Kickstart: Remember the golden rule when it comes to your workers

There's no big secret to becoming a preferred workplace. Or rather, the secret may be the very simple golden rule of treating your workers the way you'd like to be treated, and doing that consistently.

Reading the profiles of the 2025 Best Places of Work in the plastics industry written by Plastics News' Jordan Vitick — in the April 14 print issue and online at plasticsnews.com later today — one thing that stands out to me is how straightforward most companies are in terms of employee hiring, engagement and retention.

"We offer competitive salary, comprehensive health benefits [and] professional development," one company states. That's not exactly a groundbreaking approach.

And yes, there are a few perks that stand out (my personal favorite comes from a company offering $250 toward a community supported agriculture, or CSA, produce box subscription) but most companies keep it simple with gift cards for work anniversaries, a write-up in the employee newsletter and the occasional work pizza party.

Also, of course, treating them with respect and giving them the flexibility to balance their home life demands and set a course to grow at work.

One other constant in the companies honored this year? They keep working to improve. That includes taking feedback from employees in this year's Best Places to Work survey to help them improve for next year.

Some auto suppliers are making it clear they aren't going to be paying for increased tariffs out of their own pockets.

Reuters reports that both Novares Group and Valeo have told customers that they must pay those new duties before parts are delivered.

Pierre Boulet, chairman of France-based Novares, which supplies plastic parts to one in three vehicles produced worldwide, said "for us, it's simple," either payment in advance "or no customs clearance," Reuters reported.

Novares likely is looking at ways to lower its risks when it comes to tariffs. The company had to restructure under bankruptcy protection early during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also has shed non-core businesses such as its bezels and clusters group, sold to Portuguese investors in 2022. It also can balance some global manufacturing with its presence in the U.S. It has an estimated $345 million in injection molding sales in North America, according to Plastics News data.

Valeo is a supplier of front-end modules, lighting, sensors and safety systems. CEO Christophe Perillat says it has already obtained an agreement from "more than 50 percent" of its customers to fully cover increased custom duties, Reuters noted.

And while the auto industry may be turmoil when it comes to tariffs, some developments on parts are still taking place. Germany's Continental AG, for one example, is introducing a key fob made using bio-based nylon.

The fob's plastic shell was made with a nylon 11 sourced from castor oil to replace traditional nylon 12, Continental said in a news release.

Castor oil nylon has been on the market for several years. Japan-based Denso Corp. used a nylon with bio-based content in radiator end tanks as early as 2009.