Tyre makers top in employment surveys

Michelin and Goodyear have ranked highly is separate workplace surveys carried out in the US.

Michelin North America reports that on 17 June it received the 2013 AARP Best Employers for Workers Over 50 award. This is the sixth time the company has been honoured by the AARP since the award program was created in 2001; previously Michelin was also recognised in 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011.

Co-sponsored by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), this biennial award acknowledges organisations with strong programmes for mature workers. “For Michelin, this recognition by AARP is important because we value the rich talent associated with our more experienced employees,” said Wayne Culbertson, chief human resources officer and executive vice-president of Michelin North America. “We cultivate our multigenerational talent so that when people join our company, they stay for their career. Nearly 40 per cent of our population is 50 and older, and their average tenure of service is 23.5 years. Because we invest significantly in training and development, we have generated a culture where employees are continually challenged no matter where they are in their career. ”

 Michelin says it provides several initiatives that benefit older workers including a strong focus on employee wellness, a formalised mentoring program to ensure knowledge is shared among different generations and a diverse community of rehired retirees who stay involved with company activities and even come back to manage projects and participate in community relations efforts. The company uses feedback from an annual employee engagement survey to develop action plans that address key areas for improvement.

Goodyear Tire & Rubber has been ranked as one of the top workplaces in northeast Ohio by WorkplaceDynamics, the fastest-growing employee survey company in the United States.

The Top 100 list features a mix of the best large, mid-sized and small companies.  Goodyear was ranked on the Top 25 list of large companies. The achievement is based on results from a survey completed by 500 of Goodyear’s Akron-area associates in late 2012, before the company’s move to its new global headquarters building.

“Having top talent and top teams is critical to Goodyear’s achievement of our corporate objectives,” said Joseph B. Ruocco, senior vice-president, Global Human Resources.  “These survey results will help us further improve our efforts to attract, develop, motivate and retain the best team of associates in the industry.”

WorkplaceDynamics recognises companies with the highest levels of organizational health, defined as strong execution, direction and connection with employees.  The company partners with more than 30 leading publishers across the US to produce regional Top Workplaces lists.