GOOD PRACTICES FOR RELATIONSHIPS

Duratex supports the participation of all its employees in the definition of programs designed to promote actions related to human resources, improvements in the work environment and along the production line. As well as being able to send in suggestions to the HR Department, employees can count on a structured corporate initiative to collect ideas for improvements in all senses (work environment, reduction in costs, preservation of the environment and safety at work, among other things) and create mechanisms to put them into practice. This initiative is called the Kaizen Program to Suggest Improvements, which was already implemented at all Duratex’s plants and, in 2008, included the administrative main office in São Paulo. The participants receive a symbolic amount of money for the suggestions made and adopted, as well as general recognition for their contribution.

The company tries to recognize the talent and dedication of its employees with events and prizes. The Agudos, Louças and Metais Jundiaí and Metais São Paulo units paid tribute to 13 employees that had worked at the company for 25 years. The 10th edition of the Rino de Ouro (Golden Rhinoserous), an event to recognize the performance of sales teams in the Deca and Madeira Divisions, was held last year, with prizes awarded to the employees that had sold the most and performed the best. The event was attended by the entire senior management team, which gives a certain status to the proceedings and values even more the image of the winners.

Two main programs of visits promoted by the units at Duratex seek to create a closer relationship bewteen the company with its employees and their respective families. The Vem pra Fábrica (Come to the Plant) is held at the Wood Division, involving the Botucatu, Itapetininga, Agudos and Chapas Jundiaí units. The interested parties can choose the unit they want to visit and see all the production lines during the day, which allows for a significant exchange of knowledge and ideas. The program was taken advantage of by 800 employees and their families in 2008. And ‘Portas Abertas’ (Open Doors) is held at all the Deca units, with the same objectives of integration. This initiative was attended by 535 participants during the year. Among the corporate relations events with the company’s employees are: Secretary’s Day, Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day, among others.