Liquibox Promotes Diversity With 26 New Hires from Puerto Rico

As part of our mission to create a more sustainable future and encourage diversity, Liquibox welcomed new permanent employees from Puerto Rico at our US production sites.

In 2021, the Liquibox HR team led by Angela Balassi, CHRO, launched a global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion program to create an environment that fosters a sense of belonging, purpose, growth, and trust. A recruiting mission in Puerto Rico was one of the most recent DEI initiatives they successfully implemented. With an unemployment rate of 6.5%, Puerto Rico is experiencing challenges related to stable employment due to several natural disasters in recent years. In 2022, Angela and her team took several trips to multiple cities in Puerto Rico to meet with local job seekers and invite the top candidates to join the Liquibox team.

Today, 26 colleagues from Puerto Rico work at three Liquibox production sites—Ashland (Ohio), Lester Prairie (Minnesota), and Romeoville (Illinois)—holding positions such as packers, machine operators, team leads, and engineers. Many of the onboarded employees started in entry-level roles, but have since been promoted into other areas of the plant and positions with increasing responsibility.

“We are honored that in an era where employees have choices, our new team members have chosen Liquibox to be part of their new lives on the U.S. mainland. This can be attributed, in large part, to the investments we make in the Liquibox Business System (LBS) which gives access to new skills, processes, and growth opportunities in an environment that promotes diversity and inclusion. Our employees’ individual differences make Liquibox stronger as a company,” said Angela Balassi, CHRO at Liquibox.

The recruits appreciate working in temperature-controlled, leadership-supported facilities, as well as all the extra effort Liquibox is making to help them adapt to the new environment, such as language classes, transportation to and from work during the transition, and support in finding housing. Many have already formed friendships with existing team members. One of the participants of this program, Oscar Sosa Perez, said: “What I like most about Liquibox is the teamwork. I feel that my job is important to the company and they make me feel like part of a family.”