their whole lives and tend to contribute to higher productivity, lower absenteeism, and increased customer loyalty. Employees with disabilities can also offer creativity, innovation, and varied perspectives on how to confront challenges and get a job done. For example, research shows that many adults with autism possess higher-than-average abilities in pattern recognition, memory, and mathematics.

“Additionally, hiring people with disabilities encourages empathy in the workplace (a trait that is important to have when working with customers and clients) and can improve the perception of the company from our stakeholder’s point of view. Inclusion can also have a big impact on how employees feel about our workplace.

“We’ve made some long-time memories with our AMS Family, and we thank them for being ‘just as they are’.”

History of the Celebration

Once again from the Bar Association we read, “Disability Pride initially started as a day of celebration in 1990—the year that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law. That same year, Boston held the first Disability Pride Day. The first official celebration of Disability Pride Month occurred in July 2015, which also marked the 25th anniversary of the ADA. Since then, cities across the country have celebrated disability pride month with parades and other festivities.” 

There is a story behind the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act that some might remember. Here is the overview from Wikipedia [LINK].

“On March 12, 1990, over 1,000 people marched from the White House to the U.S. Capitol to demand that Congress pass the Americans with Disabilities Act. Upon arrival, about 60 activists, including eight-year-old Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins, physically demonstrated the inaccessibility of public spaces by getting out of their wheelchairs or setting aside their mobility aids and crawling up the Capitol steps in an act of civil disobedience that later became known as the Capitol Crawl. Police then arrested 104 activists for unlawful demonstration, many of whom were in their wheelchairs.”

Wow – that was a demonstration that spoke volumes! People with disabilities come from all socio-economic backgrounds, all ages, races, ethnicities, genders and religions. All are now protected by the ADA, and we are grateful to the more than 1000 activists who created the demonstration in 1990 that changed the world for all of us.

Disability Pride

“Disability Pride” seeks to remove the stigma of disability, allowing us to see that disabilities are a natural part of human diversity. It also offers the opportunity to see, understand and appreciate the challenges that individuals with disabilities face daily, and step forward to make sure they are treated equally. At AMS we want our employees who are living with disabilities to celebrate and take pride in themselves and their incredible achievements.

More on the subject from Wikipedia: “Disability Pride is a movement intended to celebrate the history of the Disability Rights movement and people with disabilities as positive contributors to society. It marks a break from traditional concepts of disabilities as shameful conditions, which were often hidden from public spaces and mainstream awareness. Disability Pride is built upon the social model of disability and is described as moving away from the medical model of disability.”

With that said, we wish AMS employees, clients and friends a Happy Disability Pride Month! As Samantha said, take pride and Be Just as You Are!

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AMS Fulfillment is a Certified B Corporation, dedicated to People and Planet before Profit. We work to B the Change we wish to see in the world.

It’s the Fourth!! This seems like almost the biggest holiday of the year, outside of Christmas. What makes it such a big deal? Well, it has to do with freedom from tyrants and kings, and that appeals to just about everybody. What do we human beings yearn for – #1 Peace, #2 Freedom.

#1 What Happened: Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776 established the United States of America.

#2 How Long Ago: July 4, 1776 – July 4, 2024 (248 years ago)

#3 How Was it Done: That day in 1776 the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia.

#4 How to Celebrate: Fireworks, family reunions, concerts, barbecues, picnics, parades, baseball games, naps, sleeping in, hiking, camping, hanging out at home, going to the beach, dinner with friends, working and getting paid time and a half. Lots of choices for this holiday!

What Did the Congress Declare?

Rather than trod through the history, let’s look at the Declaration itself. Most people are familiar with the first paragraph – it contains some inspiring language. Remember, the people are declaring to a tyrant/king that they will no longer submit to being ruled.

“The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.”

Okay – they are going to declare the causes – they want to give the reason they are going to dissolve political bands. This should be interesting. Let’s look at the next paragraph.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”

They make their argument – we have rights and one of those rights is to govern ourselves. The paragraph goes on to point out that there has been a long train of abuses and usurpations, they call the king a despot, and say it is their duty to throw off such a government. The paragraph concludes with an accusation of absolute tyranny.

“The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.”

The writers go on to list 13 facts followed by a long and thorough list of things that the King is accused of having done. We didn’t count the accusations, but suffice it to say there are quite a few. They then conclude with the following statement:

“We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

There we have it – the reason for this holiday! They put their lives, their money and their honor on the table. OK – that’s sincere. If readers would like to read the full declaration, it is available at this [LINK].

A Little History

Of course there was a lot going on at the time. A war had broken out in 1775 and colonists who had previously opposed independence were beginning to move to the revolutionary side. A writer named Thomas Paine was publishing very provocative writings called “Common Sense”, and his arguments also fed the revolutionary spirit.

The Continental Congress met in June, in Philadelphia, and a delegate named Richard Henry Lee introduced a motion calling for independence. Apparently they debated and did not vote on the resolution, instead appointing a group of five men to the task of writing a document to justify independence. And there we have it. The writers of the Declaration are Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Benjamin Franklin and Robert Livingston.

Needless to say, they met again in July. The meeting was on the 2^nd, and they voted in favor of the resolution for independence. So, the vote happened on the 2^nd. It was formally adopted, referred to as the Declaration of Independence, on July 4^th.

And that’s the story! Have a Great time on the 4^th, and whatever you decide to do, enjoy yourself!!

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AMS Fulfillment is a Certified B Corporation, dedicated to People and Planet before Profit. We work to B the Change we wish to see in the world.

In our last B Corporation Series, published in April, we covered four B Corporations that were examples of B Corp environmentalism. In this report, we will be covering five B Corps in the fashion industry created by women entrepreneurs.

Women of Color in the Fashion Industry

From B the Change [LINK] we read the following: “Through the Level program, businesses led by Black, Indigenous, or People of Color who also identify as women work alongside consulting organizations to measure and improve their impact, tell their story, adopt legal stakeholder governance, and pursue B Corp Certification. The program builds on the three pillars in B Lab U.S. & Canada’s Theory of Change: climate justice, racial equity, and a stakeholder-driven economy.

“This year of Level includes 15 companies from a range of industries and locations in the U.S. and Canada. In the first of a three-part series, we introduce five of the Level 4.0 companies bringing positive change to the fashion industry — each in their own way. They include a localized clothing rental marketplace; a baby gear library; a gender and size-inclusive apparel line; a sustainability fashion/home consultancy; and a modest activewear collection.”

The featured women entrepreneurs are Milagros de Souza, who created a company called “The Clothing Library”; Bo Zhao who created the “Baby Gear Group”; Alexa Reyes, who created “Friend + Folk”; Lauren Hill, Co-Founder of a company called “Population”; and Muna Mohamed, founder of a company called “Kalsoni”. We will look into these companies, and provide links to their businesses.

The Clothing Library

The Clothing Library, founded by Milagros de Souza, is completely based on the local community. Each city operates as its own hub, with the goal of the business someday operating nationally. As a renter on The Clothing Library platform, customers only have access to items 10 to 15 miles away. Check out The Clothing Library at this [LINK].

Baby Gear Group

The Baby Gear Group is based on the founder, Bo Zhao’s own frustrating experience with baby gear as a new mom. She loved getting things secondhand, but it was often difficult to find, so she ended up spending money on a lot of stuff she didn’t really need. She found herself wishing there was a way she could try out gear, use what worked for her baby and when she was done, it would magically disappear. In a true lightbulb moment, she realized she could just create this service as a baby gear library. Check out the Baby Gear Group at this [LINK].

Friend + Folk

Alexa Reyes craved a space where shopping for essentials was simple for everybody. The goal of friend + folk is to offer equally priced, non-gendered styles in a broad range of stigma-free sizes (12 to be exact), with financing partners that make shopping more accessible. Reyes said investment in the local community is in the brand’s DNA. That includes hiring local workers and responsible manufacturing in Los Angeles (with vendors within a 20-mile radius); utilizing and sourcing domestic, organic resources; and investing back into the community. Visit Friend + Folk at this [LINK].

Population

Lauren Hill and Population Co-Founder Catherine Tedrow have been collaborating for almost a decade. They see opportunity in an industry with a history of poor working conditions and wages and negative environmental impacts. Going forward, Population wants to partner with legacy and luxury clients that have the mandate and financial capacity to invest in their supply chain and product; and work with and uplift businesses owned and led by Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color. Visit Population at this [LINK].

Kalsoni

Kalsoni, founded by Muna Mohamed, is a social mission and for-purpose brand that offers activewear products and services designed to empower women and girls to engage in physical activity with maximum comfort, functionality, and confidence. Kalsoni creates inclusive activewear that caters to Muslim women and girls. As a brand created by women for women, Kalsoni wants to ensure that women and girls who prefer a modest-fit style can enjoy and engage in the outdoors, gym, sports, and any other activities with maximum comfort, functionality, and confidence. Activewear products include wide-legged joggers, mid- and full-length tunics, hijabs, shawls, and long-sleeve shirts. Visit Kalsoni at this [LINK].

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AMS Fulfillment is a Certified B Corporation, dedicated to People and Planet before Profit. We work to B the Change we wish to see in the world.

Thank you for your exemplary performance during the month of May: Meggan S., Laqwin S., Jocelyn G., Sandra M., Jaime P., Odalys R., Kyle D., Ana C., and Consuelo L.

In the fulfillment industry, employees directly serve the company’s clients, making their efforts vital to the growth and success of the business. At AMS Fulfillment we appreciate and value our employees, and we respect and invest in them. Every month we see our employees working hard with such outstanding dedication and we are continually impressed by the results they produce!

Congratulations to this month’s winners! All Winners will receive an Employee of the Month Certificate, T-Shirt, and Quarterly Celebration Lunch!

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Meggan S., Operations Supervisor ll (06/01/2008) Boulden

I NOMINATE MEGGAN SPITZER!!! Meggan has consistently demonstrated exceptional performance in her role as a leader. Her hard work, dedication, and attitude have made a significant impact on the team and have contributed to our company’s achievement. She takes initiative, is a mentor, and loves sharing her knowledge with anyone. Keep shining bright, Meggan! – Steven Z.

Laqwin S., Inventory Receiving Specialist I (05/01/2023) Churchman’s

‘Qwin’ just celebrated one year with us here at AMS and has been a part of the receiving dept for the duration of his time. He is soft-spoken and flies under the radar, but the moment you engage with him, the biggest smile comes out!!! He is super reliable and a very constant asset to the team. He recently stood out to me as he expressed interest in learning more about receiving and has been a huge help in taking new hires under his wing, who really gravitate towards Qwin. We are all grateful he has embraced that leadership quality. Churchman’s is lucky to have him on our team! – Sarah M.

Jocelyn G., Assistant Account Manager (09/07/2016) Client Services

Jocelyn has consistently demonstrated exceptional diligence, attention to detail, and a stellar work ethic towards the team. Her dedication and meticulous approach to her responsibilities have been instrumental in our team’s success. Jocelyn consistently goes above and beyond, often putting in extra hours to ensure deadlines are met and deliverables exceed expectations. Her upbeat demeanor and willingness to support team members create a positive work environment that boosts morale and fosters collaboration. This is well deserved! – Sandy V.

Sandra M., Operations Associate II (11/19/2021) Headquarters WH

Sandra has been a key asset to our team. Recently, she has stepped up to the role of helping us manage “the wall” area and is doing an amazing job. She is always a team player, helps everyone, and has a positive attitude. Her laughter can be heard across the warehouse! We have all experienced days at work when something (or everything) goes wrong, or projects don’t go as planned. Her positivity plays a significant role in our Team’s productivity and success, with her ‘can do’ attitude, driving teamwork and collaboration. Thank you, Sandra, for your dedication! – Tanya C.

Jaime P., Operations Associate III (06/02/2021) Livingston

Jaime is an outstanding Operations Associate III here at Livingston who jumps in where needed. Jaime picks for all our B2C clients and does it with accuracy, efficiency, and shows great urgency. Jaime will take on any task that is handed to him and demonstrates great teamwork in everything he does. Jaime gives 100% effort in helping our team to complete our daily task and goals!! We could always count on Jaime due to the dedication and commitment that he displays daily, and he always volunteers to work overtime when asked. Thank you, Jaime, for all your hard work, commitment, and amazing teamwork! We appreciate you being a top Picker here at Livingston. – Saul M.

Odalys R., Operations Supervisor I (10/02/2023) Newark

Odalys has been with our team for a little over eight months, and the growth she has shown in that time has been amazing. She is a Supervisor here at the Newark facility and has completely owned her role. Recently, she has gotten some responsibility changes and has been mentoring a newly hired Supervisor on our team. Odalys is one of those people who totally takes pride in her work and pushes for the best. She wants to have all her orders done and accurate, all her emails responded to, all the B2Bs completed, and “spec pallets” are sent. She just goes above and beyond to make sure her responsibilities are all taken care of and done correctly. She has a great energy and positive attitude that rubs off on the team, and she is a joy to be around. I am so grateful for her and the things she has done for our team. She is constantly trying to learn more and is continuing to grow. Odalys, I look forward to seeing what your future holds and where your hard work and dedication will take you. Soak it all in and keep pushing. We are all so glad you’re a part of the team!!! – Amber S.

Kyle D., Operations Associate III (11/15/2020) New Holland

This guy goes above and beyond what is asked of him! He is always there to help out if we are needing something in Sand Cloud.  If there are any doubts, he knows exactly where to go to find the answers.  He is an awesome and exceptional worker who deserves the ‘Spotlight’. The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra, and Kyle is it. – Linda L.

Ana C., Inventory Receiving Supervisor I (01/27/2015) Williams

Ana goes above and beyond to get the workload completed. She always puts 100% commitment to her work, and she is always willing to help others in different departments. She is very reliable in volunteering to come in early, staying late, or even picking up a weekend shift to get the job done, especially with the heavy workload that we have been having with new clients. She is great at multitasking, jumping from one project to another, and making sure we share a little here and there just to make sure we don’t stress out. She cares about our well-being. It’s great to have Ana as part of our team and we are looking forward to seeing all she will overcome. – Cristy G.

Consuelo L., Operations Associate II (11/02/2021) Witherspoon

Consuelo started working at AMS in 2021 helping during the fourth quarter. She later was transferred to returns and still helps in shipping when it’s needed. She has had a positive impact on our team in the returns dept. She never complains about the tasks she is asked to do, whether it’s helping in assembly or doing data entry in returns. She is kind to her peers and makes good companionship easily.  She always shares her great ideas with me for process improvement and is very resourceful. Although she had no prior data entry experience, she learned the system quickly and made her data entry goals daily. In the last month, she has helped us a lot with the high volumes in our returns dept. She has put in the effort to help keep returns processing up to date for one of our biggest clients while keeping her work accurate. We are really looking forward to seeing her continue to grow in her role here at AMS. – Vanessa H.

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To all of our Honorees, please know that whatever role you play, you are the reason for our success. Congratulations and Thank You!

We often talk about safety, as AMS puts a very high priority on keeping our warehouses and workplaces safe. June is National Safety Month, and the logistics industry is one in which safety practices really matter, so we will cover safety at AMS and safety in general, within the industry.

At AMS we do extensive OSHA-based safety training for new employees, we do monthly safety walks in English and Spanish, we have a very welcoming “see something, say something” policy, asking our employees to tell or show any of their safety concerns to their supervisor. We do everything we can and then some, as #1 we truly do value our employees as persons, and #2 we don’t want anyone getting hurt on our premises – period.

How could people get hurt? There is moving equipment in warehouses, there are moving vehicles, there are heavy items to be lifted and moved and much more.

Types of Injuries

There are many potential hazards that can be encountered in the handling and transportation of goods, and workers can be injured or even killed if safety standards are not followed. Health and safety in logistics is vitally important in that it protects workers from accidents and injuries and it reduces the risk of damage to goods. Here below is internal safety information provided to us by Samantha Hicks, AMS’ ESG Program Manager.

#1 – Slips, trips, and falls: Work areas should be well-lit and free of tripping hazards. Floors should be kept clean and dry. Workers should wear appropriate footwear.

#2 – Manual handling injuries: Workers should be properly trained on safe lifting techniques. Loads should not be too heavy or awkward for one person to handle. Mechanical lifting equipment should be used when appropriate.

#3 – Vehicle accidents: Vehicles should be properly maintained and inspected on a regular basis. Drivers should be properly trained and licensed. Drivers should be given adequate breaks and should not be allowed to drive if they are tired.

#4 – Exposure to hazardous materials: Workers should be properly trained on the safe handling of hazardous materials. Workers should be provided with appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

#5 – Working in extreme environments: Workers should be properly trained on how to work safely in extreme environments, such as hot or cold weather. Workers should be provided with appropriate PPE.

Lost Time Injuries

A company’s success or failure in protecting the health and safety of employees is measured through “Lost Time Injury” statistics. Before we offer the following quote, allow us to proudly mention that our AMS lost time injury rate is 23% lower than the industry average.

“According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the warehousing and storage industry’s injury rate of 4.8 per 100 workers in 2020 was higher than the U.S. average of 2.7 per 100 rate among all private industries. In 2021, the rate was 5.5 per 100 employees, more than double the rate across all industries. According to Fast Company, the injury rate for non-Amazon warehouses in 2023 was 3.8 cases per 100 workers, while Amazon’s warehouse injury rate was 6.5 cases per 100 workers.” 

As we mentioned, AMS does OSHA-based safety walks with employees monthly. The goal of these walks/inspections is to listen, and look, and develop a comprehensive list of hazards, prioritizing them for control. We know that no single person is capable of identifying all hazards or determining appropriate controls, and we need the participation and the “eyes” of our employees. When you develop relationships and build trust with employees, the chances of success in preventing injuries, illnesses, and fatalities will increase.

National Safety Month

The CDC offers helpful information with regard to safety month as follows: “Each June, we bring a little extra attention to safety issues by highlighting National Safety Month. For each week of the month, the National Safety Council (NSC) identifies a theme to focus on. This blog highlights select research and prevention efforts from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and NSC in this year’s focus areas of safety engagement; roadway safety; risk reduction; and slips, trips and falls.”

Their blog is very informative and we encourage readers interested in safety and health to visit the CDC [LINK] and read some of their linked documents.

As we know at AMS, both employers and employees must be engaged in safety. Together we develop policies and procedures to identify, monitor, mitigate, and eliminate work-related hazards. There are tried and true injury prevention approaches that we utilize, like hazard recognition, job safety analysis and risk assessment. These are crucial to curbing workplace injuries and deaths.

One more thing the CDC mentions that AMS is attentive to is addressing psychological safety. Environment, Social and Governance (ESG), covers several initiatives shaping modern safety excellence, including diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Samantha had this to say about the importance of psychological safety:

“When employees feel psychologically safe, they are more likely to raise safety concerns, report incidents, and actively engage in safety-related discussions. Building a safety culture is instrumental in fostering a comprehensive well-being environment within AMS.”

AMS celebrates National Safety Month, and as we cover it in this blog, we offer sincere appreciation to our employees. We look forward to and work toward an environment where there is no lost time injury, just healthy, safe and satisfied employees, dedicated to serving our clients as only they can.

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AMS Fulfillment is a Certified B Corporation, dedicated to putting People and Planet before profit. We work to B the Change we wish to see in the world.