Zippo lighter company in Bradford honors employee for 60 years of service – WPSU Penn State

Report on Employee Longevity and Sustainable Development Goal Alignment at Zippo Manufacturing Company

1.0 Introduction

This report analyzes the recent recognition of Ms. Barb Reid for 60 years of service at the Zippo Manufacturing Company. The milestone serves as a case study for evaluating the company’s alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning employment, equality, and well-being.

2.0 Case Profile: Ms. Barb Reid

Ms. Reid’s career at the Bradford-based company provides a significant example of employee longevity and dedication. Her professional history and familial connection to the company are noteworthy.

1. Career Progression: Ms. Reid began her tenure in the lighter plating department, where she worked for two decades. For the subsequent 40 years, she has served as a maintenance clerk.
2. Commitment to Work: At the awards banquet, Ms. Reid expressed her appreciation for her colleagues and affirmed her intention to continue working, stating, “I’m not retiring!”
3. Multi-Generational Employment: The Reid family has a cumulative service record of 172 years with Zippo. While her son is a retiree after 35 years of service, two of her daughters are current employees.

3.0 Analysis of Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The recognition of Ms. Reid’s 60-year career highlights Zippo’s implicit contributions to several key SDGs. The company’s ability to retain an employee for six decades points to a corporate environment that fosters principles central to sustainable development.

3.1 SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

Ms. Reid’s tenure is a direct reflection of Zippo’s role in promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.

• Job Security: A 60-year career exemplifies the provision of stable and secure employment, a cornerstone of SDG 8.
• Productive Employment: The company has provided a platform for long-term productive employment, not only for Ms. Reid but for multiple generations of her family, contributing to local economic stability.
• Positive Work Environment: Ms. Reid’s stated enjoyment of the social aspects of her job (“I like seeing and talking with my friends I work with”) suggests a work environment that fosters well-being, which is integral to the concept of “decent work.”

3.2 SDG 5: Gender Equality

This case serves as an example of achieving gender equality and empowering women within the workforce.

• Women’s Economic Empowerment: Ms. Reid’s six decades of continuous employment in the manufacturing sector demonstrates long-term female participation and economic empowerment.
• Equal Opportunity: Her long and stable career is indicative of a corporate culture that values and retains its female employees, providing them with equal opportunities for sustained employment.

3.3 SDG 3 and SDG 10: Good Health & Well-being and Reduced Inequalities

The stability and community offered by the company also touch upon other critical development goals.

• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): Long-term, stable employment is a key social determinant of health, contributing to mental and financial well-being.
• SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): By providing durable career opportunities, Zippo contributes to reducing income inequality within its community and promoting social and economic inclusion.

4.0 Conclusion

The celebration of Ms. Barb Reid’s 60 years of service at the Zippo Manufacturing Company is more than a corporate milestone. It is a powerful illustration of the company’s contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals. Through fostering a culture of loyalty, providing stable and decent work, and supporting a multi-generational workforce, Zippo demonstrates a commitment to principles that underpin sustainable and equitable economic development.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The article’s central theme is the celebration of a 60-year career, which directly relates to stable, long-term employment and a positive work environment. The company’s longevity since the 1930s and its role in providing generational employment for families like the Reids highlight its contribution to local economic growth.
• SDG 5: Gender Equality: The story focuses on a woman, Barb Reid, who has maintained a full and productive career for six decades in a manufacturing company. This serves as a powerful example of women’s full and effective participation in economic life.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: By celebrating an older employee who chooses to continue working (“I’m not retiring!”), the article addresses the economic inclusion of people irrespective of age, challenging ageism in the workforce.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men… and equal pay for work of equal value. The article provides a case study of this target through Barb Reid’s 60-year tenure. Her long service, the company’s celebration of this milestone, and the employment of her family members suggest the provision of full, productive, and decent work over a long period.

2. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership in political, economic and public life. Barb Reid’s six-decade career in manufacturing is a direct illustration of a woman’s sustained and effective participation in economic life. The article also notes that her two daughters currently work at the company, reinforcing the theme of female participation in this workforce.

3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age… The article highlights the continued employment and celebration of an older worker. Barb Reid’s declaration that she is not retiring, combined with the company’s honoring of her service, demonstrates the economic inclusion of older persons and values their contribution.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Implied Indicator for Target 8.5

   • Employee Longevity/Tenure: The article’s core subject is Barb Reid’s “milestone of 60 years” of service. This specific duration serves as a powerful, albeit non-standard, indicator of job stability and a decent work environment. The mention of her son’s 35-year career and her family’s combined 172 years of service further implies low employee turnover, which is a measure of decent work.

2. Implied Indicator for Target 5.5

   • Female Labor Force Participation: The article provides a specific example of female participation in the manufacturing sector through Barb Reid and her “two of her daughters [who] still work at the company today.” This narrative evidence points towards the inclusion of women in the company’s workforce.

3. Implied Indicator for Target 10.2

   • Labor Force Participation Rate of Older Persons: Barb Reid’s continued employment and her statement, “I’m not retiring!”, directly reflect the participation of an older person in the workforce. The company’s “annual service awards banquet” celebrating her milestone indicates a supportive environment for older workers, which is a qualitative measure related to this indicator.

Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: radio.wpsu.org