Safety on the floor starts the night before

One of the most memorable sessions I attended at WasteExpo this year wasn't about equipment, data systems, or commodity markets. It was about culture and strategies to attract top talent. Notably, Charyl Poché from Rockwell Automation said, "Company culture is how you feel on a Sunday night."

That line got a few chuckles and nods. There are several names for it — the Sunday scaries, Sunday syndrome, and the Sunday night blues are a few. They all describe the same feeling: when your stomach sinks and you mentally sort through stress before the work week even begins. 

Poché followed that up with another statement that hit home: "It matters when my boss knows my dog's name." That one got a bigger laugh, because it's true. It's not really about the dog. It's about the fact that someone took the time to care about your life beyond your job title. It's about being seen as a person, not just a role. When your manager remembers your dog's name, or asks how your kid's soccer game went, or makes sure you got home safe from a work trip, that builds trust. 

Recycling is an industry that's constantly in flux. We're used to talking about operations, logistics, market pressure, and equipment, but sometimes we forget that it's all powered by people. What drives performance, loyalty, and innovation is culture, and culture is more than free snacks in the break room. People do safer, better work when they're not white-knuckling through their Sunday evenings.

This month's issue looks at the more subtle ways companies are building strong teams through smarter and more efficient equipment that makes tough work easier for their operators. As labour shortages persist and the demands on workers continue to grow, there's been a shift in how equipment is valued on the job site. It's no longer just about horsepower or speed; it's about how machines support the people running them. This includes operator-friendly cab designs that reduce fatigue, intuitive controls that make training easier, and technology that eliminates some of the repetition from daily tasks. 

These may not be the most visible changes on the surface, but they're playing a major role in building resilient teams and more sustainable businesses. And, for the record, our publisher not only knows my dogs' names, but has even let them take over the couch in his office.