Best Places to Work 2024: No. 4 Supplier: Hasco America Inc.

The management at Hasco America Inc. guides and supports the entire team, which makes for empowered employees.

"The open-door policy allows everyone to ask any question to management, without any fear to have any consequences," the Fletcher, N.C.-based company said in its Best Places to Work survey. "This gives everyone a secure feeling to work and to ask for help, if required."

Founded in 1924, Hasco treats its employees as people, not a number nor an object.

"We have programs in place, supporting the employee's health (physical and mental), wellness and continuing education. Just one example: Each employee gets to choose annually a charitable organization. The company then makes a donation in the name of the employee," it said.

Hasco absorbs 100 percent of premiums for employees' medical, dental and vision coverage, life insurance, short-term disability, and flexible and health savings accounts.

"It is a costly proposition by Hasco to offer such a high coverage, but it is important to us to offer the best possible health coverage for our employees. Keeping them not only worry-free but also healthy is one of the top goals of Hasco," the company said.

Fun activities include participating in sporting events such as marathons and ski races, barbecuing for employees and their families, and dancing at the annual Christmas party. Birthdays are celebrated with personal notes in birthday cards and catered lunch for the whole team.

Hasco is a global organization that started almost 100 years ago in Germany.

It is now a "leader and full-service provider for mold making, providing over 100,000 high-quality modular, standardized components and accessories as well individual hot runner systems for the plastic injection molding industry."

The people at Hasco make "the big difference." Most employees have been with the company for more than 20 years.

"Hasco always [developed] its management from within, and we don't see gender, age or color; we see the person and the talent. With operations in over 34 countries, we work globally as a team," it said.

The company has launched a mentoring program for diverse talent, reaching out to underrepresented candidates and supporting them if they qualify for a given position.

"We believe we have built an inclusive employer brand at Hasco, where we get a diverse group of people to apply to our job opportunities. Hasco has created an inclusive recruiting and interview process. Using blind resumes and interview process helps our recruiters and HR to be objective and open, looking only on the talent of the candidates," it said. "Hasco created a safe and open workspace."

Inclusion and diversity training during onboarding includes anti-racism, anti-sexism, gender identity and sexual orientation education as well as cultural sensitivity training. Hasco's human resources employees receive special compliance training annually.

The company also offers a financial support program to help employees who have fallen in financial despair and guide them out of financial stress.

Its global support group for women in leadership and management positions meets annually for three days to train and learn what it means to be a female leader at Hasco.

"Hasco has embedded the core values into company culture by integrating them into training, performance evaluations, recognition programs and decision-making processes," the company said. "We regularly reinforce the values through communication, events and leadership actions to ensure they remain a central part of the global Hasco organization."

This is Hasco's second appearance on Plastics News' Best Places to Work list.

"Getting the much-needed recognition helps to show the team everyone is important. ... As a supplier for the plastics industry, we strive to show this best-place-to-work atmosphere to all we come in contact with on daily basis," the company said. "It really gives the team a boost up knowing that their works are acknowledged and appreciated."