As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Pewabic Society, Inc. (Pewabic Pottery) works for the benefit of the community. We are dedicated to our mission of enriching the human spirit through clay, and strive to be socially and environmentally responsible in all that we do. To that end, we define Corporate Responsibility as a promise to enhance the quality of life of our employees, our local community, and society at large. Pewabic is committed to providing a positive environment for our employees, students, customers and visitors, and works to ensure that everyone connected with the pottery operates with high ethical standards. To ensure a safe and healthy workplace, we work with organizations including the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA), Fair Labor Association (FLA) and Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC). We strive to do business in ways that are good for people and the planet, and are dedicated to the ethical and responsible stewardship of our resources.

Pewabic will ensure Fair Labor Standards:

Non-discrimination – Every employee shall be treated with dignity and respect. No employee shall be subject to any physical, sexual, psychological or verbal harassment or abuse. No person shall be subject to any discrimination in employment, including hiring, salary, benefits, advancement, discipline, termination or retirement on the basis of gender, race, marital status, reproductive or familial situation, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, nationality, political opinion, or social or ethnic origin.

Health and Safety – Pewabic shall provide a safe and healthy working environment for all employees and will work to prevent accidents and injury to health arising out of, linked with, or occurring in the course of work or as a result of the operation of the pottery.

Compensation – Pewabic is committed to providing a living wage, an excellent benefit package, and a flexible and responsive work environment. Base pay is just one component of our overall compensation package, which includes bonuses, generous PTO and employee-centric health insurance policies, an organization-paid 401k match, enrichment opportunities, training grants and free access to a staff studio and materials, along with sales and teaching opportunities.

Hours of Work and Overtime – Pewabic employees shall not, on a regular basis, be required to work more than 40 hours per week. Mandatory overtime shall be limited to extraordinary and short-term business circumstances, and all overtime shall be remunerated at an appropriate premium rate. Pewabic honors the rights of employees under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

Problem Resolution – Pewabic is committed to providing the best possible working conditions for our employees. We promote an open and frank atmosphere in which problems, complaints, suggestions and questions receive a timely response from Pewabic Pottery supervisors and management. Pewabic recognizes and respects the right of employees to freedom of association and collective bargaining. Pewabic will not retaliate against an employee who, in good faith, has made a protest or raised a complaint against any activity, policy, or practice of the Pewabic Society, Inc. that the employee reasonably believes is in violation of a law, rule or regulation or is in violation of a clear mandate of public policy concerning health, safety, welfare, or protection of the environment.

Fair Labor Supply Chain – Pewabic shall not employ any person under the age of 15. Pewabic shall not purchase materials that are produced using child labor or any form of forced labor, whether in the form of prison labor, indentured labor, bonded labor, or otherwise.

Pewabic will operate in an environmentally responsible manner:

Environmental Stewardship – As an organization that has been in business since 1903 and operates out of a National Historic Landmark studio, Pewabic views everything we do with an eye towards sustainability. We are committed to protecting the environment, the health and safety of our employees, and the community in which we conduct our business. It is our policy to seek continual improvement throughout our business operations to lessen our impact on the local and global environment by conserving energy, water and other natural resources; reducing waste generation; recycling; and reducing the use of toxic materials. We shall meet or exceed all environmental regulatory requirements and strive to purchase products that have greater recycled content with lower toxicity and packaging, and that reduce the use of natural resources.

Where possible, we partner with local companies and source materials locally. We strive to purchase environmentally preferable products and services to meet the company’s office and operational needs. We favor suppliers who work to improve their environmental performance, provide environmentally preferable products, and who can document the supply chain impacts of their efforts. As an organization, we are dedicated to environmental improvements that foster a sustainable future and lead to social and economic improvements in the community we’ve called home for over a century.