Belt Buckle tradition marks its 40th year
The 40th annual R&S Belt Buckle was delivered in a new way this December. 650 full-time field and office team members across all regions received their commemorative R&S bronze belt buckle in the mail along with a special holiday gift.The buckle design--selected through a companywide competition--was created by Alycia Jones, wife of Justin Jones, Project Engineer in the Roseville Region. The 2020 buckle theme commemorates our 60th year in business.
Inaugurated in 1980, the Belt Buckle—and accompanying leadership tour during previous years—is a highly anticipated R&S tradition that embodies aspects of R&S’ culture and history that fill employees with pride: our unwavering commitment to keeping our people safe, our equally strong commitment to quality and innovation, our founding values of integrity and honesty, our role in building some of California’s best recognized buildings and our standing as one of the most successful construction companies in the U.S.
To Scott Baxter, Superintendent, San Carlos, and a 40-year R&S employee who owns every R&S buckle ever created, the tour sends a powerful message that our company’s owners care about the individual and not just about the bottom line. “Historically, just before Christmas, the owners would visit the job site and personally shake everybody’s hand,” he says.
“I appreciate that current management continues these traditions and makes the same effort,” adds Scott. “All the senior staff are there. Some of these guys come from around the state to do this. They’ve made the effort to be there to shake your hand and say thank you for all your hard work, and they seem enthusiastic about it. That means a lot. I believe it’s important to them.”
The buckles have become collectors’ items. Walk through any R&S office or job site, and you’re bound to see individual collections of buckles displayed on desks, shelves or in shadowboxes on walls.
“Over the years, a lot of the messages on the buckles have been safety-related, which is a good reminder,” says Scott. “I see it as the company taking care of us.”
Team members at a jobsite in Silicon Valley gather for the belt buckle tour in 2019.
Photography credit: Desmond Rodgers