Employment at AFI
Become an Employee/Owner at Associated Finishing!

AFI is always looking for motivated, self-starters who take pride in a job well done.  Part of the philosophy of being an employee/owner of an ESOP company is that each employee has a direct stake in the process and profitability of that company.

An essential part of the process is the high quality and standards that are a part of everyday life at AFI.

Associated Finishing is always interested in receiving applications from qualified people who desire to work in a drug – free environment.

Please print the application out (PDF format), fill it out completely and drop it off at

Associated Finishing, Inc.
320 Mallard Lane
Mankato, MN 56001

Benefits

Health Reimbursment Arrangement
AFI sponsors an HRA where the company contributes money into an account in the employees name tax-free for the employee to use to pay deductible medical expenses. Unspent balances in the HRA at year end receive a medical cost of living adjustment for the year completed and that adjustment plus the entire unspent balance will be rolled over into the account for the next year.

Flexible Spending Account (Sec 125)
Another benefit that AFI sponsors is a flexible benefit plan, which allows eligible employees to pay for certain insurance premiums with pre-tax dollars. Annually, eligible employees elect amounts to be withheld pre-tax from their paychecks. These withheld amounts are then forwarded throughout the year to a Medi-charge Health Custodial Account in your name for reimbursement to you upon presentation of payment of eligible insurance premiums. The maximum amount that you can contribute to the flexible benefit plan is limited to the amount of eligible insurance premiums you will encounter during the year.

Roth 401(k)
Planning for your future is as important as earning a paycheck today. We offer after tax deductions for a Roth 401(k) account.

401(k)
Associated Finishing provides employees with a 401(k) qualified retirement plan which is an excellent means of long-term savings for your retirement. This plan allows eligible employees to contribute part of each paycheck into the plan and avoid federal and state income taxes on contributed amounts. The company’s contribution, if any, is determined by the company on an annual basis.

Vacation
Associated Finishing provides vacation based on how many hours are worked in a pay period. Vacation hours are accrued with every pay period. Full-time employees accrue vacation hours beginning with their first payroll, but are ineligible to use any paid vacation hours until their six month anniversary date. AFI believes that time off from work is beneficial to the health and welfare of our employees and should be taken each year in accordance with policy.

Personal Time
AFI also provides accrued personal time. This is for covering all the situations you can't plan for, such as sickness, funerals or any emergency. Personal time hours accrue based on the number of regular hours worked.

Vacation and Personal Time Buy-out
At the end of the year, AFI will buy back any personal time hours over 40 hours at 1-1/2 times the employee's regular hourly rate of pay. The company also reserves the option to purchase back any vacation time (at the regular hourly rate of pay) over 60 hours.

Paid Holidays
There is no waiting period for new full-time employees to receive paid holiday time, the only requirement is to work the day before and the day after a holiday. Paid holidays are New Years Day, Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Vision Program
AFI offers its employees an excellent benefit to help protect their eyes. After the probationary period is completed, we pay for your basic safety glasses. You pay for your own eye exam and the safety glasses are ordered through our local provider.

AFI Plant Christmas Party (Summer)
Each summer a great deal of planning goes into the ESOP Plant Christmas party. We try hard to think out of the box and create a get-together that is different yet memorable.

Christmas Present
Each Christmas, the Officers of Associated Finishing try to come up with a simple yet useful gift for each employee. Christmas is a season of giving and you won't find any grinches here!

Employee Care Program
A Flu Shot Clinic is provided when the vaccine is available.

Flowers
Through plants or flowers, we try to show our concern for employees that are in the hospital or have lost a loved one.

Birthday & Wedding Anniversary Cards
AFI wants to ensure that our employees know we appreciate them. One of the ways we do this is to send out greeting cards when we know that an employee or family member is having a birthday. We even include a little present in the child's card to make their day even more memorable. Anniversaries are also covered to help any forgetfulness on our employee's part!

Employee's Birthdays
Associated Finishing likes to recognize employee birthdays. In an effort to encourage more healthful living, we bring in a treat of fresh fruit and put up a sign so fellow employees are able to recognize the day as well. This acknowledgement is another way that the company shows they care about their    employees and what is important to them.

Employee Referal Program
AFI is looking for a few good employees! We have instituted an award program for the referral of qualified candidates for employment with our company. When an employee refers a possible candidate for employment - they fill out the appropriate form before the person fills out an application. If the applicant is hired, the employee receives $25.00, after the applicant has been here 90 days qualifies the referring employee for an additional $50.00 and after the 1 year anniversary the referring employee receives $100.00. This is a total of $175.00 in one year!

ESOP
Associated Finishing sponsors an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) plan which is an additional means of long-term savings for your retirement. The ESOP is invested primarily in Associated Finishing company stock and is funded solely from employer contributions. The company's contribution, if any, is determined by the company on an annual basis. This is not only another way to build a person's retirement fund but is also an opportunity to be an Owner/Employee of Associated Finishing. There are not many opportunities in the world where you can be an owner at your place of employment.
Being an Owner/Employee of Associated Finishing carries some responsibilities as well. Each individual Owner of AFI makes the difference in whether we continue to grow and be profitable. Associated Finishing wants to make sure that as a company they remain competitive and maintain high standards of quality in the product they send out on a daily basis. So as an Owner of the company, every person has a stake in shaping the Associated Finishing, Inc. of tomorrow.

We like to thank the Employee/Owners that do take time out of their busy day to attend the quarterly meetings and stay informed on how the company is doing and where Associated Finishing is going in the future. Each meeting is not only packed with information that is beneficial to our Employee/Owners, but we also have door prizes, a meal and refreshments after the meeting. This is also when we recognize Employee/Owners that have reached a milestone of becoming a new Employee/Owner or achieving an anniversary of 5, 10, or 20 years with the company.