machine operator

operator

maintenance technician

packer

assistant

Hoffmaster

Overall Rating: 5/5
Pros:
As a Foreman/Team Lead on D shift (7:00 PM to 7:15 AM, Wednesday through Friday, and every other Saturday), I've found Hoffmaster to be a solid place to work. A typical day starts with a smooth shift handoff, followed by our daily safety meeting to ensure everyone is aligned. From there, I focus on keeping the crew updated on all work-related information, which helps maintain efficiency and safety throughout the night.
I've learned a lot here, starting as a cup machine operator and advancing to team lead in just a few years. I'm looking forward to what's next, and the growth opportunities have been key to my development.
Management stands out—my manager has been a strong mentor, actively helping me grow in my career and providing the guidance I need to succeed.
The workplace culture is diverse, but we build on that strength to create a cohesive, effective crew that works well together.
There isn't really a hardest part of the job for me; the challenges are manageable and part of what keeps things engaging. What I enjoy most is teaching my team and watching them grow into their roles—it's rewarding to see the progress we make as a group.
The crew under my supervision is respectful and cohesive, making leadership effective and enjoyable. Pay is competitive, and since Hoffmaster took ownership, operations have stabilized and improved noticeably. I appreciate the job itself, the colleagues I work with, and the fact that management is responsive with clear communication. It genuinely makes coming to work something I look forward to.
Advice to Management:
Continue fostering open communication and mentorship—it's a key strength that keeps things running smoothly and supports employee growth.

My experience in the Finance department was mixed. The people on the team were great to work with — friendly, knowledgeable, helpful, and supportive of one another. I genuinely appreciated the coworkers I had the opportunity to work with.

Unfortunately, the overall experience was negatively impacted by management and leadership decisions. Over the past few years, there has been noticeable turnover within a relatively small team, including several employees leaving or being let go. That level of turnover naturally affects morale, trust, and stability.

There were also concerns around communication, role clarity, and performance expectations. At times, decisions appeared to be made without clear explanation or adequate opportunity for employees to understand expectations and improve. In some situations, employees felt that expectations were not clearly defined until after the fact, which created uncertainty and frustration.

The department also seemed to shift toward more micromanagement, including frequent daily check-ins and close monitoring of day-to-day work. While accountability is important, the approach often felt excessive and contributed to a lack of trust.

Overall, I had a very positive experience with the Finance team members themselves, but I would be cautious about recommending the company due to concerns with leadership, communication, turnover, and employee trust.

The environment can be busy, especially during peak production, but the team atmosphere makes a big difference. Most employees work well together and understand the importance of meeting goals. There’s a strong sense of teamwork on the floor, and leadership experience grows quickly because you’re consistently making decisions and solving problems in real time.
Overall, it’s a solid leadership role for someone who enjoys staying active, working with people, and being directly involved in daily operations. The job builds confidence, communication skills, and the ability to manage multiple priorities at once.


These people preach safety all day, but one guy nearly died from a burst appendix because if he went to the ER it would have been a point against him while he had his manager telling him to work faster! 
Also, if you know someone in management or are related to them, you get away with breaking the rules like having your phone out or doing next to nothing. 
Their point system is a joke, much like most of the people running the mill. They're incredibly inconsistent with managing, have absolutely no communication skills, whatsoever. And higher-ups tend to have  their favorites, which if you're not one, be very careful.
They cherry pick which rules they want to write you up for while others get away with doing the exact same thing you got written up for, but the lady in HR says all the managers are consistent (yeah right).
Just do yourself a favor and stay away, it's seriously not worth it. There's a reason they have such high turnover.
And BTW, the mill is an oven in summer and they just tell you to drink extra water while expecting you to put up the same numbers you did during the cooler months. 
I've never worked for people who couldn't care less about the people working for them. They're monsters, run in the opposite direction!

The management and supervisor teams do not have any real management skills. There is a lot of favoritism, bias, bullying, humiliation, and finger pointing done by managers and supervisors. HR and upper management will not put an end to these practices and will fabricate data and reports to their owners to cover up the harassment that takes place. Upper management will never know your name or face and if you don't have a title you should not say hello. The customer service manager and supervisors have no training strategies and cannot be working managers because they were favored into their positions. They place unrealistic work loads and responsibilities onto each team member and will use it as leverage to terminate employees. Behind closed doors they are cruel and make upsurd accusations against you, however when you report them to HR nothing is done about it because there is no proof. There is a perk to this company and department, if you have great natural skills in being a snitch and a brown nose then you'll advance in less than a year and do minimal work.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Best part of working at Converting was when it was time to punch out!!

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Every single aspect of working at Converting was stressful!! The managers, leads, supervisors, office staff, hr lady’s…it was always stressful interactions! The level of unnecessary drama and stress is literally off the charts at converting.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The worst I have ever encountered!! Supervisors and leads encouraged employees to inform against other employees. If you didn’t tell on other employees, you were singled out by management and were treated horribly bad, regardless of how good of a work you were!!

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
It’s a circus from start to finish!! 12 hours, always being judged and spied on, and threatened about performance. Even using the bathroom was an issue for most machine operators…I drove forklift and seen everything in every department…crazy and insane!!

It's a production facility. The desire to work hard and succeed is definitely necessary both for yourself and the company. The ability to multi task is essential to a successful career here. Depending on the department you are in, you may be working by yourself or with 1 - 2 others at a specified machine. Being able to adapt to change is also necessary as you may not always be on the same machine everyday, depending on customer demand and staffing levels, as well as machine being broken down. You need to be "creative" at times to ensure you are making rate according to pre-determined run rates. For the most part as long as you are focused on your task at hand and are producing product, the management team leaves you alone.

Working in the office at Hoffmaster is the best job i have ever had.  I worked on the shop floor for many years and moved into an office position when it became available.  The shop floor paid very well for this area and has great benefits.  Perfect for the young person just starting out, who wants to earn a good living and advance to their departments' top pay level.  Time will fly by if your machine is running smoothly.  You will learn basic mechanics working on your machine. You will eventually feel like you are part of a work family.  I believe the hardest part of the job is working a 12-hour day.   You work a rotation schedule and, on your weekend, to work, you will be working 3 days in a row.  The most enjoyable part of your job will be a good day where you will not have the machine break down and you will get 100% efficiency.  A bonus is time and a half for overtime which is sometimes available, and quarterly bonuses for perfect attendance.

Hoffmaster demonstrates strong adherence to best practices, policies, and guidelines that emphasize product quality, sustainability, and customer satisfaction within the foodservice disposables industry. The company’s approach integrates safety, compliance, and environmental responsibility into every stage of production—from raw material sourcing and manufacturing to packaging and distribution. Hoffmaster’s policies promote responsible forestry through FSC®-certified products, food-contact safety standards, and consistent alignment with FDA and industry regulations. Its operational guidelines encourage continuous improvement, waste reduction, and innovation across brands like FashnPoint®, Linen-Like®, and EarthWise®. Collectively, Hoffmaster’s structured practices and ethical framework reflect its commitment to providing reliable, sustainable, and high-performing solutions for operators and distributors alike.

Hoffmaster offers excellent opportunities for professional growth, with a strong emphasis on employee development and internal promotions. The work-life balance is truly respected, and the collaborative team culture makes it a supportive and engaging place to work. The atmosphere is positive and purposeful, and I am highly satisfied with the benefits package. While some departments are understaffed, which can affect workload and timelines, the overall experience is highly rewarding and Hoffmaster is a great company to work for. The most enjoyable part of the job is building meaningful relationships, not just with customers, but also with coworkers! 

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Machine operator 34 salaries reported	$21.03 per hour
Operator 19 salaries reported	$27.63 per hour
Maintenance technician 7 salaries reported	$31.56 per hour
Packer 12 salaries reported	$22.49 per hour
Assistant 3 salaries reported	$19.24 per hour

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