Tears, Cheers Follow CEO's Surprise Reveal

FloraCraft's 200 full-time employees in Michigan to receive an average $20K bonus
By Arden Dier,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 18, 2018 1:54 PM CST

Working in craft and floral foam may not sound like the most glamorous of jobs, but employees Michigan's FloraCraft are pretty happy with theirs right now. The company announced almost $4 million in bonuses for some 200 full-time employees, who will each receive an average of $20,000 in cash and 401(k) contributions. "My wife, Joan, and I are blessed in so many ways. We want to share these blessings with the men and women whose energy, passion and loyalty inspire us every day," owner and CEO Lee Schoenherr said in a statement following the announcement at a holiday lunch on Friday. It was met by applause, cheers, and tears, per the Detroit Free Press. "I started crying—it was huge for him to do something like that for everybody," an assistant production supervisor says.

The amounts to be handed out between the end of 2019 and March 2020 will be based on longevity. The average employee, with a tenure of nine years, is expected to get $20,000, but some employees who've been with the company for more than 40 years will get more than $60,000, per MLive. That's not the only reason FloraCraft's employees are considered lucky. Founded by Schroenherr's uncle in 1946, the Ludington-based company that produces craft and floral foam products sold by Walmart, Amazon, Hobby Lobby, and Michaels has never had a single layoff. "Don't think this means I'm exiting or selling the business," Schroenherr added. "I love what I do." (The CEO of a private nursing company gave his employees $20 million.)

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