MANILA, PHILIPPINES -- 24 September 2018 - Fifteen Philippines companies have been named the Best Companies to Work for in Asia by human-resource publication, HR Asia.

 

This year, 5,260 employees from a total of 150 companies across the Philippines responded to the HR Asia Best Companies to Work for in Asia Survey. The survey also covers eight other markets across Asia, including China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam and Thailand.

 

Award winners include Fonterra Brands Philippines Inc, Johnson & Johnson Philippines, Manulife Philippines, Philam Group and Telstra International Philippines Inc.

 

Good Employers Score Higher

 

Survey participants were asked affirmative statements about their employers, and either agree or disagree with each of the statements. Based on these answers across the survey, the top 3 areas that employees in Philippines agree about their jobs are:

 

Meeting or exceeding customer expectation (Average score of 4.55/5)

Employees always seeking a better way to improve their efficiency at work (Average score of 4.41/5)

Employees are clear on how their work and performance are contributing to the organization's vision (Average score of 4.40/5)

 

On the other hand, the 3 areas that score the lowest in the survey (i.e. the ones which the employees feel their companies can improve on) are:

 

Employees feel that they do not really know what is going on in the organisation (Average score of 3.53/5)

Employees feel that they do not receive recognition or praise for doing good work in the last month (Average score of 3.72/5)

Employees feel that they do not get supported by the companies in pursuing their own professional development(Average score of 3.77/5)

 

With few exceptions, all the winning companies scored significantly higher in these areas compared to other participants. This indicates that employers that are more transparent, supportive of employees' growth and lead by example, are more likely to be rated as a good workplace by their own employees.

 

What Employers Think

88% of the participating companies felt that safety was top priority in their respective companies. It is essential for employees to have a safe environment in which they will be comfortable to work in. For employers, they are required to provide safety necessity with regards to operations, procedures and policies. 

 

A safe workplace is conducive in creating positive productivity where employees not only perform better but also feel they matter to their organisation. 87.2% of the companies feel that theft is not a regular occurrence in their workplaces.

 

82.6% of the companies surveyed felt that getting a referral is a cheaper and faster way to hire, which generally recommends better candidates and lowers the turnover rate at a company.

 

Evolving Face of Talents and Employment in Philippines

Dato' William Ng, group publisher and editor-in-chief for the HR Asia, says "disruptive innovation is not only changing markets and industries, it is redefining the workplace. The skillsets required are rapidly changing, while workplaces are being transformed to accommodate telecommunicating and flexi-working, among others. Companies need to adapt and do so quickly in view of these changes brought about by technology and global inter-connectivity".

 

Words of Wisdom

Echoing words of the triumphant winners of the HR Asia Best Companies to Work for in Asia Awards 2018, we cite few of the more inspiring pieces:

 

"For less than 100 employees in 1998, we are now 2,369 in the Autohub Group. I give credit to all the hardwork and efforts of the entire AUTOHUB TEAM, for without them we will not be where we are now. I am truly grateful to them for sharing the same passion with me all these years. This is a testament of our resolve in becoming the Employer of Choice in the Philippine Automotive Industry and we dedicate this award to the men and women of the Autohub Family. We are all in one DREAM... we are all in one VISION," says Willy Q. Tee Ten, President of Autohub Group.

 

Cebu Air, Inc shares that "Through the strong and genuine leadership of the pioneers who laid the foundation of this airline, Cebu Pacific has become what it is today -- the Philippines largest and leading airline of our time. For more than 22 years now, we have been in constant pursuit for ways to improve our systems and to uplift the overall well-being of our people. We create a working environment that promotes work-life balance and fun, kinship and camaraderie, limitless opportunities, and openness. Our holistic approach to developing people is focused on empowerment, creativity and collaboration. CEB is a place where excellent performances and invaluable contributions are rewarded and recognized."

 

"We are proud to be recognised for our dedicated efforts and belief in our four core values -- make it happen, do what is right, challenge boundaries and cooperative spirit which serves as guiding principles for all of us to continually ingrain in our ways or working, As part of our ongoing efforts to instil a very positive corporate culture, our leaders and people embrace, live and breathe our core values and personify what we strongly stand for in Fonterra. 

 

"Winning this award also serves as a motivation for us to continue listening and focusing on our people to address what they want and implement programmes which will be relevant to them. We hope to win more industry awards in order to demonstrate how we stay true to our purpose of growing and enjoying life through dairy nutrition," says Mike, General Manager of Fonterra Brands Philippines.

 

Johnson & Johnson Philippines shares that "At Johnson & Johnson, we believe in winning with PEOPLE. We believe our people are the heart, mind and soul of the company. Our commitment to our employees is embedded in Our Credo, which makes the company responsible for their total well-being. 

 

We care for our employees by providing robust health and wellness programs, extensive healthcare benefits, energy management training, a wellness center, sports facilities, digital health tools, employee assistance program, wellness education, healthy cafeteria food, and many others. 

 

We value their time with families by providing flexible work arrangements, offering expanded parental leaves, having an onsite childcare facility, and offering summer programs for our employees' kids. Our caring also includes the community. We encourage all our employees to be involved in CSR work. 

 

We allow employees up to 2 paid days-off every year to be able to do work for the community. Our CSR advocacies cover diverse causes including social health, environment protection, maternal/infant mortality, children's education, and mental health. 

 

We also enable our employees to "bring their best selves to work" through our diversity & inclusion (D&I) programs, which include employee resource groups, leadership development & training, cross- functional and cross-border career opportunities and various other employee engagement initiatives."

 

"We aspire to participate this award to get recognition as an employer of choice in the Philippines. We very proud of our company and branding, we though this will be a way to validate and indicate our success," says Ryan Charland, President & CEO of Manulife Philippines.

 

"While we have received a number of awards in other areas of our business, this award gives us great satisfaction because this is about people. This affirms that what we are doing is right and good for our people who deserve nothing less," says Aibee Cantos, Chief Executive Officer of Philam Group.

 

"At the very heart of PUMAnila lies the "cat", our mother company PUMA whose culture of SPEED + SPIRIT flows worldwide across its organization. This award affirms that we are in the right way in encouraging our people to being driven and vibrant, working together, but at the same time being uniquely yourself," says Raymond Lim, Managing Director of PUMAnila IT Services Inc.

 

Puregold Price Club, Inc shares that "We remain true to our mission of providing personal and professional development of our employees. We let them grow in Puregold - they are our decision makers, enablers and influencers."

 

"Telstra as a company is very proud to take of its employees. We want, firstly, to understand where we can actually gauge against other companies," says Rosanne Suarez, Country Managing Director of Telstra International Philippines Inc.

 

Unilever Philippines shares that "Unilever is a place where you can bring your purpose to life with the work that you do -- creating a better business and a better world. We thank HR Asia Awards for this distinction and for allowing us to share our story and to reach more people towards our ambition of improving the lives of Filipinos through our everyday work." (mor/*).