Immigration Enforcement: Preparedness Over Panic
Another layer to today’s labor landscape is the increasing scrutiny around workplace immigration enforcement. In June, WPA hosted a free legal webinar with immigration attorney Rocio La Rosa, offering crucial guidance for employers navigating this issue.
The message was clear: You have a duty to protect your operations, but also your people.
From understanding what to do if ICE arrives at your facility, to knowing the legal boundaries between cooperation and overreach, the webinar gave employers tools to stay compliant while respecting their employees’ rights. We also offered sessions in both English and Spanish, because clear, accessible information is a form of protection, too.
This isn’t just a legal issue—it’s a human one. And in a labor market already under strain, fostering trust and safety among your workforce is more important than ever.
Building a Workforce That Stays
So, what does all this talk about wages and compliance actually mean? What’s in your control, and how can you improve your hiring process and retention rates?
To start, focusing on employee well-being is key to keeping your team intact. Today’s workers want more than just a paycheck—they want a workplace with culture, purpose, and opportunities to grow.
Here are some practical ways pallet companies can make that happen:
Invest in Comfortable, High-Quality Safety Gear: Upgrading gloves, earplugs, and footwear to improve comfort and fit shows you care about their daily experience.
Offer Flexible Scheduling: Where possible, provide shift options or staggered hours to help employees balance work and life.
Create Clear Advancement Paths: Set up training programs or certifications that let employees develop skills and move up within your company.
Recognize and Reward Performance: Celebrate safety milestones, productivity wins, or simply acknowledge hard work through bonuses, awards, or shout-outs.
Provide Steady Work and Job Security: Communicate openly about company goals and workload to help employees feel secure and valued.
Foster a Positive Work Environment: Encourage open communication, respect, and teamwork so people feel connected and not just like labor inputs.
Kate Matz, CRO of McVantage Packaging, shared her insights and practical steps. "The pallet industry struggles to retain workers due to intense physical demands and competition for labor, with many companies seeing high turnover rates," she said. "At McVantage, we tackle this by offering ESL courses and financial literacy programs, empowering our employees to stay, grow, and feel supported in their careers."
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