Columbus, Ohio, November 1, 2021 | Palmer-Donavin announced significant pay increases companywide, ranging from 10 to 20+ percent for both hourly and salaried associates. The pay increases firmly establish Palmer-Donavin as an industry leader in total compensation.
The new pay structure brings hourly pay at the company’s building material distribution and exterior door fabrication headquarters in central Ohio to $20+/hr. for day-shift warehouse and production associates and $22+/hr. for off-shift employees. In addition to improving starting wages, the company saw impressive gains in its company profitability, directly impacting the distribution in bonus pay to its employees.
In a year marked by disruption, supply chain challenges, and a global talent shortage, Palmer-Donavin is proud to boast record-low turnover, robust growth, and a strengthened employee culture. The success of the company is a direct reflection of its employees’ performance during a challenging year for the building material industry.
For many organizations, the years 2020 and 2021 brought significant turnover and hiring challenges. Palmer-Donavin has made a commitment to long-term employee development through programs such as an Operations Leadership Development Program (OLDP), Outside Sales Apprenticeship, Class-A CDL Apprenticeship, Emerging Leaders development program, and formalized educational reimbursement program, and finds they have paid dividends. The company has successfully created an internal talent pool of capable employees who are prepared to step into key roles and contribute at a high level.
Robyn Pollina, CEO of Palmer-Donavin, stressed the impact of employee performance on the company’s profitability. “It is critical to our success now, and in the future, that we have the best employee-owners working at Palmer-Donavin”, said Pollina. “We are embarking on a growth strategy and culture that will provide opportunity for promotion, increased rewards, and a secure future for employees and their families. We are focused on our business partners and maximizing the value we can provide. Therefore, we need to invest in our people who impact those relationships every day.”
The recent increase in wages is in line with the company’s initiative to address their employees’ total compensation mix, including hourly pay, benefits, and bonuses. To implement the increase in upfront compensation, Palmer-Donavin created a plan to roll a percentage of the company’s quarterly bonus program into hourly wages.
Palmer-Donavin also announced a number of enhanced benefits for their employee-owners, including parental pay for both parents, increased PTO for associates with 5 and 10 years of experience, an increased commitment to educational tuition reimbursement programs, and more. The new benefits are in addition to the company’s generous stock ownership benefit, which makes a significant impact on an associate’s retirement plan.
The overall demand for building materials in the Midwest has increased, necessitating an expansion in the overall headcount at Palmer-Donavin. Shane Ettore, Corporate Recruiter at Palmer-Donavin, addressed the importance of matching the company’s compensation philosophy to its talent acquisition strategy.
“At Palmer-Donavin there is an expectation to hire A-players at every position,” Ettore stated. “Significantly raising our starting pay companywide and updating our total compensation and benefits package to match the changing needs and wants of our employee population enables us to do just that. With these positive updates, we will be able to continue to attract and retain top performing employees. We know our people are our greatest asset, and this is reflected in how we reward and compensate our employees.”
To inquire about career opportunities at Palmer-Donavin, visit www.palmerdonavin.com/careers or contact Tom Rodgers, Talent Acquisition Manager, at tom.rodgers@palmerdonavin.com.
About Palmer-Donavin
For more than 100 years, Palmer-Donavin has been committed to providing exceptional customer service. A leader in building material distribution and door fabrication, we are built from employee owners who believe in putting in the hard work to earn relationships one order at a time. Our tagline is “We Deliver More” — products, expertise, and solutions that help our customers succeed. Learn more at palmerdonavin.com. Contact: Jenna Koenig, Digital Marketing Specialist, jenna.koenig@palmerdonavin.com.