COLUMBUS — Employees are treated differently at Columbus-based Behlen Manufacturing.

They’re called “partners in progress” instead of workers. Years ago, the time clock was removed and employees were trusted to document their own hours.

Profit-sharing and other incentives for workers are part of the culture at Behlen, one of the world’s leading makers of steel buildings, grain storage systems and farm and ranch equipment.

As CEO of the company, Phil Raimondo embraced that culture. Last Christmas, Raimondo upped the ante, granting profit-sharing bonuses to Behlen partners that amounted to more than three weeks of paychecks.

“We’ve always said — and Phil lived it — if we make our employees better off, we will be better off. That’s our family philosophy,” said TR Raimondo, Phil’s father and chairman emeritus of Behlen.

Phil Raimondo died Sunday, shortly after being diagnosed with liver cancer. He was 59.

He is being remembered as the leader of one of Nebraska’s most prominent manufacturing firms, who was involved in local, state and national efforts to train a new generation of workers in the tech and manufacturing fields.

“He was a great community leader,” said Columbus banker Rick Chochon, a longtime friend.

On Friday and Saturday, Raimondo was still making calls on behalf of his company, to China and Brazil, his father said.

Phil Raimondo is survived by his wife of 37 years, Mary, and five children, his father, a brother, and two sisters. Funeral services are scheduled at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Isidore Catholic Church in Columbus.

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