BorgWarner Implements New Hiring Procedures

By Jack Gurner
Reporter

WATER VALLEY – New hiring procedures will go into effect starting next month at BorgWarner’s local manufacturing facility.

Human Technologies, Inc. with corporate offices in Greenville, S.C., will be used exclusively for the company’s temporary staffing needs as of Nov. 1, according to Rodney Francis, Human Resources Manager.

In the past, Valley Tool, Inc. had provided temporary employees for BorgWarner. And, they will continue to have a few people involved in some sorting activities, Francis said.

Although BorgWarner is making every effort to convert existing Valley Tool temporary workers over to HTI, they do have the option of not converting.

Francis emphasized that there were no issues with Valley Tool. “We absolutely appreciate the relationship we have with them. And, it’s going to continue, just less on the temporary labor side.”

Casey Washington of Valley Tool said that BorgWarner has been a great customer for many years. “Anything we can do to make them better makes us better. We lean on each other to make things happen.”

Washington said that he believes in supporting Water Valley by providing work opportunities. “One thing I told HTI was to take care of the people. I look for it to be a really good relationship.”

Francis added that he had called on Valley Tool many times to provide workers on short notice and they had always come through. “But, that’s really not their forte. That’s not what Valley Tool was built to do.”

However, that is what HTI does and they have done it well at the BorgWarner plant in Senaca, S.C., according to Francis. That is what brought them to the attention of local plant officials.

“One of the things we like about HTI is they have a structure that really seems to work at our sister facilities in Senaca,” he said.

“We wanted to adopt the same type of structure here so when there is a spike or a downturn, it’s temporary employees who are affected first rather than BW employees.”

“We do have a certain balance that is important to maintain between your temporary workforce and your permanent workforce,” Francis said. “We’re going to fight hard to keep that balance. I don’t think a model with too many temps works really well. Nor do I think a model with no temps works in today’s society because you lose that flexibility. I think there is a balance you have to strike and you have to maintain it.”

There are currently 370 employees at the local plant, excluding co-ops. “At last count I have 63 temporary employees of those 370,” he said.

Another Layer

Brian Buchanan, Director of Industrial Services for HTI, explained how the structure works:  “We’re coming into BorgWarner, which just has a temporary force and a BorgWarner fulltime force, and we’re adding another layer.”

That layer will be a long-term, full-time contract work force that will be fully benefited, Buchanan said. “As the economy turns around, we’ll be able to offer the people who have long-term assignments a better benefit package, which includes major medical, a 401k, vacation and holidays.”

He added that what has been attractive about this employment model to the automotive industry is that it will help them go through this uncertain economy and maintain a long-term contract workforce until they are ready to start hiring full-time again.

“They’re going to be experiencing some growth if the economy continues to do well and there’s going to be the need for a long-time, stable contract workforce.”

“The model that we are using allows us to recruit a different type of associate as well. Number one, it gives the associates who are in place right now another stepping stone, another path to go towards so that they can go from a temporary associate to a FTR (full-time regular employee) with us.”

“If BorgWarner wants to hire someone, they can pull from that pool of FTRs,” Buchanan continued. “It also allows us to recruit people who are working full-time jobs at other facilities or locations that may not come over for a temporary position, but would come over for a higher paying, full-time regular position even if it wasn’t with BorgWarner itself, but with HTI.”

Available Jobs

“Right now we have postings at the WIN Job Center (in Oxford) and we are taking applications there,” Buchanan said.

The available job postings can be seen at any area WIN Job Center and are online at www.mdes.ms.gov.

HTI has two associates already on-site at the local plant. “Sherelyn Ealey and Lindsey Hall are our on-site reps here. They will be working with the community doing recruiting, interviewing, and as Rodney has needs, they will be filling those needs.”

HTI is looking for people who are flexible, Buchanan said. The type of person they seek doesn’t mind working in one job today and another tomorrow.

“We’re very excited to be here in Water Valley. We hope to improve the hiring processes here and help make BorgWarner successful.”