Every year, Netherlands-based Top Employers Institute evaluates the HR practices and programs of companies around the world, awarding certification to qualified entrants—and recognizing those on the leading edge of HR with its coveted Global Top Employer status. This year, the organization selected 16 agencies for this honor, including two based in the United States.
Announced this week, the list includes Philip Morris International, which earned the title for the fifth year running, and PepsiCo, a new addition to the list.
Top Employers Institute assesses companies’ HR functions on six dimensions: their ability to steer strategy; shape transformation; attract employees; develop the workforce; engage employees; and unite workers through culture. Applicants had to provide evidence-backed responses to 400 questions across 20 subtopics.
Ultimately, nearly 1,700 companies were certified this year—which has been one that presented substantial hardships for companies, said Top Employers Institute CEO David Plink in a statement.
“In addition to the adverse impacts on global health systems and economies, businesses faced the significant hurdle of supporting their people in adapting to new ways of work,” Plink said. “In our research, we were glad to see that Top Employers put their employees first from the outset of the global health crisis. They responded and adapted quickly to the ever-changing situation.”
Certified companies shared an increased focus on wellbeing in the past year, along with prioritizing employees’ work/life balance and commuting times, Plink added.
Adrian Shooter, global head of integrated talent management at PMI, says the recognition “speaks to our continued excellence in HR practices and our ability to meet the needs of a modern workforce.” The organization’s pivot to creating a “smoke-free future” has “spurred the energy and passion” of PMI’s 73,500-person global workforce behind its “efforts to deliver change for adult smokers, who would otherwise continue smoking, and for society,” Shooter adds.
See also: How Philip Morris is driving diversity during crisis
Ronald Schellekens, executive vice president and CHRO PepsiCo., told HRE that the Global Top Employer honor signifies that the company is “passionate about building a positive and inclusive culture, with strong employee enrichment opportunities.” It also speaks to the organization’s values, what it calls “The PepsiCo Way,” he says.
Beyond the Global Top Employer recognition, PepsiCo was certified as a Top Employer in Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America and 27 countries, which he says is “indicative of how our values and inclusive culture cascade around the world.”
The 12 Global Top Employers with headquarters outside of the U.S. are: