Holiday Inn 2008 Annual Report Download - page 24

22 IHG Annual Report and Financial Statements 2008
In December 2008, an online leadership development system
was launched providing cost-effective and high-quality
development and communication to all of our senior leaders. The
‘Leaders Lounge’, as the site is known, provides input from the
Chief Executive and the Executive Committee on key issues and
challenges for the business as well as inputs from external
business thinkers.
The succession planning process for senior leadership roles has
continued in 2008, enabling IHG to manage changes in leadership.
In addition to a number of planned internal senior appointments,
IHG has also recruited externally for several key positions to ensure
that the Group brings in the best people to contribute to our
development in the longer term.
Room for you
IHG’s compensation and benefits programmes are designed to be
competitive and to recognise and reward achievement. The benefits
offered to employees vary according to region. IHG contributes to
both mandatory and company-sponsored retirement plans to ensure
benefits are competitive within each local market. IHG’s employee
survey indicates that the majority of employees believe they are fairly
paid for the work they do.
The Group offers a range of benefits that are aimed at helping
employees to achieve a better work/life balance. Healthcare
is provided to some staff groups and, in our Americas region,
programmes are in place to help employees maintain a healthy
lifestyle and also reduce the cost of health insurance claims.
In some regions employee assistance programmes offer a
confidential counselling service to help employees deal with
financial and legal matters, relationship problems and stress.
An online performance management system was launched for
selected groups of employees which enables them to align their
objectives to IHG’s strategy and review their performance. The
Group also encourages managers to acknowledge employee
achievements or contributions as part of our Winning Ways culture.
Celebrating diversity
IHG benefits from the diversity of its employees, owners, business
partners and guests. The Group regards diversity as a fundamental
factor in its success in operating as a global organisation and this
principle is embedded in IHG’s Winning Ways.
The Group is committed to providing equality of opportunity
to all employees without discrimination and continues to be
supportive of the employment of disabled persons. Where existing
employees become disabled, it is the Group’s policy to provide
continuing employment wherever practical in the same or a
suitable alternative position.
IHG won two of the 16 awards at the UK’s Springboard Awards
for Excellence 2008 in Hospitality, Leisure, Travel and Tourism:
The Holiday Inn Kensington Forum picked up the award for
Diversity in Employment, recognising our highly integrated
approach to recruiting disabled people. Working in partnership
with Jobcentre Plus, Remploy, RNIB (Royal National Institute
of Blind People) and the Shaw Trust, IHG conducted targeted
recruitment drives specifically designed to encourage diversity in
employment and attract people with disabilities into the hospitality
industry. Disability Open Days helped to build awareness and
self-confidence, and pre-work training and job trials matched
people to jobs that would suit them, resulting in filling 21 vacancies
and providing another 19 work placements.
The Holiday Inn Coventry received the award for the Best Initiative
to Attract Chefs, for working with ex-offenders to tap into a new
pool of talent. A comprehensive 16-week chef development
programme was implemented in prisons in the Midlands, resulting
in employment within our hotels and by other local employers.
This has made a positive difference to the individuals concerned
and their families, and to the industry and the wider community
by reducing re-offending and related costs, as well as helping
with IHG’s own recruitment programme.
External recognition
During the year, IHG won a number of prestigious awards in
recognition of its people management and HR practices. The
Company won the Employer Branding award, sponsored by Peer
Group Communications, at the Personnel Today Awards 2008.
IHG was declared Britain’s Most Admired leisure and hospitality
company for the second year running. The award is from Britain’s
longest running and most respected business awards programme,
Management Today’s Britain’s Most Admired Companies Awards 2008.
IHG was also the 14th Most Admired Company overall, up from
17th last year.
In addition, one of our employees was recognised for her
contribution to the HR profession. Ghadir Zohny, Assistant
Personnel Manager & Training Co-ordinator from Crowne Plaza
Resort Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt, was awarded HR Person of the
Year at the Hotelier Middle East Awards 2008.
Economic conditions
The trading environment changed in October 2008 and regretfully
a limited redundancy programme was put in place, affecting
corporate teams in the UK, Atlanta and Singapore, to ensure the
business operates cost effectively during the economic downturn.
As these were largely structural changes, voluntary redundancies
were not sought and all opportunities to mitigate job losses
were explored. Outplacement services were offered to those
affected to provide support to the individuals and access to
external job opportunities.
In addition to the redundancy programme, in December 2008 the
Board determined that there would be a pay freeze for all grades
during 2009 except in areas of the world where inflation rates
would make this difficult to sustain.
Ensuring health and safety
IHG applies high standards of health and safety for the benefit
of all employees and guests. The Group strives to provide and
maintain a safe environment for all employees, customers and
other visitors to its premises and requires all parties to comply
with relevant health and safety legislation. Further information
can be found on page 25 of this Business Review, the Corporate
Reputation section of the Annual Review and Summary Financial
Statement 2008 and in the online Corporate Responsibility Report
at www.ihg.com/responsibility
Business review continued