THE SEARCH IS on once again to find the best employers in Barbados.
For the second time, Caribbean Catalyst has partnered with BARBADOS BUSINESS AUTHORITY and the Nation Publishing Co. Limited to stage the Barbados’ Best Employers Programme which will recognize and honour organizations with exemplary human resource practices, policies and programmes.
During the launch yesterday at the Courtyard Marriott, managing director of consulting firm Caribbean Catalyst, Rosalind Jackson, said the biennial programme, which is open to public and private sector companies of all sizes, was intended to highlight and improve national productivity and organizational profitability.
Small, medium and large companies will once again be assessed in ten areas including business strategy, compensation and benefits, employee communications, work/life balance and community involvement.
Jackson noted that employee engagement was the overall goal.
“We will be providing each company surveyed in BBE 2012 with an engagement index for their people as well as comparisons on how that index stacks up to the average index of all companies in their category and all participating companies across the three categories,” she said.
Although the programme was not able to attract any non-governmental organizations or statutory corporations in 2010, the managing director said a special effort would be made to encourage them to enter this year.
Meanwhile, chief executive officer of the Nation Publishing Company Vivian-Anne Gittens said the initiative can do a lot for businesses and human resources in Barbados.
“This programme is not just about recognizing HR practices but about encouraging all companies to strive for excellence in their approach to human resources development.
“It is my hope that together we can help Caribbean Catalyst to grow the BBE brand so that it becomes a highly visible and recognized badge of honour these companies can showcase with pride in promotions and be immediately recognized as leading from the front . . . ,” she said.
In 2010, Globe Finance, Fed-Ex Express and Scotiabank won in the small, medium and large categories respectively. (NB)
