Cyndi Benjamin named DLI’s Employee of the Month

Local 101’s Cyndi Benjamin has been named the Department of Labor and Industry’s December Employee of the Month for vital investigative work performed during the pandemic. Benjamin is a senior safety investigator with the Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MNOSHA).

When COVID-19 cases began to increase in meat processing plants, Benjamin became the lead investigator. She was then asked to investigate hospitals where COVID-19 cases were widespread, and staff had complained of safety concerns. Benjamin also inspected bars and restaurants to address pandemic-related issues as part of a multi-agency taskforce. “State employees step up because we believe that every worker in Minnesota has the right to a safe and healthy workplace,” Benjamin said.

“Everyone has been faced with difficult challenges since the Covid-19 pandemic began, but Cyndi has taken this in stride and has really been a shining star,” the colleague who nominated her for the award wrote. “She has exceeded management expectations and can be counted on all of the time to do whatever is asked of her. Cyndi has gone above and beyond with what her job duties require. Cyndi is there to lean on and be a great resource for both management and the other investigators.”

Benjamin said she was surprised to be recognized and “humbled at the same time because multiple co-workers also stepped up to the task. With the long hours and days I put forth these past seven months, it was greatly appreciated to be recognized by my co-workers.”

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