When you combine the perceived super powers of a Can Do Attitude with the ability to create products out of thin air, you’ve discovered the talents used by Robert Bosch of St. Joseph where roughly 150 associates toil every day to provide not only a product that gets pressed into action every day across the globe, but also to craft a solid living for themselves and their team mates. It’s also a team that recognizes the value of celebrating successes together to the degree that, by way of example, achieving a particular safety metric led to a first-class catered lunch for every man and woman in the house. The philanthropy exhibited by a large conglomerate to the local community is also a great point of pride for the associates at Robert Bosch on Red Arrow Highway, a major employer in the community for decades, and now a member of the 2021 Class of the 20 Best Places to Work in Michigan’s Great Southwest as recognized by Moody on the Market. Read on for more.
What is the name of the business you are nominating?
Robert Bosch LLC
Who are the owner(s) and/or principals in this company?
Robert Bosch Board of Trustees
Business Contact Information
Karri Withrow
3737 Red Arrow Hwy, St. Joseph, MI 49085
How many people work at the company you are nominating?
Approximately 150
Tell us the story behind the nominated company. What does it do, and what sets them apart from other companies in the region?
Bosch is a large conglomerate but locally in small St Joseph facility, we are very team-orientated and supportive of other functions.
In your own words, why do you think this company deserves to be declared to be one of the 20 Best Places to Work in Michigan’s Great Southwest?
It provides, and has provided for years, a solid living for salaried and union employees and their families. This facility has been a staple in the community for many decades.
What makes workers proud to say they work there, and keeps them a part of the team?
Bosch provides several items with Bosch logo’s on them. I think associates wear and utilize them proudly around the local area because Bosch invests in people, processes and the community. Safety and quality are paramount and the Bosch ethics cultivate a culture of stability.
Let’s pretend you’re writing a review for Yelp! or Trip Advisor. Give us your best recommendation for the nominated company that would make the rest of us wish we worked there, too.
Bosch invests in you the employee, internal and external processes and the community where we all call home.
What three key words best describe why this company is a Best Places to Work caliber company?
- Safety 2. Quality 3. Principled
As a Best Places to Work company “Super Hero,” what are the two most magical “Super Powers” this company seems to have on a day-to-day basis? (i.e., Ability to read minds, fly, invisibility, etc) And why?
Super Power One: Can Do Attitude.
Super Power Two: Create product out of thin air.
Tell us about the leadership of the nominated company and what they do in order to:
A] Keep spirits and motivation high? Numerous activities, Christmas dinners, anniversary notoriety, skip level interactions.
B] Keep innovation and fresh ideas advancing? Ideas are fostered, evaluated, frequently acted upon.
C] Keep communications open? Plant manager monthly meetings (before Covid).
Explain a specific “wow!” moment in this company’s history that is virtually “Hall of Fame” or “Best Practices” worthy, as an example to other companies in the region.
When one particular safety metric was met some years ago, Bosch had a full facility lunch-time catered in for all associates on company time.
Best Places to Work have a reputation for not only working hard, but also for playing hard.
A] How does the nominated company honor or reward success? Years of service, additional vacation days, 401K matching.
B] How does the nominated company socialize as a team? Frequent breaking-bread events (before Covid), South Bend Cubs games.
C] How does the nominated company get involved in community events? Bosch has hosted a very successful manufacturing day, sponsored 5 & 10K runs.
D] How does the nominated company celebrate life? Corporate wise, they seem to celebrate the small wins that accumulate over time.
Write a brief, but compelling, recruitment ad telling people about why they should come and work there, too.
Bosch is hiring!! Great place to work…clean, well lit, upbeat. Work with others around the community and earn a good living, great benefits and 401K matching. Bosch is a company you can retire from.
What one thing is special about your nominated company that most people in the community have no idea actually happens there, but should be shouted from the rooftops because it’s that cool?
Bosch locally and nationwide is very philanthropic. Under the Bosch nameplate there are robotics teams, university schools, hospitals and countless other causes that Bosch leads the way in.
Give us three employee perks or benefits that you think make the company you have nominated worthy of a Best Places to Work trophy?
- Good living
- Dependable
- Collaborative Culture
If this is your company and you win, write the best headline ever for your company newsletter describing your successful selection to the list, and be as specific as you can about how you would celebrate the win if money were no object.
“Bosch St. Joseph Michigan Plant Wins Best Places to Work Southwest Michigan 2021.”
This would be the headline in our Bosch World Wide 330,000 people daily electronic newsletter. That would peak the interest of many, and I am sure 200,000 readers around the world would click to read further.
Tell us anything else you want about this company that you suddenly realize we haven’t asked you about, but you’re sure will be the thing that puts you squarely into the winner’s circle! (Wait a minute! Can you put a square in a circle?)
Bosch is the reason that I moved to SW Michigan and now call it home. My children are happily growing up here. Bosch does a tremendous amount of good in the area including developing generations of sound community members. Some people are 3rd or 4th generation employees of this facility. We watch their kids in sports, graduate school and go on to great things.
