Oberweis Dairy, headquartered in North Aurora, Illinois, is the parent company of several dairy-related operations in the midwest region of the United States. Its businesses include a home delivery service available in parts of Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Michigan, and Wisconsin, which delivers traditional dairy products, including milk, ice cream, cheese, and yogurt, as well as bacon and seasonal products. The businesses also include a chain of corporate-owned "Dairy and Ice Cream Stores", in the Chicago area, which sell many of the same products as the home delivery service, a distribution service which allows for some of their products (such as milk) to be available in regional supermarkets, and also includes a franchise service, which has seen the "Dairy and Ice Cream Stores" expand into Wisconsin, Indiana, Missouri,and Michigan since 2004. The firm is privately owned, largely by the Oberweis family
One of the most popular benefits at Oberweis Dairy is receiving a 50% discount when purchasing products made by Oberweis Dairy (25% off other products). Every employee is eligible for the employee discount program. In 2003 the average savings for employees utilizing our home delivery service was over $500. Part-time employees receive this discount when purchasing products at company-owned stores for their use or that of their immediate family. Full-time employees also receive this benefit via our home delivery service
Responsibilities:
-Recording journal entries
-Bank Reconciliations – credit card activity and dairy store bank activity
-Billing franchisees (Accounts receivable)
-Assistance with financial audit
-Plant inventory (monthly)
-Dairy Store Inventory – send out updated count sheets and review completed counts for errors
-Reconciling Merchandise account – creating invoices (reconciling items shipped and purchases)
-Releasing financial statements to dairy stores, district managers, and VP of retail operations
Skill Expectations:
-Mastery of fundamental accounting (Debits / Credits)
-Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Word
-Experience with AS400 or ability to learn quickly
-Willingness to learn and take on various responsibilities
-Ability to work independently while assisting multiple managers on the Accounting team
The business was started in 1915 by Peter J. Oberweis, who made a profit by selling milk to his neighbors in Kane County, Illinois. According to the Dairy's website, the family's farm was off of Molitor Road, in Aurora, Illinois. The family used a horse and carriage to deliver milk to their neighbors, beginning in 1927, after Peter J. Oberweis invested in half of the business of the Big Woods Dairy.[citation needed]
The business continued in the family, with Peter's son, Joe, running the business through the 1950s. Current owner, Jim Oberweis, took over the company in the 1980s, moved the plant from Aurora to its current location in North Aurora in the 1990s, (which also housed the offices of Jim's 'Oberweis Asset Management' company until 2006), and began expansion of the businesses in retail and franchising.
Oberweis Dairy has vowed not to use or sell milk from cows treated with rBGH, recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone. They (like Ben & Jerry's, which also refuses to sell ice cream produced from cow's milk with rBGH), have taken this step despite a statement by the United States Food and Drug Administration which claims that the hormone does not have any detrimental effects on humans. Oberweis Dairy states their reason for the decision is to successfully fulfill their motto, which is to "Provide simply the best people, products, and places."[citation needed]
rBGH has been outlawed in Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Japan and most EU countries.[citation needed]
In addition, Oberweis guarantees that its cows are not fed feed containing animal proteins. Dairy cow diets contain corn and corn silage. Soy meal is used as a protein source. Haylage (chopped hay) and baled (dry) hay are also provided as feed. Vitamins and minerals are added to balance their diets. 90% of dairy herds graze when weather permits.
A former 16-year old "scooper" at an Oberweis Dairy store in west suburban Bartlett is suing the company, claiming that a 25-year-old shift manager sexually harassed her and other girls with no adequate response by their superiors.
The lawsuit was filed in Cook County Circuit Court on Monday. A similar, federal lawsuit was dismissed by U.S. District Court Judge John Darrah last spring.
"We expect it to be as baseless" as the previous lawsuit, said Bob Renaut, CEO and president of the North Aurora-based Oberweis Dairy.
But attorneys for the former Oberweis employee, whose name is kept out of records because she was 16 years old when she worked at the dairy in 2002, claim there is a pattern of sexual harassment at Oberweis stores.
H. Candace Gorman, an attorney representing the girl, said in addition to filing the new lawsuit, she has appealed the federal court decision, which was supported by women's advocacy groups including Chicago NOW and Women Employed.
The girl complained in the lawsuit that the shift manager harassed her at work by smacking her on the behind with a dish towel, hugging her, putting his arm around her, and making inappropriate comments. The suit also accuses him of harassing and having inappropriate relationships with other female employees.
The former employee's supervisors, including the district manager in charge of the Bartlett store, looked the other way when she complained, the lawsuit also charges. The district manager is himself the subject of at least 11 internal sexual harassment complaints, Gorman said. She added that her investigation also found other instances of harassment by individuals at the store.
In August 2002, the shift supervisor, James Matthew Nayman, was convicted of aggravated criminal sexual assault following an after-hours party with the Oberweis "scooper" and other employees. The lawsuit states that Nayman was not disciplined by the ice cream shop or fired following his conviction, but eventually left because his probation did not allow him to work with minors.
The girl claims that Oberweis failed to take any action against Nayman and failed to have an adequate sexual harassment policy, leaving other employees at risk.
"Oberweis has a special duty (to its employees) because of the large number of female employees under the age of eighteen that Oberweis hires at its stores," the suit states.
According to court documents, the girl's mother complained to a different supervisor about her daughter's harassment, which was referred to the Oberweis human resources department.
The lawsuit quotes the human resources manager as telling the mother, "There is nothing we can do about employees' personal lives outside of Oberweis."
The girl is now 20 and attends a Chicago-area college.
The lawsuit follows accusations made last week by two undocumented workers from Mexico, who filed a complaint alleging Oberweis paid them below minimum wage to clean Oberweis ice cream shops.
Jim Oberweis responded by ending his company's contract with the firm that provided service workers. Oberweis, owner of the 39-store franchise, is running for governor as a Republican and has previously criticized the effect of illegal immigrants on the U.S. economy.
Jim Oberweis' campaign manager, Joe Wiegand, said the candidate is focused on the campaign.
"The leadership and personnel of the dairy are engaged in the dairy business," Wiegand said. The campaign and the dairy management "are significantly separate."
One of the most popular benefits at Oberweis Dairy is receiving a 50% discount when purchasing products made by Oberweis Dairy (25% off other products). Every employee is eligible for the employee discount program. In 2003 the average savings for employees utilizing our home delivery service was over $500. Part-time employees receive this discount when purchasing products at company-owned stores for their use or that of their immediate family. Full-time employees also receive this benefit via our home delivery service
Responsibilities:
-Recording journal entries
-Bank Reconciliations – credit card activity and dairy store bank activity
-Billing franchisees (Accounts receivable)
-Assistance with financial audit
-Plant inventory (monthly)
-Dairy Store Inventory – send out updated count sheets and review completed counts for errors
-Reconciling Merchandise account – creating invoices (reconciling items shipped and purchases)
-Releasing financial statements to dairy stores, district managers, and VP of retail operations
Skill Expectations:
-Mastery of fundamental accounting (Debits / Credits)
-Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Word
-Experience with AS400 or ability to learn quickly
-Willingness to learn and take on various responsibilities
-Ability to work independently while assisting multiple managers on the Accounting team
The business was started in 1915 by Peter J. Oberweis, who made a profit by selling milk to his neighbors in Kane County, Illinois. According to the Dairy's website, the family's farm was off of Molitor Road, in Aurora, Illinois. The family used a horse and carriage to deliver milk to their neighbors, beginning in 1927, after Peter J. Oberweis invested in half of the business of the Big Woods Dairy.[citation needed]
The business continued in the family, with Peter's son, Joe, running the business through the 1950s. Current owner, Jim Oberweis, took over the company in the 1980s, moved the plant from Aurora to its current location in North Aurora in the 1990s, (which also housed the offices of Jim's 'Oberweis Asset Management' company until 2006), and began expansion of the businesses in retail and franchising.
Oberweis Dairy has vowed not to use or sell milk from cows treated with rBGH, recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone. They (like Ben & Jerry's, which also refuses to sell ice cream produced from cow's milk with rBGH), have taken this step despite a statement by the United States Food and Drug Administration which claims that the hormone does not have any detrimental effects on humans. Oberweis Dairy states their reason for the decision is to successfully fulfill their motto, which is to "Provide simply the best people, products, and places."[citation needed]
rBGH has been outlawed in Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Japan and most EU countries.[citation needed]
In addition, Oberweis guarantees that its cows are not fed feed containing animal proteins. Dairy cow diets contain corn and corn silage. Soy meal is used as a protein source. Haylage (chopped hay) and baled (dry) hay are also provided as feed. Vitamins and minerals are added to balance their diets. 90% of dairy herds graze when weather permits.
A former 16-year old "scooper" at an Oberweis Dairy store in west suburban Bartlett is suing the company, claiming that a 25-year-old shift manager sexually harassed her and other girls with no adequate response by their superiors.
The lawsuit was filed in Cook County Circuit Court on Monday. A similar, federal lawsuit was dismissed by U.S. District Court Judge John Darrah last spring.
"We expect it to be as baseless" as the previous lawsuit, said Bob Renaut, CEO and president of the North Aurora-based Oberweis Dairy.
But attorneys for the former Oberweis employee, whose name is kept out of records because she was 16 years old when she worked at the dairy in 2002, claim there is a pattern of sexual harassment at Oberweis stores.
H. Candace Gorman, an attorney representing the girl, said in addition to filing the new lawsuit, she has appealed the federal court decision, which was supported by women's advocacy groups including Chicago NOW and Women Employed.
The girl complained in the lawsuit that the shift manager harassed her at work by smacking her on the behind with a dish towel, hugging her, putting his arm around her, and making inappropriate comments. The suit also accuses him of harassing and having inappropriate relationships with other female employees.
The former employee's supervisors, including the district manager in charge of the Bartlett store, looked the other way when she complained, the lawsuit also charges. The district manager is himself the subject of at least 11 internal sexual harassment complaints, Gorman said. She added that her investigation also found other instances of harassment by individuals at the store.
In August 2002, the shift supervisor, James Matthew Nayman, was convicted of aggravated criminal sexual assault following an after-hours party with the Oberweis "scooper" and other employees. The lawsuit states that Nayman was not disciplined by the ice cream shop or fired following his conviction, but eventually left because his probation did not allow him to work with minors.
The girl claims that Oberweis failed to take any action against Nayman and failed to have an adequate sexual harassment policy, leaving other employees at risk.
"Oberweis has a special duty (to its employees) because of the large number of female employees under the age of eighteen that Oberweis hires at its stores," the suit states.
According to court documents, the girl's mother complained to a different supervisor about her daughter's harassment, which was referred to the Oberweis human resources department.
The lawsuit quotes the human resources manager as telling the mother, "There is nothing we can do about employees' personal lives outside of Oberweis."
The girl is now 20 and attends a Chicago-area college.
The lawsuit follows accusations made last week by two undocumented workers from Mexico, who filed a complaint alleging Oberweis paid them below minimum wage to clean Oberweis ice cream shops.
Jim Oberweis responded by ending his company's contract with the firm that provided service workers. Oberweis, owner of the 39-store franchise, is running for governor as a Republican and has previously criticized the effect of illegal immigrants on the U.S. economy.
Jim Oberweis' campaign manager, Joe Wiegand, said the candidate is focused on the campaign.
"The leadership and personnel of the dairy are engaged in the dairy business," Wiegand said. The campaign and the dairy management "are significantly separate."