At a time when the public discourse is being dominated by talk of job losses, a pioneering initiative which salutes local organisations showing “exemplary human resource practices, policies and programmes” has returned.
And key figures involved in the biennial Barbados’ Best Employers (BBE) Award programme say important issues such as human resource management and improved productivity will once again be brought to the fore.
The BBE, which was conceptualised by Caribbean Catalyst and held for the first time in 2010 in partnership with The Nation Publishing Co. Limited, will be launched tomorrow at the Savannah Hotel, Hastings, Christ Church.
Caribbean Catalyst managing director Rosalind Jackson told BARBADOS BUSINESS AUTHORITY her organisation was “pleased to be launching the third of our biennial BBE” and looked forward to “having a record number of companies participate”.
“As we prepare to launch BBE 2014 we recognise that it is even more important, in our current economic reality, for companies to focus on leading for genuine engagement of all team members to promote and engender improved productivity,” she said.
“At the official launch on Tuesday we will be sharing some innovations to the 2014 programme.”
Nation publisher and chief executive officer Vivian-Anne Gittens congratulated Catalyst for mounting the competition and said her organisation was proud to sponsor the 2014 BBE programme.
“We have supported this competition from inception because we see human resources as the most vital resources, serving like the lifeblood of any organisation. Therefore, to establish and maintain high standards and practices in human resources management is worthy of public recognition,” Gittens said.
“I encourage all human resources managers to participate in this year’s competition. Even if your company does not win an award, you will be able to benchmark your performance as well as improve your understanding of the metrics of successful human resources management.”
The BBE programme is open to locally based public and private sector organisations of all sizes. Catalyst noted that with there being a concerted focus on increasing national productivity in recent years, it was “imperative, therefore, that organisations continue to understand the elements that best motivate their people toward productivity and excellence”.
“The Barbados’ Best Employers Award focuses on the human resource practices and climate of organisations and showcases companies that demonstrate a commitment to their human resources through the adoption of progressive employment strategies,” it added.
(SC)
