Employee
Development
& Engagement

EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT

Employee development is one of the four core peaks of the Higher Standard 2025 Strategy. Investing in our employees and their career development remains a crucial element in our Company's long-term success. The Lincoln Electric Employee Development (LEed) program offers employees global learning opportunities on a broad array of curated diversity and inclusion, wellness, experiential, technical, leadership, and collaborative topics. Since its inception, over 3,000 individual employees have participated in 225 different course offerings. Recently, the global learning course catalog was expanded to include content for all career levels, including training on business skills, technology and developer skills, productivity, and collaboration tools, among others.

Key Training & Development Programs
  • TalentLaunch: In line with our Higher Standard 2025 strategy, and as an output from our 2021 employee survey, we identified the need for focused, early-career talent development. TalentLaunch is our new global, two-year, blended learning journey for emerging talent.
  • Leadership Development Program (LDP): The LDP is a challenging, and immersive two-year learning journey. The program provides 25 high-potential employees from across our global business with the opportunity to develop leadership skills that accelerate their careers and support Lincoln
  • Engineering and Technical Sales Trainee Development Program: We have a longstanding tradition of developing talent through our U.S. Engineering and Technical Sales Programs. We partner with colleges and universities to develop the pipeline of diverse talent necessary for our long-term success.
  • Skilled Trade Apprenticeships: We are committed to developing, growing, and retaining a diverse and skilled workforce through apprenticeships. Our apprenticeship programs combine on-the-job learning with related instruction in technical areas, such as Industrial Maintenance, Machining, Welding, and Tool & Die, to prepare qualified, productive employees for careers requiring precision skills. Apprenticeships equip workers with the knowledge and competencies companies need for career success.
  • Internship and Co-op Programs: We sponsor an intern and co-op program to provide undergraduate students with an opportunity to gain real-world experience while investing in their education. The program gives participants hands-on experience via multiple rotations in various departments and provides exposure to our world class Weld School, professional development, and educational seminars.
  • Middle School and High School Programs: We partner with educators and nonprofit partners to educate local middle school students about the opportunities and career pathways in the manufacturing sector. We also partner with select high schools to offer experiential training in a manufacturing environment to supplement traditional classroom learning.

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

We have a longstanding commitment to equal opportunity in all aspects of employment—including employee compensation, job placement, and promotion regardless of gender, race, or other personal characteristics. Our guiding principle, The Golden Rule of "treating others as you would like to be treated," is foundational, and invites employees to share in the responsibility of safeguarding an equitable and inclusive workplace where each individual's unique contribution is encouraged.

Lincoln Electric Demographics (2022—year end)

  1. Lincoln Electric's definition of Racially & Ethnically Diverse is based on the historically underrepresented groups defined by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and reported through the Company's EEO-1 filing
Lincoln trains you in-house, and you just bring your work ethic and a positive behavior and you'll be successful. — Vince Mcgill
Manufacturing Trainer
Our DE&I programs focus on:
  • A performance management competency framework that measures how well employees value the unique differences of others and treat coworkers with respect and dignity
  • Internal DE&I education and training programs to better appreciate our differences and the value that inclusiveness creates an environment of mutual respect—which reinforces our guiding principle of The Golden Rule
  • Employee development programs that build a bench of talent that enables promotion from within
  • Internal campaigns to emphasize the benefits of an inclusive environment
  • Partnering with diverse customers and suppliers to understand their expectations and collaborate effectively. As a large business, Lincoln Electric has small business utilization goals just as the federal government does. These goals include use of veteran-owned, service connected veteran-owned, women-owned, disadvantaged businesses, and small businesses in conjunction with large government contracts.
  • Our U.S. organization actively promotes DE&I through employee resource groups (ERGs), including our Diversity Councils, Young Professionals, Veterans, and Women in Lincoln Leadership. ERG members volunteer their time to support local nonprofit organizations that positively impact DE&I in our communities.