Every year, global research and management consultancy Great Place to Work® Institute publishes a list of the “Best Workplaces in Canada”. These organizations range from multinationals to locally owned businesses, but all have one thing in common: they invest in employee satisfaction. Taking a look at three companies who made the list in 2016, gives an idea how you can make your own business an even better place to work.
- Have a clear vision like Starbucks
Top brands know where they are going and they have a clear roadmap outlining how they will get there. Starbucks is no exception.
“Starbucks’ mission and values have our partners, customers and coffee at the core, which guides all of our decisions and actions,” says Kathleen Cook, a brand manager for Starbucks, who recently celebrated her 19th anniversary with the company. Starbucks knows that their employees–together with their customers and product–must be a priority. A great example of this prioritization comes from their most basic employer branding: As you may have noticed above, Starbucks refers to their employees as “partners”. This small gesture on the part of the company speaks to their attitude towards employees and the boost in employee engagement because of it.
Starbucks ensures the relationship with “partners” remains in good standing by creating detailed plans that incorporate their ideas and feedback. These plans are regularly shared across the organization, and help employees feel they are contributing to Starbucks’ success, actively participating in shaping the company’s overall vision.
- Promote your values like Whole Foods
Ever since its formation in 1980, Whole Foods has prided itself on being America’s first national certified organic grocer, with locations now found across the United Kingdom and Canada. Whole Foods connects with potential new employees while promoting their employer brand through their perks and initiatives, which line up perfectly with their core values — specifically in the area of wellness. The Whole Foods Healthy Discount Initiative mirrors their core pillars, giving employees discounts on healthy Whole Foods products and encouraging healthy living overall. Focusing in on what your company stands for shows staff you are practicing what you preach, and helps build pride in the workplace.
- Train and develop like H&M
In the fashion retail sector, one of the main chalenges for employers is high staff turnover. Swedish firm H&M understands they have many new employees joining their organization on a regular basis, so they have some interesting ideas on how to retain that talent. For starters, H&M provides training for every position, making it a place where everyone feels valued and is given confidence to take charge of their own development. Plentiful opportunities for lateral movement and promotion keep employees keen and happy. The business also provides workshops to enhance leadership, communication and role-specific skills so everyone has the opportunity for continuous learning. Putting in the extra effort yields positive employer branding results and better retention rates in a sector with notoriously high turnover.
Another way in which H&M aids in developing its employee satisfaction is by letting workers fully be themselves. H&M encourages its employees to express their personal style at work. This gives a sense of empowerment, positions H&M as a cool place to work, and in turn reinforces the company’s place on the leading edge of the fashion industry.
By having a clear vision, being true to your values, engaging your employees, and developing your internal programs, your business may yet become one of the “Best Workplaces in Canada”.
About Blu Ivy Group
Blu Ivy Group is a leading employer branding and employee engagement consultancy that aligns your organization with contemporary workplace paradigms. Blu Ivy Group’s mission is to help client’s build award-winning people practices, inspire extraordinary employee engagement, and cultivate unique and desirable workplaces.
Blu Ivy Group provides integrated solutions in employer brand and engagement research, strategic consulting, employer brand integration, creative and talent communications.
Blu Ivy Group is a trusted partner to many of North America’s most respected employer brands. For more information, go to www.bluivygroup.com