BEST EMPLOYERS 2004 - KEY COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

WINNER
SalesForce (Carlton, VIC)
There’s a great sense of fun in SalesForce. Each floor is decorated with a theme, pictures on the walls are of employees just being themselves and every now and then you might even see a senior manager in a red nightie throwing a frozen turkey at the local park. But having fun at SalesForce is not just about being silly. It’s about combining Fun, Focus and Fulfilment. SalesForce believes that Fun without Focus can be dangerous, so staff need to Focus on the success of the business. Then, when you have Fun and Focus, you create Fulfilment—the ability to be yourself and to achieve. 

HIGHLY COMMENDED 
Bain International Inc. (Sydney, NSW) 
" A Bainey never lets another Bainey fail.” Bain is characterised by a strong collegial culture of bright achievers who support each other to build their clients’ success. Consultants are exposed to a variety of intellectually challenging work and continuously rotated to ensure they are growing and equipped for promotion. Junior consultants monitor workload levels so that hours are managed, workloads are even across the firm and projects are actively resourced.

Cisco Systems (North Sydney, Sydney, NSW)
Cisco offers employees global exposure using the best technology and expects results, adaptability to change and people with drive. Behaviours are rewarded through increased opportunities and financial reward. High performers’ careers are actively managed through a global succession planning process and managers are regularly brought together from across the world for leadership and business training. Technology allows employees to work from home or in the office anywhere, anytime and performance is about results, not time spent in the office.

Flight Centre (Brisbane, QLD)
Employees participate in regular Buzz meetings aimed at bringing people together from across the business. This acts as both a social outlet and a forum for communication and reinforcement of the company’s vision and direction. Employees are empowered to manage themselves and work to agreed outcomes.

SEEK (St Kilda, VIC)
Employee contributions are celebrated and recognised with multiple small initiatives combining to create the feeling that employees are valued and everyone can make a difference. The CEO regularly and spontaneously pulls the team together to talk through individuals’ outstanding achievements, recognition is reinforced throughout the organisation and time is made available for families with events such as family days which include childcare so parents can relax and enjoy the SEEK public holiday.

BEST EMPLOYERS 
American Express International Inc. (Sydney, NSW)
The corporate CEO for AMEX, based in the US, is well known for remembering people's names—almost every employee he meets—and local leaders make sure they know their people. Senior leaders both locally and globally are open, approachable and trusted. Employees are bound by a fierce loyalty and pride to do the best by their customers. The culture supports this and employees are empowered to make judgements to help customers and find practical solutions.

Dell (Frenchs Forest, Sydney, NSW)
The culture at Dell is about being direct, providing value to the customer and to the team and ultimately, to winning. Managers at Dell are accountable for a 20% improvement in their top three development opportunities identified by an annual employee survey. A manager's ‘Tell Dell’ score directly impacts their performance rating, which is directly linked to pay and stock planning.

Diageo Australia (Bondi Junction, Sydney, NSW)
Diageo’s unique culture means all employees are given the opportunity to work in an environment where they are free to succeed and learn from their mistakes. Each month, business units review their key talent with the executive group for succession planning. High performers are rewarded through additional annual leave, tickets to major sporting events and team–based incentives.

Golder Associates (Toowong, QLD)
Golder’s ‘International Employee Exchange Policy’ provides continued education and development of its employees. The scheme provides an opportunity for employees to learn in various cultures and to work in different business conditions. Over the last three years, junior to intermediate employees have been transferred for 12–24 month periods from all over the world.

IGT (Rosebery, NSW) 
Various initiatives at IGT provide employees with a better work/life balance. These include flexible work environments such as RDO’s for all staff, job share and teleworking, time saver services such as dry cleaning and motor vehicle maintenance pick up and delivery services, monthly in–house massage sessions and subsidised flu shots.

Johnson & Johnson (North Ryde, Sydney, NSW)
The organisation is driven by their strong value system, which drives how employees behave in their roles. The small company environment means employees are close enough to see how their work impacts on the bottom line. On–line in–house training programs give all employees access to free 24 hour training courses in subjects such as first time managers, time management and work/life balance.

McDonald’s Australia (Thornleigh, NSW)
Formal training credentials offered by McDonald’s are recognised internally and externally in the marketplace including an Advanced Diploma of Management—the highest qualification under a University Degree, which can also be used as credit points in numerous universities.

MFS Group (Southport, QLD)
Employees at MFS believe in what the organisation is doing, are challenged by their work and by the organisation's growth and success. Employees grow with the organisation through clear performance requirements, strong encouragement for additional study, internal promotion and transfer opportunities.

Retailink (West Ryde, Sydney, NSW) 
Retailink has a ‘Feet on the Ground’ program where head office employees and managers work on–site regularly throughout the year. This allows them to get closer to what it is like to work on site and positions them alongside site team members where they can talk and learn from each other.

Select Australasia (Sydney, NSW)
The organisation has pioneered an independent national qualification offering recruitment consultants the opportunity to complete formal qualifications directly related to employment services. The qualification is designed to create opportunities for every person and organisation within the industry to formalise learning and recognition against a national standard.

STA Travel (Abbotsford, VIC)
STA recruit bright people and aim to promote internally. They give their best people the opportunities to take on leadership roles within the company. A nationally recognised retail industry qualification assists employees’ career progression. Performance–based remuneration at all levels of the company has improved the total salary outcome and earning opportunities for all staff.

Stockland (Sydney, NSW)
An all employee share scheme ensures every employee feels they have a share in the company's future profitability and to develop a valuable holding in the company over time. 

Swiss Re (Sydney, NSW)
Opportunities for global experience and training are available for top performers and extensive study assistance programs exist for all those who seek to expand their knowledge and qualifications either through internal or external programs.

Source: Hewitt Associates