Aton certified Great Place To Work for the fifth year

Have you ever heard of a Great Place to Work?

A Great Place to Work is an exceptional working environment where everyone, regardless of their personal characteristics, company role or job description, recognises that they are part of something special.

Aton has been recognised and certified Great Place to Work for the fifth consecutive year, tangible evidence of its ongoing commitment to creating an exceptional working environment and a unique corporate culture.

The certification, by a special coincidence, came at the very moment of the anniversary of my first year here at Aton. There could not have been a better time to celebrate my journey in this incredible SME, but let me tell you where it all began.

I came from a working experience in a multinational company, where everything was structured and well defined. It was comforting to know that I had plenty of resources at my disposal for projects and a clear and time-defined ‘hierarchy’, where everything seemed to be mapped out. But I felt that something was missing. There was a kind of distance between me and the very essence of what I was doing, of my role as HR.

When I decided to make this change, I must admit that I was full of mixed emotions. The smaller size of the company worried me. I wondered if I would have enough resources to do what was asked of me. But, to my surprise, I discovered that this smaller size makes us more agile, more flexible and we have the ‘superpower’ to make quick decisions.

What makes Aton an excellent place to work?

Certainly, the organisational model adopted – based on self-organisation, trust and widespread leadership – really allows us to put our ideas into practice, without waiting for the ‘bat signal’ to act.

We are like a team of athletes that adapts quickly to changes in the playing field (and yes, sometimes we even exchange superhero capes for a little variety😊.. ).

There is room for creativity and innovation, and I was encouraged to pursue my proposals without fear from the very first days. This freedom was a real breath of fresh air for me, who was eager to challenge myself and make a difference.

The real secret of Aton is the sense of community that is created here. We are not just colleagues , we are the community of atonpeople.

But don’t think it’s all doom and gloom: we also face difficulties and challenging moments. There are more challenging days when you just want to hide but, in those moments, I have always found a friendly hand ready to help me get back on my feet. And the great thing is that these difficulties unite us even more. No matter whether we are struggling with a stressful deadline or organising a corporate event, we know that we can rely on each other.

There is no winning formula or magic wand, a Great Place to Work is built every day by listening to people.

And it is not only about listening, but also about acting. We started a process of continuous improvement, based on the results of our survey last year. We identified what we needed to focus on most and created a detailed action plan to implement new practices and initiatives, which is still ongoing today.

A tangible example of this was the adoption of OKRs (Objectives and Key Results), which helped us set clear and measurable goals, to which each atonpeople contributed their own perspectives.

As soon as we received the first results of the recent survey, we organised dedicated meetings to review the analysis in detail with both our team leaders and all atonpeople in a plenary session, presenting the results live in a totally transparent manner.

And now, our next step is to continue to work closely with each individual team, listening carefully to their needs and translating general objectives into concrete actions.

Great Place to Work 2023: a testimony of what we have built together

At Aton, I have never felt alone or like a number on an organisation chart: we are people with names, stories and passions and we know that the value of people goes beyond just work.

Here, we are encouraged to find a work-life balance, to cultivate our passions and devote time to ourselves. And yes, we also take time for a few jokes and a good dose of self-mockery.

If you ask me what makes me feel part of a Great Place to Work, I can tell you that it is the feeling of being part of something special. It’s the feeling I get when I see the smile on my colleagues’ faces, when we share in the success of a project and when we face challenges together. It is the knowledge that I work in an environment where people are truly at the centre, where creativity and innovation are encouraged, and where we are free to express our ideas without fear of being judged.

My first year at Aton was a journey of discovery, growth and sharing. I learnt that an exceptional working environment is not just about tools and processes, but about the emotions you breathe every day.

Aton has become a place for me to express my potential, I have discovered that work can be fun, engaging and full of authenticity when you are surrounded by people who believe in the same mission.

Certification as a Great Place to Work is tangible evidence of what we have built together, but the real value is in the heart and soul of every person who is part of this incredible reality.

To find out more about our Great Place to Work adventure, I invite you to visit the page dedicated to us on  BestWorkplaces.it. Here you will find the distinctive elements of our corporate culture and the results of the questionnaire filled in by atonpeople: it will be a great opportunity to better understand who we are and what we do here at Aton!

Now, how about joining us? Come and be part of this adventure of growth, challenges and laughter.

We are waiting for you with a cup of coffee, some funny jokes and the enthusiasm to build a truly exceptional workplace.