Employee and Community Engagement
At Fruit of the Loom, we believe that our people are our most valuable asset, and the communities in which we operate are therefore our foundation. Healthy communities with solid education, health care and support systems, safe working conditions and ample opportunities for personal and professional development translate into a productive workforce and expanding demands for products and services.
In an effort to effectively contribute to the sustainable development of our communities, we sponsor year-round corporate initiatives focusing on Health, Education and Community Support. Also we actively engage with reputable local and international civil society organizations like the United Way, The American Red Cross and The Salvation Army via various contributions and product donations. Furthermore, following our culture of service, we encourage our employees to reach out to their communities looking for areas where they can add value through volunteerism.
Child Development Program
Child development is a core initiative at our owned and operated facilities in Honduras and El Salvador. This program is offered to our associates’ families six times a year with three main areas of focus: a) early stimulation, b) growth and development and c) pediatric assistance.
Early sensory stimulation targets newborns up to 6 years and is based on simple parent-child relationship techniques. Early sensory stimulation helps develop the sensory and motor capacities of the baby through contact with colors, smells and textures as well as movements, massages and play.
Growth and development assistance is focused on the early detection of growth and development problems in children below the age of 10. The program consists of a series of activities and periodic and systematic assistance with the purpose of detecting and facilitating the diagnostic and treatment of developmental anomalies and diseases.
Workshops for Mothers
Healthy mothers deliver healthy babies. Healthy babies mean healthy societies. To be physically and psychologically prepared for maternity, an expectant mother needs education. Access to prenatal care is not always available in many of the countries where we operate. Therefore we have created workshops to help women have normal pregnancies and deliveries. The workshops cover prenatal care, prophylactic exercises (breathing and relaxation techniques), delivery and lactation.
In Honduras and El Salvador, the workshops are sponsored by the local social security department staff and by our full-time nurses, who have been certified by their local social security department. All our pregnant associates are encouraged to participate. After completing the training, mothers-to-be receive a certificate of participation, which is validated by their local social security department.
Health Fairs
Fruit of the Loom conducts frequent health fairs for our associates and direct relatives. During these events, our associates and their families receive free general and specialized medical consultation including specialties like dentistry, orthopedics care, optometry, pediatrics, gynecology and nutrition.
The Health Fairs have two main objectives. First, we look at extending first level health care services not only to our associates but to their immediate family members, especially children between the ages of 0 to 12. Secondly, we extend health education to the areas of preventive medicine, nutrition, healthy lifestyles and child development
As part of our preventive medicine programs, our facilities deploy several campaigns throughout the year. In 2010 we have covered physical fitness, personal hygiene, dental cleaning and fluoride application, de-worming and influenza H1N1 immunization.
Beyond the Requirements
As an industry leader, we pursue initiatives beyond legal requirements to promote a safe work environment in all of our facilities. Safety is a corporate objective built upon on a continuing base through commitment, process changes and education. Employees participate fully in our safety process through facility safety and ergonomic teams, participation in incident investigations and self assessment processes. New members join our teams on an annual basis.
Safety and Ergonomic team members receive our internal eight-hour KEYS (Knowledge Empowers Your Success) course and an in-depth 25 hour KEYS course is provided to supervisors and managers.
Fruit of the Loom’s Safety and Health Facility Departments work together, and receive corporate guidance and direction, in protecting our employees with our continuing process improvement goals and initiatives.
Safety Evaluation
Our Company’s commitment to the safety process is tracked in our corporate safety, health and security assessments. Each facility undergoes a physical and record inspection on an annual basis. Facilities are evaluated regarding a physical inspection, security inspection for compliance with our Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism agreement, Cafeteria Food Services Program and record reviews.
Incidents and near misses are tracked, not just our recordable accidents/incidents, individually by our facilities and by our Corporate Safety Department. Each facility works to improve their process and our Corporate Safety Department provides feedback on a monthly basis on our top three areas of concerns. This forward approach has assisted in a reduction of occupational injuries and illness relating to medical treatment and lost time accidents. In 2009, we experienced a 39% reduction in OSHA recordables and a 59% reduction in lost time accidents compared to the previous year. This reduction continued in 2010 with an additional 9% reduction in recordables and 17% reduction in lost time accidents.
Safety Education
Our Company’s commitment extends into the educational arena with 30 annual required educational topics. These educational sessions consists of face to face meetings with facility management reviewing power point presentations and booklet documents. In addition to these 30 required educational sessions, safety is discussed during weekly shift meetings with 3 or 7 minute lessons.
Ergonomic education is provided to employees and assessments are conducted each month to ensure employees use correct lifting, walking, pushing, reaching, and overall body movement activities. Employees participate in warm-up exercises and micro stretch breaks each day. All jobs are evaluated for potential ergonomic stressors and in-depth evaluations occur on an ongoing quarterly basis.
Our safety commitment to excellence is as strong as our commitment to provide quality products to our customers.
Program “Educatodos” and “Educame” (Education for all)
Educatodos and Educame are alternative education programs aimed at helping all our associates in Honduras and El Salvador complete basic school education. Education is a fundamental building block for individuals to reach their maximum potential and improve personal and economic conditions.
The program is open to all our associates who have not completed the primary school years. Classes are conducted outside working hours at Fruit of the Loom facilities or local education centers. Facilitators are volunteer employees trained by the local Education Department. The program is endorsed by the countries’ Education Departments and is equivalent to achieving a ninth grade certificate.
Haiti Relief and Development: American Red Cross
On January 12, 2010, a series of earthquakes with magnitudes ranging from 6.5 to 7.3 devastated Haiti. On February 9, Fruit of the Loom engaged the American Red Cross to help in the relief efforts. Our contribution helped provide immediate relief (Clean water, food, hygiene kits, blankets and mosquito nets) and long-term recovery assistance, such as continued provision of household supplies and addressing emergency shelter.
Emmanuel Orphanage
The company donated underwear and outerwear to the more than 400 children and staff in a Honduras orphanage.
Dressing Families in Need
The company donated underwear and outerwear to the office of the First Lady of Honduras to be distributed to families in need across the country.
Sponsoring a local school
Fruit of the Loom volunteers continuously help in the physical improvement of eight local schools located in Villanueva, El Progreso and Choloma in Honduras. The support of the company's volunteers is currently impacting the lives of more than 2200 children.
Planting a Tree
More than 240 Fruit of the Loom Volunteers are committed to several reforestation projects in the localities of Villanueva, El Progreso and Choloma in Honduras. Thus far, our volunteers have planted more than 1100 trees.
Donating Blood
Fruit of the Loom encourages and supports associates who donate blood to the American Red Cross. Blood drives are frequently organized in Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico and the United States.
Bowl for Kids’ Sake 2011 Participation and Contribution a Huge Success!
I would like to personally thank everyone for their participation and/or contribution to this year’s Big Brothers ‐ Big Sisters Bowl for Kids’ Sake fundraiser. The teams did many things to raise money including bake sales and pounding the pavement to collect money for their team!
Congratulations to the winning team, the “MISFits” with team members Pat Hurt, Chuck Lauth, Woody Harrell, Joe Breslin, Keith Becker who raised over $1,800!!!
Below is an excerpt from an email from Big Brothers Big Sisters concerning Fruit of the Loom's efforts:
“You all blew it out of the water with Bowl for Kids’ Sake again this year. This year you all had 18 teams total and raised $7,902.08, which is AMAZING!!! I can't even begin to thank you for all your efforts in raising money to help support our agency and the 400 children we hope to serve in 2011, but this money will go a long way in helping to support all our efforts! Thank you so very much for all you do for us, and many blessings to everyone who bowled. I hope everyone had a great time!”
Again, I want to congratulate everyone for their efforts in making this year’s event the best ever!