HR Corner Flexibility the code for staff morale by Isabella Lee Relaxed work atmosphere brings high-performing teams Rules and regulations regarding how to dress and strict office hours are usually the first things a company requires of its recruits. For Coles Group Asia, however, these business norms are not sacrosanct. For example, people can go to work in casual clothing such as jeans and they work flexible hours under a five-day work week scheme. They are free to visit the staff rest area to enjoy the harbour view and refreshments, and play a game of pool. "We focus more on our team members' effectiveness and performance, not the hours they stick to a desk," Mary Leighton, head of HR and administration, Coles Group Asia explains. "This may be attributed to our Australian culture and the emphasis we place on work-life balance." Coles Group Asia is the direct buying and sourcing office of Coles Group, one of Australia's largest retailers with more than 2,900 stores throughout Australia and New Zealand. The Australian-owned and listed company currently operates eight retail groups including freestanding general merchandise and apparel stores, supermarkets, office and technology supplies, an online home shopping service, convenience and destination liquor stores, and fuel and convenience stores. Today, the company employs a team of 360 people in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Dongguan. To cope with its business growth, the company is regularly looking for good people to fill up vacancies such as merchandisers, graphic designers, quality assurance (QA) technicians and quality control (QC) inspectors. "All team members have to contribute and work closely with each other" Great passion According to Ms Leighton, there is a good supply of talent for the merchandising team in Hong Kong. This is especially true in apparel and general goods merchandising where candidates usually come with a strong knowledge base and a good understanding in product sourcing, especially from China. Targeting the best of these applicants, Coles Group Asia requires people with solid product knowledge, good organisation skills and the ability to find the best sources for a range of products. They have to liase with many different parties including the buyers in Australia, hence proficiency in spoken and written English is essential. Keeping a passion for the products they work with is the key to success with Coles Group. "With that and the capability to find the right products, plus a proactive approach in sourcing good factories, they can be certain that the opportunities for promotion to senior merchandiser and subsequently regional merchandise manager are within reach," Ms Leighton says. Meanwhile, Ms Leighton points out that good graphic designers and product developers are comparatively more difficult to come by. It's not just because the company requires a minimum of three to five years' experience, but that it stresses expertise in technical and drawing skill sets and trend sensitivity. Maintaining good quality is vital. The company employs the best people who can ensure customers in Australia receive reliable services and high quality products. "Our QA technicians and supervisors possess strong technical skills and knowledge in production processes so as to set the standards for factories," Ms Leighton says. "Our QC inspectors, in turn, need to work closely with factories to ensure that they meet those standards. Therefore, they must possess good skills in Putonghua and English, plus expertise in problem-solving and a keen eye for detail." Team spirit In a bid to maintain a cooperative work attitude, merchandisers are required to meet individual shipment targets, as well as "buddy budgets" by working closely with teams across Shanghai and Hong Kong. "To achieve this goal, all team members have to contribute and work closely with each other. When they see opportunities, they are encouraged to share them among one another," Ms Leighton says. "To further support this, our performance-based bonus system is working well to enhance teamwork and individual productivity. It is a fair system that rewards those who make the extra effort, and is available to all team members in the company," she continues. Besides this special gratuity, the company provides a standard package to every member of staff. It includes medical and dental insurance, retirement benefits, 13 months of basic salary and 15 to 20 annual leave days. To ensure the company stays competitive in the job market, as Ms Leighton notes, her HR team keeps up with the remuneration trends by means of benchmarking. When searching for new blood, the company mainly relies on recruitment advertisements. There is also a staff referral programme where serving staff can get a cash prize for bringing a new hire into the company. Salient points - Choice of office attire and flexible working hours offer team members a sense of ownership - Focus on team members' effectiveness and performance, not desk-hours - Performance-based bonus system enhances teamwork and individual productivity - Ample career development opportunities for capable and aspiring individuals Taken from Career Times 23 March 2007, p. B18 Your comments are welcome at [email protected]