Another Lithuanian company, the joint-stock company "Kauno grūdai," has become the first representative of the Lithuanian food industry sector to supplement the prestigious "Top employer 2023" list, recognized worldwide as a compilation of the best employers in the country.
Until now, only nine companies in Lithuania held this recognition, and the obtained certificate signifies that the organization prioritizes employee well-being and working conditions.
The increasing number of companies in Lithuania receiving the "Top Employer Institute" certificate is a sign that the country continues to foster a culture of employers, human resource management practices, and standards of working conditions.
"The 'Top Employer' certificate is recognized worldwide, so this assessment is important for our entire organization and for every current and future employee. It is not just another certificate but a commitment to continue maintaining and improving working conditions. Such audits are an excellent opportunity and tool to check whether we are on the right path. Comprehensive attention to employees is a crucial part of overall business success," said Andrius Pranckevičius, the CEO of Kauno Grūdai.
The certificate is obtained only after an audit conducted by the independent Netherlands-based "Top Employer Institute," a globally recognized international certification program for companies aiming to continually enhance their personnel management processes and ensure safe, motivating, and encouraging working conditions for employees.
According to Irena Aleksiūnienė, HR Manager at "Kauno Grūdai," the thorough audit by the "Top Employer Institute" covers various aspects of organizational activities, from strategy to employee well-being, making it a valuable tool for any company seeking to improve its internal processes and competitiveness. A total of 350 criteria in 20 areas, such as employee engagement, social responsibility, workforce planning, and leadership culture promotion, are evaluated.
During the audit, the joint-stock company "Kauno Grūdai" received the highest ratings in business strategy, work environment, human resource development, and digitization of personnel processes.
Employee well-being and health are prioritized aspects of HR strategies, reflecting global human resource trends where HR management strategy becomes an integral part of business strategy.
"Behind every process in an organization is a person, and the implementation of any strategy is impossible without human touch. That's why workforce planning and comprehensive employee well-being and health are our priority areas," emphasized I. Aleksiūnienė.
Various initiatives contribute to achieving these goals, such as an internal project for employees focusing on health, sports, and active leisure. This program allows employees to engage in sports throughout the year in chosen sports disciplines, promoting community spirit through regular internal tournaments and a major summer sports event.
"To create a positive atmosphere and a good experience at work, we have many tools: we congratulate employees and their families on various annual celebrations, organize recreational and educational events, annually select and award colleagues who demonstrate the greatest efforts, provide health insurance to employees, and have a variety of initiatives to nurture a positive internal culture. Special attention is given to our newcomers – we want to help them integrate smoothly and easily into the team and work environment. We welcome them with newcomer gifts and organize breakfasts with the manager. In general, shared traditions and rituals greatly promote a sense of teamwork and involvement," said I. Aleksiūnienė, HR Manager at "Kauno grūdai."
