Translations

HEINEKEN promotes employee wellbeing with the Mons-en-Baroeul brewery leading the way

3. Labor relations / working conditions

Working conditions

Sector Food-processing

Year 2015

Country France

Transmitter

Context

Established in Amsterdam over 150 years ago, HEINEKEN has 1,300 employees and three breweries in France located in Mons-en-Baroeul (59), Marseille (13) and Schiltigheim (67). The HEINEKEN brewery in Mons-en-Baroeul is now the group’s main French brewery in terms of volume brewed and jobs.

In 2009 HEINEKEN was the first brewer in France to publish a Sustainable Development report on its “Brewing a better world” initiative, which aims to protect water resources, reduce CO2 emissions, source sustainably, encourage responsible alcohol consumption, promote the health and safety of its employees and encourage community commitment.

Objectives

Promote personal development and well-being at work
Reduce absenteeism and staff turnover

APPROACH

Welcoming and integrating new employees:
A special welcome awaits new operators and supervisors at the Mons-en-Baroeul brewery:
- "Brewery Welcome Day", where badges and safety equipment are distributed, a company presentation is made, etc.;
- "Induction Programme”: job "expectations" are presented (knowledge, skills and interpersonal skills).
Objectives: to welcome and follow the progress of newcomers, make their arrival at the brewery easier and help them to develop on-the-job skills. A manager follows employees’ progress, guides them and endorses the skills they acquire at 30-, 60- and 100-day intervals.

Cross-disciplinary dialogue is encouraged through various initiatives: suggestion boxes and management lunches where members of the brewery management team have lunch with employees, and managers change tables after each course, a bit like speed dating.

Organisation of events to strengthen bonds, enjoy some down-time together and celebrate successes:
- An annual "Brewery Day" with all employees;
- Celebration of the successful introduction of a new range of packaging with the Chairmen of HEINEKEN France and Comex in attendance.

CONTRIBUTION TO COMPANY PERFORMANCE

Deployment of the “Induction Programme” at the two other breweries (Schiltigheim and Marseille);
89% of employees are “proud to work at HEINEKEN” (internal satisfaction survey for HEINEKEN France).

Benefits

3.38% of the total salary bill allocated to training (HEINEKEN France);
“Top Employer” for the 6th consecutive year in 2014 (HEINEKEN France).