With an emphasis on on engagement and employee well-being, paints and coatings manufacturer AkzoNobel (Amsterdam, Netherlands) recently received Top Employer recertification in five key markets: the United Kingdom, China, Brazil, the United States, and the Netherlands.
In each country, AkzoNobel says it is building on a strong track record in human resources. Throughout its three-year, ongoing transformation journey, the company’s success in retaining and adding Top Employer countries comes down to its prioritization of organizational health. The latest certification marks the second year in a row for the Netherlands and the United States, fifth for Brazil, eighth for China, and ninth for the United Kingdom.
The rigorous review by Top Employers Institute (Amsterdam, Netherlands) benchmarks companies around the world against best practices in human resources. Holding onto all five Top Employer titles this year demonstrates AkzoNobel’s strong commitment to investing in people and people-driven initiatives, the company explains.
“Focusing on employee well-being, engagement, and development has helped ensure our continued success through all the unprecedented challenges in 2020,” says Joëlle Boxus, chief human resources officer. “It’s all about making sure our employees feel included and listened to, while also enabling them to bring their best selves to work every day. We’re growing together and building our capabilities so we’re ready for the future.”
Several key initiatives supported employees in 2020, including a “Mind Matters” health and well-being program aimed at helping employees cope with effects created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The company also says it made significant progress on its diversity and inclusion commitments through training, virtual broadcasts, and the growth of employee networks.
Despite global uncertainty, employees remain highly engaged. The company says its surveys have revealed a significant improvement in “organizational health”, with 87 percent of employees indicating that they really care about the company and 86 percent willing to put in more effort than expected to help the group be successful.
Source: AkzoNobel, www.akzonobel.com.