Best Employers 2013 announced

It is that time of year again: Aon Hewitt’s Best Employers List has been released. Who made the cut and what did they do right?

It is that time of year again: Aon Hewitt’s Best Employers List has been released. Who made the cut and what did they do right?

Despite the uncertain economic climate, organisations that retain focus on employee engagement are the ones fairing the best.

“All employers are confronted by the same set of economic circumstances,” Stephen Hickey, employment engagement lead at Aon Hewitt said when discussing the results of 2013’s Best Employers List. As always, this year’s results are based on those with the highest levels of employee engagement and outstanding people practices.

Hickey indicated employers with better people practices would find themselves with better overall return. “In essence, while we continue to see Best Employers engaging, building leadership and taking a differentiated position in the employment market, the strategy for delivery has evolved over the last few years. Difficult times are not the factor. It’s how we respond to them that counts,” he said.

By way of example, Hickey cited Marriott Hotels & Resorts, which achieved Best of the Best status, as an organisation that has demonstrated excellence in a number of key areas.

This includes its ability to promote a highly aligned culture that supports the overall company aim of consistent and superior customer service. The company has also had to address attracting and retaining quality employees despite local skills shortages and relatively high wage costs at a time of global cost constraint and productivity focus. 

Of the 125 organisations reviewed, the following made Aon Hewitt’s Best Employers List of 2013:

Bristol-Myers Squibb

Chorus

Cooper Grace Ward Lawyers

Employment Innovations

Express Data, FedEx Express (New Zealand)

Fiat Chrysler Group

Frucor Beverages Australia

Frucor Beverages New Zealand

Hilti (Aust.) Pty Ltd

Marriott Hotels & Resorts

Millward Brown Australia

Peoplebank Australia Limited, Shire Australia Pty Ltd

Silver Chef Ltd, Smartsalary Pty Ltd

STIHL Pty Ltd

The Wrigley Company Limited

Wood & Grieve Engineers

 

Key HR take-aways

What can organisations do to top the list next year? Aon Hewitt advised a few points that HR can take-away from this year’s findings:

  • Best Employers achieve four times higher profit growth than other organisations

  • Organisations with high employee engagement achieve 50% higher Total Shareholder Return outcomes than others

  • In 2012 and 2013, 38% of organisations improved their level of employee engagement

  • 83% of Best Employers have an explicit employer brand

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