It has come to our attention that some employees harbor ambitious aspirations by seeking certification on cranes that exceed their short-term advancement capabilities. While we appreciate their enthusiasm, we believe their time would be better utilized by focusing on gaining proficiency at their current level and working towards the next step in their career ladder, rather than pursuing certifications for cranes that typically require years of experience to operate proficiently.

To address this discrepancy in self-awareness, we are implementing a “Certification Application” process that must be completed before Smiley Lifting will cover the fees involved in NCCER Crane, Rigging, or Signal Person Employee Testing. For eligibility to have Smiley Lifting Solutions cover the cost of training materials, crane utilization, and testing, employees must obtain a recommendation from their manager for the specific certification they are pursuing. This additional step aims to ensure a thoughtful and strategic approach to professional development, aligning individual goals with realistic career progressions within our organization.

Since this is a benefit for personal growth, studying and testing shall not be conducted while the employee is clocked in, allowing us to strike a balance between supporting employee development and maintaining the efficiency of our operations. In simple terms, you must be clocked out during training and testing.

To apply for a recommendation, please pick up an application from outside of Chris Trejo’s office, then sign and submit the form to your manager for approval. If approved, please give the completed application to Chris Trejo in exchange for the appropriate study materials.

Certification self-study must be completed within 6 months of the application and all self-study materials must be returned to Chris before testing will take place. Notify Chris once you are ready to get on the test schedule. Chris will coordinate with you and your manager to best accommodate everyone’s schedule and minimize disruptions to the workday.

In the event that an employee does not pass the certification on the first attempt, any re-testing fees will be the responsibility of the employee.