Congratulations to the small firms recognized as “Best Workplaces” by Printing Industries of America. Companies with 100 or fewer employees took 13 of the 37 honors in PIA’s 2009 Best Workplaces in the Americas Awards, a program that recognizes exceptional human relations practices by graphic arts businesses. Entrants are judged according to criteria that include management practices; work environment; training and development opportunities; recognition and rewards; workplace health and safety; health and wellness; financial security; and work-life balance. Eight of the 21 companies named “Best of the Best” were small firms: Cascades Boxboard U.S., Inc., Hebron, KY GPA Specialty Substrate Solutions, Chicago, IL Grant Dahlstrom, Inc./The Castle Press, Pasadena, CA Hopkins Printing, Columbus, OH Greenwell Chisholm Printing Co., Owensboro, KY Label World Kamylon, LLC, Rochester, NY Tailored Label Products, Menomonee Falls, WI Vox Printing, Inc., Oklahoma City, OK The five small firms in the Best Workplace category, where a total of 16 companies were named, included: Commercial Letter, Inc., St. Louis, MO Elk Grove Graphics, Elk Grove Village, IL Western Graphics, Inc., St. Paul, MN Newman Printing Company, Inc., Bryant, TX Omaha Print, Omaha, NE “The Best Workplace program stands out as one of the most stringent HR awards programs available today, in any industry, with over 300 metrics,” said Jim Kyger, HR director for PIA. “The program is an excellent way to give employers instituting innovative, yet cost-effective HR programs, the recognition they deserve.” Complete information about the PIA Best Workplaces in the Americas Awards is available here.