Meet three businesses that wouldn’t top anyone’s wish list thanks to their poor public profile – but say they’re fighting back by investing in people management
Foxconn
Shirley Powell, EMEA HR specialist: “When I joined in 2012, I was surprised to learn that Foxconn has traded in Europe for over 30 years. With a huge facility in Glasgow, we have been well respected as an employer for three decades. Our CEO, Terry Gau, could see the benefits of manufacturing in China before many of his competitors and today we’re helping to develop one of the most sought-after tech products, Google Glass.
“We’re the third biggest non-state-owned company in the world, and although I can’t control what happens with our one million employees in China, I wouldn’t risk damaging the ‘Shirley Powell brand’ by joining a company I wasn’t certain was compliant with all laws. In terms of employer brand, I think it has been comforting to see the company has addressed the issues widely reported in the press [around labour conditions in China].
“The European aspect of this role is what really appealed to me, but the company also allows me time for development, and I’m studying for a BA in business strategy, which I hope to put to use helping Foxconn succeed in the future.”
Bernard Matthews Ltd
Andrew Sherwood, HR director: “Virtually everyone in Norfolk knows someone who works here or has worked here. The fact that 50 per cent of our workforce has been here more than ten years, and 18 per cent for over 20 years, means we must be doing something right.
“The press reports of animal mistreatment and ‘Turkey Twizzler-gate’ are both pretty old and only really a couple of incidents in a 60-year-old business. Many people would consider the poultry and meat industry to be low-skilled and low-paid, but that really couldn’t be further than the truth here.
“I’m proud of what we do. We don’t have anyone on the minimum wage, we don’t use zero hours contracts and anyone doing the same job – even agency workers – is paid the same rate from day one.
“Raising seven million birds a year takes a lot of understanding of animal husbandry, and we have world-leading turkey expertise in-house. More than 3.5 million households eat a turkey supplied by Bernard Matthews every year, and trying to ensure we deliver that on time is a big challenge.”
Atos International
David Hill, HR director of operations: “I’ve had nine roles during my 14-year tenure at Atos, including a six-month spell in the wider business, to see what things are like from the other side. The breadth and depth of the company and the opportunity for career progression has really been the stay-factor for me, but also the chance to be really entrepreneurial.
“There is no doubt that in the last 18 months we’ve had challenges hiring and retaining healthcare practitioners, following the delivery of Work Capability Assessments. Not many people have heard of Atos in the UK, apart from our relationship with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), and although morale was hit [by negative headlines over treatment of benefits claimants], we haven’t any evidence to suggest that it has stopped people joining us.
“I am pretty proud of the role we play in administering government policy and we need to shout about the good services we deliver, for example the work we are doing with British Airways and the BBC.”