machine operator

packer

forklift operator

maintenance technician

maintenance mechanic

Novolex

The job was pretty laid-back during my first week of training on first shift. The people were pretty helpful with showing me around and actually complimented on how quick I picked up on things and how detail-oriented I was . individuals who I was supposed to go to if I had any kind of problems with other employees or any just problems getting used to things or any concerns and after about roughly a month of 12-hour shifts on the same line repeatedly when you're supposed to be rotated every night to a different line because there is an extremely different environment for a line meaning that If certain people are making up the list of who goes where and they clique upthen you're going to have tension between pretty much everyone who is doing work in those who aren't having to barely do any work. What I was told had been handled was basically made to look like it had been handled through the people high up who were only there on first shift but being there on second I realized that it was just hostile as I had heard it ever was. you got operators that literally sit behind a desk and eat corn chips and let the temp workers that have a nice figure stand up at the desk and and play with their hair while on the clock then when the machines go down the operators are to fix them however the Packers end up having to come clean up a hugeMass get the operators read behind because they are usually often upset because it took them so long to get to you and get by the time you get there it takes them a good half hour to get the machine up and running but don't be mistaken it's not like you get a half hour break you will be cleaning up scrap plastic garbage bags the whole entire half hour they on any given night will go through dozens of bales of plastic that has been wasted on the ground because the operators are either out in the parking lot doing who knows what or just not around who knows where they're at so after day after day of being put on the same fast-paced line that I rarely ever was scheduled to be on on first shift actually I was on them just once and was told by my trainer that I shouldn't expect to be down on them lines at least for a month or so but I did pretty good down there my first time so I was actually told that they thought I should stay down there because I did better however that was not true I usually would clock out at easily 20 minutes after everyone else because I was so far behind and rarely with another employee stay after to help as soon as it's 5 minutes to clock out if they're not caught up they'll just wait for the relief to show up and walk off like their paper has been signed and because the person that's supposed to be signing their paper might not speak the best English and the person who needs their paper sign doesn't speak Spanish there's no communication no one speaks on this and it just goes on and they know it because I've literally had to stand and wait 20 minutes to get my papers signed because the lady that was supposed to sign it did not understand the word of anything I was saying. They also have a very poor work ethic as far as attitude and positive reinforcement is non-existent so basically if you need the money and you are willing to be put in the middle of a bunch of drama I guess it's maybe something to look into but honestly it was one of the most hostile work environments I've ever witnessed and that's saying a lot coming from someone in the 40s. There were evenings that it was honestly like a lot of racial tension between the non-English speaking people and the English-speaking people It wasn't a racial tension between whites or blacks or whites or other races It was literally a language barrier that was making people purposely sabotaged the other person types up stuff that I don't understand how they let go on with so many employees working you would think a few of them would report something like this but they all just go along with it. The only long-term employees that are there are all operators or work up in the front office during first shift The rest of the employees none of them have probably been there more than two years and if they tell you any different it's cuz they probably work there a long time ago and then came The few people that were trying to make it and actually move up to become operators I actually felt sorry for because the operators themselves had made jokes about how certain people would never become operators and becoming an operator is not something that you have to and have a lot of knowledge of you just have to have been around the machines enough to know how they work and it is pretty confusing and they expect the Packers to learn how to operate a lot of the machine just so they don't have to and me knowing what I was told when I was being trained which was not to basically touch the machine other than just to clean up around it I actually have witnessed them have temporary employees female temporary employees at that climb up under the machines while the conveyor belts are still turned on to pull out trash bags that are stuck under there The machine is supposed to be locked out and tagged out before anyone goes anywhere near any of these pulleys mind you these women have long hair and could be pulled up into there and could you imagine what that would do to somebody if their hair got pulled up in there these machines have conveyor belts five times the size of the supermarket . They also have had a large amount of people miss work saying that they had covid 19 but not providing any proof and can you imagine what that does to your morale going in knowing that some of these people may have just got over covid 19 it or may still have it. When you walk in there is a thing that reads your temperature and you're supposed to sign in however people come in three and four minutes late and run right past it and the way they cover this up is they just have one of the operators walk around with the clipboard and make sure everyone had signed it I was probably one of four or five people that wore a mask they were more worried about me keeping earplugs in and then wearing my mask. and most of them don't even usually even wear a mask it's like a bandana tighter on their face which I've learned that actually does nothing to prevent spread of cov -19 and with all the people who have said that they've got it there you would think it would be a hotbed of covid-19. The money is good on holidays you are paid double time in a half which is something I didn't even know existed so that's the one positive thing that I took away from the experience but other than that and a voucher for a turkey at Thanksgiving that's about only thing I could say that was good about it other than that it was almost like operating in a third world country. also do not put your debit card into the vending machine It will cause your bank for financial institution to lock up your card and you walked away at 72 hours or that's if you're lucky they may make you wait till you get another card. I hope this helps anyone who is considered this because I've really had high expectations during my interview and even during my first week of training so if you would like to work there I would have to say go for first shift I had never seen half of the negative things that I saw on second while I was on first. 

I enjoy the challenge each day and working with others.  It is a very rewarding feeling when I can evaluate and handle a problem that ends with good results and a happy customer.  
A typical day at Pactiv as a Production Scheduler/Planner: 
Customer Service is very important at Pactiv.  While working as Production Planner/Scheduler,   I face daily challenges as we aim to fill every customer order at 100%.  I must prioritize e-mails and issues to their level of importance each day.  “A” Customer potential issues are worked on first.  If an “A” customer has supply issues, they are addressed immediately.
Example Emergency:  “A” customer shipment was going to be missed because machine broke down overnight.  I worked on this issue early in the morning and still provided the 10AM Potential Issues Daily Report.
•	I worked with production team for possibilities and options to move tooling to another machine so that production could continue. 
•	I worked with warehouse team to delay shipment to the evening so that we could provide some product, to prevent the total shortage. 
•	I worked with Customer Service, to find out what the “True” needs were on the shipment.  
•	I also planned to move additional product in from another manufacturing location to increase the available product for the customer on the next day, as I was unsure how long it would be before production could actually continue.  
Result:  Customer received the product that was truly needed the next day, due to the extra inventory that was moved in from another plant to cover.  Machine issues were also solved within a few days and production continued as planned.

1.	Highest Importance- I must first address any potential service issues for today’s shipments out of our distribution centers and warehouse.  I must review several morning e-mails for these potential issues.  I work with production team, warehouse team and Customer Service, as needed to resolve each issue.
2.	Very  Important-  I must provide a daily report to the distribution and manufacturing teams by 10AM, of potential service issues for tomorrow and for the next week.  I must be ready to discuss potential issues in a morning production planning meeting at 10:15AM with plant management.  The report identifies the items with potential problems and my suggested resolution.  There can be several reasons for potential service problems; machine failure, material issues, crewing issues, not enough capacity and forecasting errors.  I must evaluate each problem and suggest the plan of correction.  (There can be 50+ items on this potential shortage list for the next week).  
3.	Important-  Run MRP and create jobs and schedules weekly;  for the next month  on the presses and at least next 3 weeks on the formers. Transfer shipments are arranged, as needed, to keep materials in supply for this planned production.  Schedules are provided weekly and are updated daily, as needed per above.   Adjust crews, capacity and materials as needed to meet this plan.  Work with plant manager to increase and decrease the capacity for the next few weeks.

4.	Long Term Importance – Review Capacity Long Term.  Provide Reports and plan for upcoming changes in the plants, due to increases and decreases in customer product demands and life cycles.

With Duro bag company (Novolex), I was hired as a machine operator.  You work 12 hour shifts, 4 days one week and 3 days the next.  Sounds great, right?  I was happy with 4 days off one week, 3 days the next.

Well, as soon as you get qualified, they will work you as much as they can due to being short-handed.  All they tell you is they will not work you more than 6 days a week (that is 72 hours!)  They had me working every Saturday and it did not matter if I volunteered or not.  They have a very high turnover rate and I am sure a lot has to do with this, because that is why I left there myself.  

The men or women you train with can be either great or too worried about numbers to train you.  So instead of showing you things, they will quickly do the tasks you need to learn or bud in when you try and do things and they feel you are taking too long (even if mere seconds and you are trying to be quick about it).  

I can say the management does seem to care deeply about their workers, which was a welcome change from some places I have worked before.  They do not treat you like an expendable asset, but rather an asset to the company.  

My supervisor was great, but a couple of other supervisors treat you like you are ants beneath their feet.  They would time your breaks and give you issues even if they merely assumed you took too long of a break.  They are very toxic and dealing with them was always unpleasant.  A lot of arrogance and thinking they are smart, yet being anything but!  With 4 shifts, two supervisors were good and two not so much!  

There are not always great co-workers, but I really liked most of them and would enjoy working with them or talking with them.  One of the biggest assets is they managed to hire some great people.  Not everyone fit that, of course, but the ladies and guys were awesome mostly.  

Maintenance are called adjusters and there is simply not enough of them.  Machine run times were greatly affected due to no good system in place to get them to your machine and having to hunt them down (often to find them already working on another machine) in a huge place where they could be anywhere.  Not all of them are great, one openly verbally abuses you, a snitch and person who makes stuff up to get you in trouble.  They are needed so they turn a blind eye to this.  

The company needs to put some investment into the place, hire more workers and adjusters.  

As it stands, the 12 hour shifts and forced overtime got to be too much for me so that is ultimately why I left there.  It is too bad, the management, my supervisor, and most of the workers are great people!  

They say they can improve the place if we meet goals, but it is hard to meet goals when machines are down and the adjusters are short-handed.  Not sure about the outlook of this place.  


First off this is the American equivalency of working in a sweatshop in Bangladesh. At times the ambient air temperature in the facility is over 100 degrees. People literally pass out from the heat. Does this sound awesome to your for less than $12 an hour for a packer rate? But hey they have squincher and freeze pops just in case you decide to go dying on them. 

Listen this place is a joke. 

They advertise bonuses. You can get $100 bonus if you make production which happens rarely because the machines are garbage and can't stay running. Right now the place is a million pounds behind schedule. So don't count on any bonus. And there is a safety bonus of $40 a month on a gift card if no recordable injuries. This isn't like your getting a weekly bonus or anything. Count on about an extra $500 a year in bonuses.

They don't follow corporate handbook.
Any company that blatantly violates their own company handbook and is smug about it and says "too bad" you should know to stay away from. You're supposed to get 3-20 minute breaks and a 30 minute lunch according to the handbook. That doesn't exist because Mount Carmel managers refuse to allow it. And you dare no question it. 

Everyone that works there agrees that the only thing good is that you work 15 days a month and no mandatory ot. But they are hard 12 hour days sweating and busting your butt in an extremely hot environment working on dinosaurs of machines. They refuse to fix major issues with machines  until they are totally non operable.

Also they do not close for holidays unless you magically make your production numbers. Then you might be given a treat and a holiday off. 

The attendance policy is kind of strict. If u miss a mandatory meeting which is at least once a month you must go in early. You get .5 points for missing the meeting and no safety bonus. A day off is a point. 2 days off is 2 points unless you have a doctor note. So if you are sick and puking all weekend you pretty much need to go to the ER so you can get a note. Their attendance policy contradicts what most insurance company's want. Less trips to the doctor for stupid stuff but what can you do? I've never heard of a company that charged 2 points for 2 consecutive days off. It's silly really. 

I will say this. They have probably the best health insurance package I've seen in a long time and they have a quality 401k with principal.

Other than that. It's a revolving door here just like the locked turnstile you have to go through every day like you're working in a prison.



I can  go on all day. This place is a joke.

I absolutely loved working at Novolex.  I was hired in January 2024 to process state tax returns and address tax notices as they came it.  I am a 51 year old disabled veteran and the flexibility was great and my manager and coworker were very understanding and I honestly said I have finally found my last job - I really loved it!
I completed over 75 state returns by the deadline given of August 31.  I then went out on vacation for my birthday feeling good but knowing there is always room for improvement but not knowing what I would be coming back to.  
I had very little feed back throughout the months I was there.  I would communicate with my coworker weekly, asking if there was anything I would do better, how I can help, etc.  I was told everything was going well.  I even was advised that my recruiter, who placed me with Novolex,  that things were going well.  My first feedback email came from my immediate manager on August 6.  By that time all my returns were completed as I started processing returns at the end of May, I was just clearing notes.
When I came back from vacation I was given a "test" by the VP of tax (September 10, 2024). Also, on this day the VP notified our team that he was leaving.  The "test" was on something I did very little work on with this company since I had just started in January.  Portions of the project I had not worked on at all but I understood the process.  Most of the file was formula driven but another section was hard coded.  I was told that it would be in my best interest to get this "test" completed with very few errors.  I felt very confused and extremely nervous at the whole situation, my anxiety (which is part of my military disability) was through the roof and I couldn't sleep for days.    I was advised not to ask my coworker for guidance and when I went to my immediate supervisor I was instructed to talk to the VP of Tax directly.  I had very little interaction with the VP in regards to work until this "test" was giving.  
I worked night and day and through the weekend trying to make sure I was self reviewing, making notes to the VP (as I was told we would discuss),  asked the VP questions and then turned the assignment.
Two days later Wednesday, Sept 18, 2024, I was to meet with the VP to go over the project.  I walked into the conference room and there was an the VP and an HR representative and I was let go.  We did not go over the test, so till this day I have no idea what was wrong.  Yes, it still bothers me because I care about what I do. I was dumb founded that Novolex would treat any employee this way.  

   

This company is an absolute garbage fire. 

I worked as a temp-to-hire for a little less than three weeks. I came to work thirty minutes early every day, and did not miss a single day in my time there. I went where I was told, did what I was told, and never walked away from the line without making sure that there was someone able to take my spot for a few minutes so we didn't fall behind. I had absolutely zero arguments or even disagreements with my coworkers, and though we didn't talk much, all of my conversations with them were pleasant. I didn't complain outside of a few minor, joking remarks, which my coworkers and I all laughed at. I was told by MULTIPLE full-time, experienced people that I was doing a good job and shouldn't have a problem getting hired.

My last night there, I left in a great mood. It had been my best night yet, and I thought that I had found the area I wanted to work in when I went full-time. The next day, I woke up to a phone call from my temp agency, telling me not to come back in. Apparently they had received an email that claimed that I didn't follow directions, didn't get along with my coworkers, and that I "had an attitude."

I was completely blindsided. Again, I was always on-time, always cooperative, and my "complaining" was no more extreme than anyone else's. I had never ONCE raised my voice, snapped at anyone, or made a single nasty remark about a coworker. That's just not something I do. I have to move in less than a month, and I had been depending on this job. I didn't think there was a problem, because no one told me that I was doing anything wrong. No one came to me and asked for my side of the story. No one pulled me aside to ask me to do something differently. I had no reason at all to think that I would be let go, especially so suddenly.

I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone. I'm still racking my brain trying to figure out what I could have done, but I'm just drawing blanks. My best guess is that I happened to be a bit faster than another temp I was working with, whose niece just so happened to be the crew lead in the area that we were assigned (conflict of interest, much?) She never got praised like I did, despite having been there longer, just because she honestly just didn't have the same ability or work ethic. I guess she got jealous, made something up, and went crying to either her niece or the supervisor. Either way, I'm out of a job, and I have no idea what to do now.

So thanks, Pactiv, for being "fair and honest" to your employees. Keep doing what you do... which is letting go of people for no reason, and then whining that you don't have enough workers, I guess.

I had almost a year in the business. The work was hard yet it paid decently. Some management was shaky. It seems businesses these days have a tendency to hire off the street to management instead of promoting within. Even though there were many times I despised it, the off time was good so 12 hours felt like a breeze.  Time off and pay were decent for the work that was required.  Some machines were easier and others were harder but you got help.  Once the Covid malarkey started though that's when things really took a downturn.  It started with the temperature checks and a few months down the road they gave us a mask when we walked in.  So I already knew where this was heading.   Management tends to lie or tell you something that won't happen if you inquire about it but weeks later it ends up happening. I was literally told by HR that masks would not be required as a condition to work and that ended up being a bold faced lie. They do not respect your right to choose. You are working in an enclosed building with around 15-20 industrial sized  ovens that get up to 500 degrees running 24 hours a day and now it's summer time.  Just think about it and let that sink in for a moment. Wonderful for the winter time, sweat like a madman in the summertime. It generally is a 20 degree difference between being indoors and outside.  It's almost as if someone has to drop dead on the floor from it to get them to change policy.  Why can't it be optional? If you are scared wear the mask yourself or stay home right? On top of running around like a chicken with your head cut off you also have to now suffocate while you are doing it. They will not let you work without a face shield or a mask on  (even if 90-95% of your night you are not around anyone) The PC propaganda needs to stop.  It ruins lives and there's no evidence it prevents transmission. People that make the rules sit in office chairs with A/C year round and push pencils and they tell you that it's not a big deal. Must be great.. They do not care about you or your individual liberty. You have face scanners, fingerprint machines, temperature checks, and now you are on diaper patrol.  It's degrading and devolving fast in the workplace. Be a better business. $1,000 hiring bonuses mean nothing if you can't breathe the entire time on your 12 hour shift. 

Trust a current employee! Fast paced and over-managed. Scheduling and inventory management is a joke. Too many chiefs and not enough indians. Constantly watched by CCTV and supervisors are constantly trying to "catch" employees making mistakes. These cameras have audio as well and it has been speculated that listening devices have been hidden in various locations. So don't worry about performing your job well or try to go "above and beyond". Concentrate instead upon looking good on camera, keeping your mouth shut ( suggestions are ignored and opinions are taken as personal insults and have gotten employees terminated), work only as hard as necessary to keep supervisors off of your back, and never, never disagree with anyone who wears a light blue pullover shirt or stands around trying to look important, and take your breaks within the restrictions.  Don't bother taking issues to HR, they are already over-worked and don't competently address issues that management may not agree with (been there and done that).  So, if you would rather be berated rather than appreciated, have a desire to be on a "list", enjoy working long hours in a HOT environment (12 minimum), and have an overwhelming compulsion to be treated like dirt, then congratulations! YOU'VE FOUND YOUR DREAM JOB...nightmares are included and absolutely free.  You will have little to no opportunities for advancement (and aren't adequately compensated if you do) UNLESS...you are an accomplished at performing acts that are best left in the bedroom. ! If you can "brown-nose" like a champion, are willing to rat out your co-workers with no remorse, and have a knack for avoiding manual labor, you will be fast-tracked into a management position where you will be treated with the utmost back-stabbing 'respect'.  You will successfully retain this position until you are unseated by a rival or are no longer liked by a member of the "team".  May I wish you good luck for a short and unsuccessful career at WNA Chattanooga!

Pactiv use to be a fantastic place to work, and was a company I thought I would retire with.  Unfortunately, sometimes things change for the worse, and in this case it did when the Rank Group (Reynolds/Graham Hart) bought the company. 

The new Pacitv is DRAMATICALLY focused on money and profits! I do respect this, but the employees are not even mentioned or referred to in the mission statement or vision statement.  This is intentional and you will feel it in the company by the way you will be treated.

If you need a paycheck to pay the bills, then Pactiv will provide this for you.  Do not expect anything else from them and you will be content.  You will need to get your feeling of self-worth and appreciation elsewhere.

Turn-over (voluntary in addition to plant closures and layoffs) at this company has been extremely high (yes, even in this economy) in recent years, and that is a direct reflection of upper management (truthfully - it is probably their marching orders) and their lack of ability (or inability due to "marching orders") to treat employees "better".  It really isn't that hard, but the general consensus was: 'they don't care [about us]".

You will find the company has a good focus on safety - not as good as it use to be, but still good (at least for now).  Pactiv also does follow all (most) legal rules and is a straight-up company.

Pactiv is a very fast paced environment, they will demand A LOT from you.  You will find that you will be asked to do a million things - and you will be unable to do any of them well (they will let you know that).  This is a great weakness of this company - overloading employees, demanding long long working hours; rather than focusing on a few highly prioritized things, and doing the very very well, then moving on to the next priority on the list.


Conclusion:

Truth is - life is great outside Pacitv --> Remember "Mikey" for Life Cereal (the commercial from the '70s) "try it, you'll like it!"

What is the best part of working at the company?
The people at Novolex are the best part. Friendly and almost never political.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
This is a huge company. 7 billion. They gobble up competitors or smaller companies that make what they need and they become NOVOLEX.  As a result, efficiency and accountability are non-existent. If you can happily suck paychecks while projects get planned, half-done, undone, and re-done, then scrapped, then there is no stress here. Don't criticize or point out anything negative and you'll have a long, easy career here. If you, however, have a bent towards accomplishing anything or having to have things make sense, you'll be frustrated at NOVOLEX. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Easy going and pretend-serious culture. They're owned by the Apollo Group which is a mega power like Blackrock. Just be nice no matter what and you're fine. There's DEI but it's so far been pushed voluntarily at the margins. They didn't get to requiring the vax but were trending that way. You'll need to play both sides of the Eco fence: pro green and pro plastics and waste, since NOVOLEX owns and works both. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
There's a lot of warehouse/factory workers. Their day, I don't know about. I've been to some of those facilities and seem hellish: hot, loud and smelly. The office life, I can attest to. Show up whenever close to start time. Socialize with whoever after you check your email and such for anything urgent. Attend lots of pleasant meetings where urgency will be downplayed and upsold. Take care of business at your own pace, submit whatever for approval and prepare for it to be redone, undone, reimagined or cancelled. Look busy but not too busy. Go home as early as you can. If you work from home, as most office folk do, it's much the same but more leisurely.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Machine operator 22 salaries reported	$19.94 per hour
Packer 46 salaries reported	$26.19 per hour
Forklift operator 11 salaries reported	$19.22 per hour
Maintenance technician 17 salaries reported	$30.38 per hour
Maintenance mechanic 16 salaries reported	$31.24 per hour

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