We wanted to bring an important symbol into a place where it could be seen not only by the people who work with us, but by everyone passing by our Arsiero headquarters. This is how Siderforgerossi’s red bench came to life, dedicated to the memory of women who have lost their lives to gender-based violence and to the rejection of all forms of violence against women.
The bench is located just outside the company premises, in a position specifically chosen so that its message can be seen and read by everyone. A simple, direct and deliberately strong message: “There is no place for violence here.” Alongside it is the reference to 1522, Italy’s national helpline for violence and stalking.
A symbol intended to speak to everyone
From the very beginning, we did not want this initiative to remain confined within the company. We chose to place the bench in an outdoor area because we believe that a message like this should reach as many people as possible: those who work with us, those who visit us, those who pass by our headquarters every day and, more broadly, the community we are part of.
For us, a company is not made up only of plants, production and results. Above all, it is made up of the people who live it every day, the relationships that are built and the shared responsibility of creating a culture based on respect. The red bench was born from this belief: to make a commitment visible and to ensure that it continues to speak long after the inauguration day.
A project built together
A few months before the inauguration, we involved the association Le Amiche di Anna in the project, sharing with them both the idea and the meaning we wanted to give to this gesture. Working together with people who are committed every day to preventing and combating violence gave even greater strength to the message of the bench and helped place it within a broader awareness-raising journey.
As Le Amiche di Anna also highlighted when sharing the initiative, the decision to position the bench just outside the company came from the desire to make it visible to everyone and to ensure that the message “There is no place for violence here” becomes part of the public space and of everyday life.
During the inauguration, our CEO Daniele Crose expressed the meaning we attach to this commitment in these words:
“Our company is not only about production and numbers, but also a place where respect, education and the value of differences are promoted. This, for us, is what doing business means.”
These are words we strongly identify with, because they reflect the way we see our role: doing business certainly means producing, growing and innovating, but it also means helping to create an environment in which people can feel respected and valued.
A moment shared with the local community
We wanted to share this moment with those who work every day in our local area on prevention and on combating violence. Representatives of local administrations, trade unions, our company’s RSU representatives and the association Le Amiche di Anna all took part in the inauguration.
The presence of different organizations made one point even clearer to us: we all share responsibility in opposing violence. No one can act alone, and no one should feel that this issue does not concern them. It requires listening, awareness, collaboration and the ability to recognize situations that are not always expressed openly.
One idea emerged repeatedly during the event and particularly stayed with us: the importance of listening even to silence. It is an invitation not to stop at what is immediately visible, but to pay attention to subtle signs and to difficulties that may remain hidden.
The workplace can also play its part
We spend a significant part of our lives at work, and for this reason we believe that the workplace can also play an important role in building a more aware and people-centred culture.
We want Siderforgerossi to be a place where respect is not simply a stated principle, but something reflected in behaviour, relationships and the ability to listen. At the same time, we wanted the message of the bench to go beyond the company boundaries and speak openly to the community around us.
Because combating violence is not only the responsibility of those directly affected by it: it concerns all of us, as individuals, colleagues, families, companies and communities.
A sign that will remain
After the inauguration, the bench remains there, just outside our headquarters. It will be visible to those entering the company, those leaving, those passing by and those who may stop, even for just a few seconds, to read its message.
And this is exactly the value we wanted it to have: not a symbol linked to a single moment, but a presence capable of continuing to speak over time. A daily reminder that behind every story there are people, and that each of us, in our own role, can help build a community that is more attentive, respectful and capable of listening.
For us, this bench therefore represents something that goes beyond the inauguration day: a commitment that we want to continue carrying forward over time, both inside and outside the company.
Press Review
The initiative was also covered by the local press, which highlighted the meaning of the red bench and the journey we have undertaken.
L’Eco Vicentino dedicated an in-depth article to the inauguration, titled “The Red Bench arrives at the factory: ‘We must also listen to the silences’”.
Read the article on L’Eco Vicentino
AltoVicentinOnline also reported on the initiative, focusing on the involvement of the company, local institutions and organizations from the surrounding area.
Read the article on AltoVicentinOnline
The initiative was also featured in the local print press, with further coverage dedicated to the symbolic value of the bench and the message we wanted to share.
