Best Places to Work 2024: No. 5 Processor: MTD Micro Molding

Honesty and good ideas are rewarded at MTD Micro Molding.

The precision micromolder of Charlton, Mass., reviews employee feedback — including those from the Best Places to Work survey — with top management and improvements are made to existing processes.

"Sometimes that results in company meetings and/or additional employee surveys to ensure changes considered to be made are in line with employee wishes and expectations," MTD said in its Best Places to Work questionnaire.

Employees can also utilize an idea box, where suggestions can be submitted electronically at any time; employees who proposed the selected ideas that will be implemented at the company receive a $100 gift card as a reward.

Its core values drive the culture and are inscribed on the manufacturing floor walls: be the first, be the best, be responsible, ever forward and be a team.

In explaining its core values, MTD declares it is driven by the desire to be the first; its pursuit of perfection results in excellence; it is responsible for its customers, employees and community; the future of the company depends on the knowledge, innovation, determination, teamwork and integrity of its employees; and it is committed to participative management, including productivity and profit-sharing.

"MTD offers a unique workplace environment with each day presenting a different set of problems to solve and creates a workplace where employees enjoy coming to work. MTD is successful because of our people, who all have a desire to be challenged on a daily basis," the company said. "MTD employees are talented, innovative, experienced and action-oriented individuals who are … driven, motivated self-starters and have the desire, patience and determination to work on the most challenging projects using the best equipment in the world, while earning top pay and benefits in a team environment."

At MTD, employees are welcome to research and discover certifications, education workshops and conferences that apply to and benefit them and their roles. MTD will pay for these classes and courses as well as any travel required to attend.

Managers are encouraged to participate in workshops for supervisor roles. Additional training in specific areas are encouraged, but they are not always mandatory.

Frequent, consistent communication among the team takes place via online meetings, chats, phone calls and emails. Monthly lunch-and-learn presentations inform both on-site and remote employees of things happening around the company.

In the summer, MTD shuts down for one week of paid time off for employees. Team members do not need to use any vacation time for this shutdown period, which is "designed to guarantee an extended summer break for all employees with minimal impact to manufacturing schedules," the company said.

Regardless of employee contributions, MTD funds 3 percent of gross pay to all 401(k) plans. There is also a discretionary cash balance plan and profit-sharing that contributes to employees' plans. "To our understanding, it is unique for a small company to have all of these aspects offered to employees," the company said.

MTD calls itself a "small company with a big personality."

"Employees come to work ready to embrace new challenges as a team and look forward to company events where they can play as a team, too," it said.

Team activities include golf tournaments and other social events planned by the company's Fun Committee. Employees can also take advantage of free on-site yoga during the summer months, employee appreciation days with New England lobster bakes and lawn games, St. Patrick's Day breakfasts, potlucks, milestone work anniversary celebrations, holiday contests, coffee cabin trucks and ice cream trucks.

"We take our tagline — 'We do very little work' — seriously and acknowledge that our team of talented and dedicated people are the key to our growth and success," the company said.

Founded in 1972, MTD Micro Molding has an estimated $10 million in molding sales, according to Plastics News data. The company has made the Best Places to Work list every year since 2018.

"Fostering an employee-centric environment lies at the heart of our values here at MTD. We believe that when our employees feel valued, supported and empowered, they can achieve remarkable success both individually and as a team," the company said. "Being recognized on this list isn't just a milestone; it's a source of immense pride for all of us at MTD. It reaffirms that our efforts to prioritize our employees' well-being, growth and development are making a meaningful impact, not only within our company but also within the broader industry."