Italian entrepreneur leaves fortune to workers
January 9, 2016
The newly hired staff received an unexpected Christmas bonus of 2,000 euros ($2,184) while the most experienced workers in the Enoplastic's Bodio Lomnago plant were awarded 10,000 euros or more, Italian newspapers reported on Saturday.
Around 250 people work in the Italian Alps facility, which is part of an international company producing screw caps, synthetic corks and labels.
The donations were managed by Macchi's wife, Carla, "who sent a touching letter of thanks with each of the checks," the millionaire's daughter, Giovanna, the current joint manager of Enoplastic, told "Corriere della Sera" newspaper.
The will of Piero Macchi specified even larger amounts of money for some of the employees, based on their specific needs. A total of 1.5 million euros ($1.64 million) was distributed among the workers.
A 'big family'
Macchi founded his company in 1957, slowly building a business that now exports to more than 80 countries. The firm currently produces 2.5 billion units a year and has branches in the US, Spain, New Zealand and Australia.
The late entrepreneur quietly changed his will shortly before dying in June 2015, at the age of 87.
"We always think of ourselves as a big family and this Christmas present is a sign of that," one worker told the "Varese News" newspaper.