(OS1) Learn N Earn at Sandia Labs

by Maryjo Morgan

Rosemary Olguin is one of 85 custodians working in 355 buildings for Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation. A major research and development laboratory for the United States Department of Energy. Sandia occupies a 4.4 square mile campus on Kirtland Airforce Base

High-level research activities take place in a work enviorment kept clean and healthy by an award-winning team of professionals who clean not for appearance, but for health. In fact, the Custodial Services Department hosts tours to demonstrate how their (OS1) team cleaning system works for other industry managers and janitors interestedin adopting (OS1). Custodial Services Supervisor Chris Romero is proud of his teams's acomplishments and encourages other organizations to go with (OS1).

Since 1999 when Sandia Labs made the decisive move to adopt (OS1), they have been making inroad in the jan/san industry and within their own ranks, including better work-load balancing and economizing chemical and resource expenditures.

However, the most significant improvements pertain to the custodial personnel and a 71% drop in worker injuries. There are more full time employees now than in 2000 when Sandia Labs began transistioning to (OS1). But there have been 92% fewer days of work lost due to job injuries; employee morale and retention rates are high. Training incentives such as the Learn N Earn program rewards employees for voluntarily participating in additional (OS1) training. Recognition policies give team memebers a sense of pride and ownership.

In November, Olguin will celebrate two years with Sandia Labs. When the company where she worked previously closed, she obtained employment ant Sandia Labs, and now utilizes the standardized (OS1) methods in her daily work assignments. Olguin participates in the Learn N Earn program, which encourages employees to move beyond incremental cost-of-living raises to progress through a training-based pay structure, to earn better pay faster. Olguin has taken full advantage of the opportunites for multple (OS1) certifications, first training on one specific procedure, mastering it, and then training on the next procedure, eventually working through the entire system. Olguin's job satisfaction is evident.

"I think it is really neat. In 16 months [at Sandia] I am earning what it took me 10 years to make before [at previous employer]."

There is more to it thean the pay raises, though. Olguin is impressed by the way teams encourage one another, assimilating new hires in with seasoned employees, and the effort by management and workers alike to learn names. To Olguin, recognition holds significance.

"At the awards ceremony when they give you your pin, it lifts your morale, makes you feel important. Yuo feel the job you do is really appreciated."

Sandia Labs has found a solid solution to maintaining healthy environments for reasearcher and custodial teams alike in (OS1).