Sirmax Group, a producer of thermoplastic compounds headquartered in Cittadella (province of Padua), obtained the Great Place to Work certification for the fourth consecutive time in 2026. The international recognition is granted on the basis of employee feedback and confirms the assessment of the quality of the working environment at all of the company’s plants in Italy, as well as at its two plants in Poland and two in the United States. Sirmax specializes in the production of compounds for many industrial sectors, including automotive, household appliances, furniture, electrical engineering and construction, and the certification covers the entire organization, from office functions to production departments. The certificate is part of a broader, multiannual and structured process of improving working conditions and developing an organizational culture based on dialogue, competence development and employee engagement.
Scope of the recognition and further awards for Sirmax
In 2026, the Great Place to Work institute awarded Sirmax Group the Great Place to Work certificate for all its plants in Italy, located in Cittadella (Padua), Tombolo (Padua), San Vito al Tagliamento (Pordenone), Pianiga (Venice), Salsomaggiore Terme (Parma) and Isola Vicentina (Vicenza), as well as for its two plants in Poland (Kutno, Łódź province) and two plants in Anderson, Indiana, in the United States.
Since 2023, the company has been running a structured process to improve the working environment, an element of which is regular evaluation by Great Place to Work. As a result, Sirmax has been obtaining the Great Place to Work title year after year and has additionally received a two-year Best Workplace for Blue Collar recognition. The latter highlights the particular attention paid to production workers and their working conditions. In total, taking into account both certifications awarded to production facilities and those concerning the quality of work of operators, Sirmax has received six awards in four years. This indicates consistent efforts by the company to build a motivating work environment and an organizational culture focused on employee well-being and development across all groups.
Great Place to Work assessment process and key survey results
The Great Place to Work institute is an international organization specialized in assessing the quality of the working environment in companies. The certification process consists of two main stages. In the first stage, all employees participate in an anonymous survey completed via a dedicated digital platform. Its purpose is to provide a detailed assessment of individual experiences related to working at the company. The questionnaire covers various aspects of organizational functioning, such as leadership style, openness of management, inclusion, a sense of equal treatment and the absence of discrimination.
The survey is based on five key dimensions: credibility, respect, fairness, sense of belonging and team spirit. The results obtained by Sirmax show a high level of acceptance of the company’s practices. The highest rated statements include: “When you join the company, you are made to feel welcome” (84%), “I am able to take time off from work when I think it is necessary” (83%), “People here celebrate special events” (82%), “I believe our customers rate the service we deliver as excellent” (82%), “Management trusts people to do a good job without watching over their shoulders” (81%), “Management is approachable and easy to talk with” (79%).
The qualitative comments provided by employees in the survey are also significant. They indicate appreciation not only for working conditions but also for the company’s development strategies. Employees emphasized that Sirmax is “a young, dynamic company” where “many of us have a real chance to grow and drive change”, which is interpreted as evidence that the company invests in people and their development. They also noted initiatives that foster integration outside working hours, which “strengthen team spirit and support collaboration, creating a motivating work environment”. Other comments point out that “initiative is appreciated and valued, which encourages people to put forward ideas and take responsibility”.
Principles of HR policy and development activities
Sirmax’s human resources management policy is based on the principles set out in the company’s Code of Ethics. These include integrity and protection of the individual, fairness in professional relations and the absence of discrimination. The company declares that it aims to maintain a calm and motivating working environment in which employees’ needs are taken into account, and in which personal and professional development is promoted. The objective is to ensure career development based on skills, professionalism and achievements.
In practice, Sirmax provides training, social benefit packages and defined development paths and implements initiatives related to sustainable development. One of the projects targeted at a specific group of employees is Empowerment New Gen. This programme involves young employees belonging to Generation Z, meaning people born between the mid-1990s and 2010, as well as the company’s management. Its goal is to conduct an open and constructive dialogue in order to better understand the needs of Generation Z within Sirmax and to propose an internal development plan agreed with management.
Management perspective: the role of dialogue and generational diversity
The importance of the latest Great Place to Work certification is discussed by Massimo Pavin, president and chief executive officer of Sirmax Group.
“The Great Place to Work award is always a source of pride for us,” says Massimo Pavin. “Being a solid, international and constantly evolving company has allowed us to build a team in which technical skills are complemented by autonomy, creativity and the ability to cooperate. Our employees, especially younger people, know that they can rely on an environment that values dialogue and continuous development, which encourages them to participate actively, put forward their ideas and have a positive impact, securing the company’s future.”
The importance of listening to employees and leveraging the potential of different generations is also emphasized by Silvia Minafra, global HR director of Sirmax Group.
“At Sirmax, listening is not just an exercise; it is a strategic choice,” says Silvia Minafra. “With the project dedicated to Generation Z, we wanted to harness the energy, language and expectations of the new generations and turn them into concrete levers for innovation. At the same time, we strongly believe in the value of coexistence between different generations. An inclusive environment in which skills and experience interweave enables us to build more complete teams that are able to tackle challenges from different perspectives. This diversity creates a balance between the pursuit of innovation and operational consistency, enriching our corporate culture. This is our way of doing business: putting people at the centre in order to move faster together.”
The Great Place to Work certificate awarded to Sirmax Group, along with the complementary Best Workplace for Blue Collar recognition, confirms that the company’s activities in the field of HR policy and organizational development are reflected in employee assessments. In the plastics processing sector, which is characterized by strong competition and high technological requirements, building a stable and committed team has a direct impact on the company’s ability to maintain production quality and implement long-term development strategies.
