Monday, Feb. 01, 1988

Business Notes PROFIT SHARING

Folks in Bayport, Minn. (pop. 2,900), can hardly wait for the Christmas holidays to end, for the big event of the year comes in icy January: Profit Sharing Day at Andersen Corp. For 74 years Andersen, a leading U.S. manufacturer of windows and patio doors, has split a chunk of its earnings among workers. After a banner 1987, this year's pot promised to be huge. But the 3,700 employees, many of whom rented limousines and dressed in their finest Saturday-night steppin'-out clothes to attend the Jan. 16 ceremony, had no idea just how huge. Amid gasps of surprise, Andersen Chairman Arvid Wellman disclosed that the profit-sharing pool was a record $105.9 million, up more than 45% from last year. On Feb. 1 all workers will receive checks amounting to 84% of their annual salary. The average check: $28,620, based on a salary of $34,071.