Our Journey to Becoming a Great Place to Work

What does it take to create a workplace people love?

That’s something we’ve always strived for at BI WORLDWIDE across our 75+ years of history. In 2022, we decided to take it a step further by embarking on the Great Place to Work journey, following the footsteps of our other BI WORLDWIDE family members all over the world. We were looking for an external, independent perspective, not just to confirm what we were already doing right, but also to uncover new ways to improve through honest and unfiltered feedback. And while recognition from within our walls has always mattered, having an independent seal of approval validates the strength of our culture and helps us stay on track as we keep growing.

This journey has been as much about celebrating what we do well as it has been about identifying areas where we can improve. Here are a few of the key initiatives that have shaped our success and made these last three years truly meaningful:

?? Shared Experiences through Annual Incentive Trips One of the highlights has been our annual company trips, which have become a core part of who we are. Bringing everyone together every year has been worth it. The excitement before each trip is contagious, and these shared experiences have built stronger bonds within the team. Tying these trips to performance also makes them even more meaningful, in addition to being in line with core behavioural economics principles that non-cash, experiential rewards are more effective at motivating and engaging employees. Read more about why here.

?? Building Stronger HR Foundations Our HR processes have come a long way, evolving alongside the needs of our people. These days, every leader takes part in performance reviews, not just to check boxes but to ensure the process is transparent and fair for everyone. We’ve also aligned bonuses and merit increases with the value employees bring to BI WORLDWIDE. This shift has been key in keeping things equitable and making sure recognition is earned, not given out of favouritism. Even our employee handbook has evolved, balancing corporate policies with local nuances so that it stays relevant to our teams across markets.

?? Trusting Employees to Deliver Results Being results-focused hasn’t always been easy. Not everyone liked the move away from “face culture.” But I firmly believe that empowering employees to own their work is what drives real outcomes. Our solutions naturally support this by delivering recognition, training, and engagement digitally, making it easier for employees to thrive wherever they are. Of course, no policy is perfect, and yes, there’s always some level of risk. But treating employees like adults—trusting them to meet their goals and having honest conversations when expectations aren’t met—remains the way forward for us.

?? Making Work Easier through Digitalisation We’ve also invested in systems that make everyone’s work smoother, from HR to finance. Where there was once a lot of manual work, now there’s more time for what matters. These digital tools have been a game-changer, helping employees focus on high-value tasks.

?? Hiring for Culture, Not Just Skills Recruitment has been another key area. By refining our hiring process and bringing in people who align with our culture, we’ve strengthened our team dynamic. But credit also goes to our existing staff, who’ve been committed, reliable, and instrumental in creating the workplace we enjoy today.

??? Stronger Recognition from Day One We’ve doubled down on our recognition programme, which has always been part of our DNA. Leaders with larger teams now receive additional points, empowering them to celebrate their people more often. And, new hires (including those on contract) are now welcomed onto our recognition platform from day one, immersing them in our culture right away.

?? Supportive Leadership Makes It Possible Finally, none of this would have been possible without the unwavering support of our senior management. Every HR initiative required investment and leadership backing, and I’m grateful to have been part of a team that believes in prioritising people.

Celebrating three consecutive years in a row as a Great Place to Work (with a higher score every year) is a proud moment for BI Worldwide Asia Pacific, but it’s also a reminder that building a great culture is an ongoing journey. We’ll keep improving, pushing forward, and finding new ways to amplify our performance, because a truly great place to work is never complete and always evolving.

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