BENEFITS

Open Enrollment runs from November 7, 2022, through November 23, 2022.  This is your once-a-year opportunity to enroll or make changes to your benefits.  Due to carrier changes for 2023, this year’s open enrollment is mandatory for all coverage in 2023.  Please carefully review options as the elections you make during open enrollment are effective January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023.  Visit the “Open Enrollment” section of the SQ Employee Dashboard to review your 2023 Benefits Guide and other information to help you prepare for open enrollment.

Open Enrollment Schedule

Flexible Spending Accounts

Please be aware that the PBA-issued flexible spending debit cards are good for three years.  New cards are automatically sent to participants one month before the current card’s expiration date.  Do not throw debit cards away as they will be reloaded with 2023 FSA funds.  As a reminder, the FSA plan is “use it or lose it.”  FSA funds must be used by 12/31/2022; any remaining funds will be forfeited.  Employees may submit reimbursement requests for services/expenses incurred in 2022 until April 30, 2023.

PAYROLL

Shutdown Savings

The December Shutdown Savings payout is scheduled for Friday, December 9, 2022.

Vacation Policy Reminder- US ONLY

As we approach the end of the year, many of you are planning time off.  As a reminder, up to 40 hours of unused, accrued vacation time will automatically roll from 2022 to 2023.  Any unused, accrued hours above 40 will be paid out at 25% in early January 2023.  The specific pay date will be communicated once determined.  We encourage employees to approximate their year-end balance and plan accordingly, keeping in mind that accruals occur each week.  Any questions about the vacation policy should be directed to payroll@stratospherequality.com.

HUMAN RESOURCES

New Service Award Program

The SQ Service Award Program launched on November 1^st.  This program recognizes and rewards employees for their service to the organization and celebrates the contributions our employees have made toward achieving SQ’s Mission, Vision, and Values.

The program currently has three reward milestones – 1 year, 5 years, and 10 years.  At each level, employees receive an award amount that can be used at Giftogram, an online platform, to select an e-gift card from over 200 merchants.  Service milestones reached on or after November 1, 2002, are eligible for a reward.   We appreciate your continued dedication to SQ and the contributions you make every day.

Holiday Reminders

To assist you in planning for year-end, the remaining holidays for 2022 are listed below.

To view the full Stratosphere Quality 2023 Holiday Schedule, please visit the Holiday Schedule section of the Employee Dashboard.

We’re very pleased to share Jeff Rankin’s Stratosphere story in the Employee Spotlight November issue.

Jeff is currently the Quality Containment Engineer and has been with Stratosphere for more than six years.

Following high school, Jeff was in the military for eight years and in manufacturing for seven years before moving into quality. Jeff’s first jobs were in robotic welding automotive components. This was followed by a technician position where he programmed robots and progressed to the quality world. Jeff found he had a real passion for quality and the auto industry and followed that lead.

His introduction to Stratosphere occurred when a relative worked for SQ and knew we were looking for quality engineers to develop the containment program. Jeff interviewed with Kevin Parks, Tammy McEwen, and Sergio Cerenzia. Interestingly, he was at Madison Heights interviewing with a competitor the same day. He met with them in the morning and with Stratosphere that afternoon. He said the decision to start with Stratosphere was a ‘no-brainer.’

Jeff loves his job and meeting people. As a ‘typical’ engineer, he loves to meet the suppliers and learn how he can help fix their issues. As an integral member of Kevin Park’s team; much of Jeff’s work is done alone but he works with many different teams on the quality engineering side as well as quality containments.

Jeff also provides training for our Team Leaders and Supervisors. He especially enjoys teaching our Stratosphere Quality team our processes and strives to help everyone excel at delivering premier services for our customers.

What’s Jeff’s advice for new SQ employees?

Always strive to learn because there is always something new. Practice patience and keep customer satisfaction at the forefront.

What world problem would you fix and why?

The economy – because that can have a positive or negative effect on any and everyone.

Jeff has been married to his wife Josie for 38 years. They are Purdue fans and enjoy the outdoors. The couple has three grown and successful sons and two strapping young grandsons.

Thank you, Jeff! We appreciate all you do.