Tony Gorton, Cardinal Logistics CEO

Mr Gorton says Mr Sau’s example is proof skills training is good for employees and good for business.

In less than two years Mr Gorton has seen a 50 percent decrease in picking, receipting and documentation errors. Health and safety compliance is up 44 percent. Absenteeism is down by more than 65 percent.

Cardinal customers are happier too. Phone orders are handled better and orders processed more accurately. Productivity overall has increased, he says.

“The way I see it, it’s a win-win-win. It’s a triple dose of the good stuff. I win, our employees win and our customers do too.”

More on skills training

Read more about skills training at Cardinal Logistics by visiting the Department of Labour’s Skills Highway website. It has plenty of free advice, tools, case studies and tips on workplace literacy training. Check out: www.skillshighway.govt.nz/ind

Research shows about four in every 10 New Zealand employees have difficulties with reading, maths and communication.

It highlights a substantial literacy and skills gap across Auckland, with more than 40 percent of adults (or 410,000 adults) having low literacy skills and more than 50 percent of adults (or 478,000) having low numeracy skills.

Skills Highway Award

Cardinal Logistics is one of five companies in the running for this year’s Skills Highway Award – an award sponsored by the Department of Labour.

The Skills Highway Award is part of the Equal Employment Opportunities Trust Work and Life Awards. It recognises and celebrates Kiwi companies who’ve successfully improved business with workplace literacy training.

The Skills Highway Award winner will be announced on August 25. Find out more by visiting www.eeotrust.org.nz