Wauconda, Ill.-based Progressive Components says it's so passionate about its employees and culture that it has its own "fun committee" that sponsors events throughout the year.
The global supplier to the tooling and molding industry has summer barbecues, ice cream trucks, bake-offs and cookie exchanges. It also has themes for monthly employee meetings, such as funniest T-shirts or Christmas in July.
To reduce stress in the workplace, Progressive employees get out of the office thanks to a walking club and picnic tables for lunches and meetings. Each department has an annual outing paid for by the company to promote team building. Spontaneous events such as Nerf gun battles and decorating for holidays are also encouraged.
Family members are also invited to activities such as flu shots and Veterans Day recognition. Progressive provides food gifts to families for Thanksgiving and New Year's.
The company gives back to the community through STAR Charities, which stands for Sharing Time and Resources, a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2003. A monthly drawing awards money to an employee-selected recipient. Employees also receive 16 hours of paid time off to volunteer.
Progressive "makes a difference and gives back" to the industry through sponsoring programs such as the American Mold Builders Association's Mold Builder of the Year award, according to the company's Best Places to Work questionnaire.
It utilizes Kazoo, a recognition and rewards portal that has a real-time activity feed for peer-to-peer acknowledgement and behavior bonuses. Employee anniversary milestones are celebrated with gift cards, personalized gifts, travel and email appreciation.
"The culture that has been created by the owners is embraced [and] carried forward by all. We routinely go beyond the norm to support customers [and] suppliers [and] we routinely go beyond the norm to support each other," the survey stated.
Progressive Components made the Plastics News Best Places to Work list in 2018 and 2017.
