One of Sri Lanka’s fastest-growing licensed finance companies, Mahindra IDEAL Finance Limited recently marked yet another milestone on its journey of being an employer of choice, as it was ranked amongst the 15 Best Workplaces for Millennials™ in Sri Lanka 2022, by Great Place to Work®. The achievement is significant as Mahindra IDEAL Finance has been working hard to position itself and deliver on being the employer of choice for young professionals looking to build careers in the financial services space. The accolade was presented to Mahindra IDEAL Finance Limited at the Great Place to Work® in Sri Lanka awards ceremony, held on the 6^th of September 2022 at the Hilton Colombo.

Expressing pleasure at receiving the accolade, Mr Duminda Weerasekare, Chief Executive Officer at Mahindra IDEAL Finance said, “It is a privilege to be ranked among the 15 Best Workplaces for Millennials™ in Sri Lanka for 2022. We believe our sincere intention of caring for and moulding our young team, while moving forward despite external challenges, has been recognized. This also helps us to better present our proposition to young professionals considering a career in the financial services sector, as we are presently in the midst of a massive islandwide network expansion drive. If you are looking to make a name for yourself in this space, then Mahindra IDEAL Finance could be the ideal platform for you.”

From its inception, Mahindra IDEAL Finance has been committed to being a caring and trustworthy employer, understanding the fundamental truth that human capital is the most valuable capital of all. Particularly during the pandemic, the Company went to exceptional lengths to ensure the safety, security and health of its employees in all aspects, both physical and psychological, at work and at home. Mahindra IDEAL Finance has also striven to foster and drive a performance-based culture that provides a meritocratic mechanism for advancement to provide maximum potential for personal and professional development, in the shortest possible time. The Company values each of its team members individually and is keenly cognizant of their roles in making Mahindra IDEAL Finance one of Sri Lanka’s leading and fastest-growing licensed finance companies.

The ranking of the Great Place to Work® List of Best Workplaces for Millennials™ in Sri Lanka 2022 was undertaken in accordance with Great Place to Work®’s rigorous 2 lens model of the Trust Index© employee survey and the Culture Audit© people practice analysis framework and matched the global qualification criteria required to be a Great Workplace. The study was conducted by assessing 72,350 employees at an 85% response rate across more than 160 organizations in Sri Lanka from July 2021 to June 2022. Nearly 20,000 Millennials responded to the anonymous survey. The assessment for the list of Best Workplaces for Millennials also further considered organizations with 20% or more millennials, with 70% or more having a positive perception of their employer. Organizations that scored higher on collaboration, work-life balance, non-discrimination by age, meaningful work, making a difference, contributing to society and pride in the organization, attributes considered valuable by millennials, were also ranked higher in the list.

Having been tipped as one of the Best Workplaces ™ in Sri Lanka for 3 years consecutively, Mahindra IDEAL Finance Limited is an employer of choice within the financial services space in Sri Lanka. The Company’s rapid network expansion drive, which is creating many new opportunities for young and aspiring professionals, was launched subsequent to Mahindra and Mahindra Financial Services Limited, India acquiring a controlling stake in IDEAL Finance Limited in 2021, soon after which Fitch Ratings upgraded the Company’s rating to AA – (lka) with a stable outlook, in recognition of the Company now being backed by a global financial services giant.

McLarens Group, one of Sri Lanka’s largest diversified conglomerates with a rich heritage spanning over seven decades, was ranked at the 9th place in Best Workplaces in Asia for 2022 in the large organizations category by the global authority on workplace culture, Great Place to Work®. Further, the company was awarded in the categories of Best Workplaces for Women in Sri Lanka 2022; and for the 7th consecutive time, Best Workplaces in Sri Lanka 2022; by Great Place to Work® in Sri Lanka.

Whilst being a Great Place to Work® Certified employer since 2016, McLarens Group continues to foster a culture of empowerment across all its business sectors. The Group is committed to actively adapting novel corporate practices with the goal of promoting an environment of empowerment, loyalty, personal touch, passion and flexibility.

The recognition for the ‘Best Workplaces’ is based on confidential and anonymous survey data, assessing employee experiences of trust, innovation, company values and leadership, and a submission on its people practices. Companies are also evaluated on how well they are creating a ‘For All’ workplace experience, inclusive of all employees no matter who they are and what they do.

The survey completed by its employees showed a 95 percent confidence level and a margin of error of ± 5. Additionally, McLarens Group won Gold in the Medium Enterprise Category at the Best Workplaces in Sri Lanka 2022 awards ceremony.

Commenting on the accolades, Shehara De Silva, Managing Director of McLarens Group said, “We are honored to be recognized in these three categories by Great Place to Work® in Sri Lanka. Over the previous years, we have been able to grow endlessly as one corporate family despite the difficulties forced by the global pandemic and new normal trends. The resilience and resistance showcased by our employees were the foundation of our Group's success. We trust and believe that these values are firmly embedded into our culture and are the driving forces, as a Group, to achieve excellence. It is their unique contribution that makes us who we are. We as leaders understand that cultivating a great workplace culture is fundamental to the Group’s constant growth and success. It is essential that our employees feel encouraged and inspired daily.”

Gapstars - a B2B service provider helping innovative Dutch software companies grow rapidly with high-performing agile offshore development teams in Sri Lanka, was recently recognized in the ‘Top 100 Workplace in Asia’ by Great Place to Work® 2022!

Gapstars is no stranger to the GPTW stage - having been named in Top 10 IT/ITes Workplaces in Sri Lanka, Top 10 Places to Work for Millennials, Top 50 Workplaces in Sri Lanka, and awarded as a Great Place to Work for the fifth consecutive year in 2022.

The list which is released annually celebrates organisations such as Gapstars that have differentiated themselves by creating a great place to work for employees across the board. Gapstars is recognised for its inclusive, employee-first culture and the manner in which it leads with empathy and equity, empowering its employees to continuously pursue learning, growth and development whilst also having a healthy work/life balance.

Commenting on the recent GPTW awards, Gapstars Pvt Ltd, CEO - Hugo Hemmen, stated: “We've always cared about the happiness and growth of our people, and being amongst the Top 100 best places to work in Asia proves that we have been creating positive experiences. I couldn't be prouder of the sense of belonging and family that we have built here at Gapstars!”

Gapstars hopes to continue championing a culture driven by belonging, camaraderie and empathy, through their progressive human resources practices and strong focus on providing equal opportunities for all their members. With the current economic crisis at hand, all members have confidential access to in-house counsellors and mental health services, and receive salaries pegged to the Euro, shuttle services to combat the fuel shortage, and are also achieving their sustainable energy goals by providing solar inverters to their employees to avoid disturbances created by the ongoing power outages.

Gapstars was founded in 2015 and is currently under the leadership of its Co-Founder & CEO - Hugo Hemmen, and Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer - David Bijker. The international company provides software development services for start-ups and scale-ups based in Europe. Due to the high demand for its services the company is growing rapidly. As of today, Gapstars has a workforce of 190+ employees based in Colombo and seeks to expand the team to 300+ engineers by the end of 2023.

AIA Insurance was the only insurer to win the LEGEND title at the GPTW awards ceremony held recently in Colombo, surpassing the legendary 10 years as a Great Place to Work. This tremendous journey of AIA is a testament to its continued commitment in creating a diverse, inclusive and equitable culture rooted in the well-being and professional growth of all employees.

Great workplace cultures are built to last. Within the company, AIA creates and develops programmes that promote a healthy and innovative work culture while empowering employees to thrive at work and in life. Through shared experiences and collaboration in overcoming challenges, employees at AIA forge meaningful connections as supportive teammates while shaping an engaged and motivated culture that creates a community spirit and even family-like atmosphere.

AIA’s Chief Executive Officer Chathuri Munaweera commented, “A great place to work starts with a culture that enables us to have the opportunity to reach our potential. Being recognised as a Legend in creating a Great Place to Work by our employees for ten consecutive years is an incredible honour, a great source of pride and a testament to the strength and consistency of our culture. AIA Sri Lanka is a legend because it inspires, impacts and has touched the lives of many in such a positive way. It is the people of AIA that enables this with passion and purpose. This difference we make as an organisation starts with every individual at AIA. I thank the leaders at AIA at all levels for empowering our people to be their best and make a difference in their own unique way. Providing growth opportunities through great training, development and experience is a key enabler of this process and ultimately it goes to facilitate great value to customers.​”

AIA’s Director Human Resources Thushari Perera added, “amid lockdowns and hybrid work arrangements, a key priority for us was to ensure that we continue to support our people so they can continue to do great work. We have always ensured that the right tools were provided to collaborate, communicate and connect irrespective of their work arrangements. At AIA, we don’t simply believe in being the ‘The Best’, we believe in better because there’s no limit to how far better can take us.  We strive to create an environment where every one of our people feel seen, safe, connected and courageous. This guides us to not only how we treat one another, but how we serve our clients and how we support the communities where we live and work.”

With a rich heritage and an innovative mindset, AIA Insurance encourages job seekers with a fresh perspective, a collaborative mindset, and a sense of relentless curiosity to join us and be a part of our journey.

DIMO, a leading diversified conglomerate in Sri Lanka, received the coveted Great Place To Work Legends status, following its 10^th consecutive win at the Great Place To Work (GPTW) awards held recently.

DIMO has once again demonstrated its commitment towards maintaining a healthy culture and a supportive workplace with inclusivity, empowerment, sincere concern for the welfare of the employees, and alignment towards the leadership vision.

In her remarks after DIMO’s recognition for the 10^th consecutive year, Dilrukshi Kurukulasuriya, Executive Director and Group Chief Human Resources Officer stated, "Given how well we have navigated the challenges of the pandemic and how we've also managed to adapt to new methods of working, it is heartening to see that the DIMO Tribe continues to appreciate our responses to the new normal. Despite all the changes, and the demand for uncompromised performance, our humane approach to managing people has won.  Being consistently acknowledged for our conscious efforts for 10 years in a row, confirms that our efforts are in the right direction towards our purpose of fuelling the dreams and aspirations of our valued employees.”

DIMO manages business operations in a number of fields while also maintaining overall employee well-being at the forefront to pursue goals and aspirations. With its employee value proposition making work enjoyable and rewarding, DIMO has been developing the greatest people practices with the same focus for decades. Its varied business activities are significant for an organization that opens doors to diverse groups of talent. Best talent from all backgrounds and skill sets are welcomed at DIMO based only on merit, thus building an inclusive work culture where everyone thrives as one team.

DIMO empowers and values the freedom of its employees and prioritizes their voice at all times. On the other hand, the purposeful work actively binds every employee to the mission of the company and enables two-way communication through DIMO’s open door policy. In order to promote professional development, both within and outside of DIMO, upskilling and reskilling staff through a variety of capacity-building programs has always been a top priority of DIMO’s growth strategy.

DIMO has built an agile and resilient workforce which reacts to change with confidence regardless of the situation, be it a pandemic, a great resignation or the demanding digital transition. The trust factor among its employees is strengthened by authentic leadership, transparency and inclusion of all stakeholders at every stage. DIMO provides employees with the tools, knowledge, and assistance to face challenges head on. Such is demonstrated through its boundless energy and tenacity. DIMO leadership continues to strengthen the cognitive, emotional and physical bond between the company and its people by recognizing the strengths and aspirations of the valued employees.

The DIMO Tribe, as a whole, has been motivated by the focus placed on inclusiveness, meritocracy and equal opportunity. The collaborative culture encourages employees to think creatively and execute good ideas in perfection. Employee confidence to fully explore their potential and accelerate growth has increased as a result of the DEI focused recruitment, development and growth processes. The employees have developed a strong sense of belonging towards their workplace and have a greater sense of purpose, thanks to DIMO's conscious inclusion of everyone in its progress. The ongoing efforts to improve the DEI focus have shown the company's commitment to progress and as a result, has given rise to a great deal of pride.

DIMO, as a corporate that has opened doors for a diverse pool of tribe members, firmly believes in directing, supporting, motivating and recognizing high-performing individuals to achieve corporate goals through an engaged and aligned workforce.

Image Caption: Management representatives of DIMO and HR team at the GPTW awards ceremony

One of the best workplaces for millennials in Sri Lanka!

Prime Group was recently listed among the 100 Best Workplaces in Asia for 2022 by Great Place to Work® in Small and Medium Enterprise Category. The recognition came amidst a concerted effort by its management and staff to overcome the challenges posed by the economic crisis faced by the country.

Welcoming the recognition, Co-Chairperson of the Prime Group, Sandamini Perera said, “This is indeed a great achievement for us. Our staff is our backbone. They are the heavy-lifters. They take pride in their work. We have been participating in the GPTW survey since 2015, and we learned how to shape our HR practices to the new norm considering the framework of GPTW. The survey gave us input on all our internal practices, governance frameworks, policies and procedures from the employees' perspectives. We used these insights and adapted ourselves to driving a people-oriented culture. We have been consistently ranked among the best in Sri Lanka. To be ranked among the best in Asia is very satisfying.”

Great Place to Work®, headquartered in the USA, is the global authority on high-trust, high-performance workplace cultures^TM. Through proprietary assessment tools, advisory services, and certification programs, including Best Workplaces lists and workplace reviews, Great Place to Work® provides the benchmarks, framework, and expertise needed to create, sustain, and recognize outstanding workplace cultures. Great Place to Work® provides executive advisory and culture consulting services to businesses, non-profits, and government agencies in over 100 countries and territories across five continents, including Sri Lanka.

Great Place to Work identifies Best Workplaces in Asia™ by surveying over 1 million employees in Asia and the Middle East about the key factors that create great workplaces for all and analyzing company workplace programs impacting over 4.7 million employees in the region.

Prime Group prides itself on its engagement with its staff. “During the pandemic, our aim was to ensure the safety of our staff and take care of them,” Perera said. “Therefore, we continuously checked on their well-being. Post-pandemic, we successfully achieved our sales targets that were unachievable during the lockdowns.”

“We also looked after them well where unwell employees were provided with essentials, and constant contact was maintained over the phone to ensure that they didn't feel isolated mentally.  For instance, we created all-staff WhatsApp groups which are very lively, responsive and have brought us closer together. Because we value our team more than anything and we are thankful to our staff who supported each other and the business by being cooperative, flexible and committed during this difficult period.”

Continuing she said, “At Prime Group, we always open doors. Whether it is the door to a new home, the keys to the lifestyle you have always wanted or access to prime communities and neighborhoods that you and your family can truly feel a part of, and we empower our employees to accomplish their career goals. As a complete real-estate solutions provider for over 26-years, we are creating livable and loveable neighborhoods, bringing together lands, homes and communities across the nations, committing to our vision of ‘Creating a Better Place on Earth’. This recognition is very much for our staff. We are very proud of them.”

Prime Group has also been recognized as one of the top workplaces for millennials in the country by Great Place to Work Sri Lanka. Prime Lands fulfils several factors that millennials care about in their jobs, Sandamini Perera said. “One of them is new-age technology. As the leading real estate developer in the country, we use the latest systems in almost all our processes to give employees the flexibility to perform their duties in a relaxed environment during this challenging period. They care about career opportunities, so we give them that and more. Our open communication policy allows them to convey their ideas and views about their performance, day-to-day activities, job roles and growth prospects. At the same time, employee well-being is one of our core values where we concentrate on the physical and mental well-being of all employees, especially the young. We promote corporate social responsibility programmes that resonate with millennials who care deeply about giving back to society,” she added.

Hemas Pharmaceuticals, Sri Lanka’s foremost pharmaceutical importer and distributor for over seven decades, was certified as a great workplace by the independent analysts at Great Place to Work® in Sri Lanka. Hemas Pharmaceuticals employees engaged in a multi-faceted anonymous survey conducted by Great Place to Work® on their workplace and provided extensive ratings based on which the company earned this valuable credential.

For over seven decades, Hemas Pharmaceuticals has been a leading importer and distributor of Pharmaceutical, Surgical and Diagnostics, Consumer Health, and Animal Health Products in Sri Lanka. This is as a result of passionate and dedicated teams who are committed to making healthful living happen across the communities we serve.

“We are delighted and honoured to be recognized as a Great Place to Work® in Sri Lanka as we believe that a work culture that encourages and supports teams play a vital role in the growth of any business.  For us, it is important that our teams are happy and that they understand the role they play in helping our communities. We spend a majority of our time during the day at work, and it determines the quality of our behavior, happiness and above all, our sense of self-worth”, said Jude Fernando, Managing Director, Hemas Pharmaceuticals and Hemas Surgical & Diagnostics commenting on the recognition”.

According to Great Place to Work®, a great workplace is one in which employees no matter who they are and what they do for the organisation are having a consistently positive experience of trusting their leaders, enjoying the people they work with, and having pride in what they do. It is an honour for the company to be recognized by their employees as an organisation that fosters respect, trust and fairness.

"We applaud Hemas Pharmaceuticals for seeking employees' feedback and the opportunity to certify itself," said Kshanika Ratnayake, CEO of Great Place to Work® in Sri Lanka. "These ratings measure its capacity to earn its own employees' trust and create a great workplace - critical metrics that anyone considering working for or doing business with Hemas Pharmaceuticals should take into account as an indicator of high performance."

Continued focus on employee engagement and trust sees 99x listed for the tenth consecutive year

Leading Sri Lankan technology company 99x was recently awarded the Great Place to Work (GPTW) ‘Legend’ status by the Great Place to Work Institute, following their achievements for the tenth consecutive year. The coveted position highlights 99x’s unwavering commitment to maintaining an open and diverse workplace for employees and standing by its workforce amidst unprecedented times. This year, the company was also ranked as a Best Workplace and a Best IT/ITES Workplace in Sri Lanka.

Since its inaugural placing on the Great Place to Work’s Cultural Audit in 2013, 99x has consistently been named as one of Sri Lanka’s best workplaces, ranking itself as a Best Workplace in Asia for four consecutive years from 2018 to 2021 and now attaining Legend status, one of only three companies to do so in the country. 99x congratulates AIA and DIMO for their outstanding people practices through the years.

Despite the challenging times posed by harsh macroeconomic conditions, 99x has maintained its people-focus by implementing timely corrective measures. Achieving the Legend status is a testament to 99x’s undiminished focus on constantly improving its workplace culture.

“We are extremely honored and grateful for the support and the recognition we have received from the Great Place to Work Institute and extremely humbled to be a Great Place to Work Legend™. This is a tribute to how we practice our culture within the workplace. Adapting to changes in our business model, facing the new normal amidst the pandemic and economic challenges, and placing our teams as the best asset we could have are some of the key principles that allowed us to achieve this status,” said Mano Sekaram, CEO and Founder of 99x.

The rankings were determined based on an analysis of employee survey responses by Great Place to Work Sri Lanka on factors including employees’ trust in their leaders, the respect with which people are treated, the fairness of workplace decisions, and team camaraderie. This recognition underscores 99x’s commitment to fostering an inclusive environment where employees can grow and develop in unique and meaningful ways and have the backing and flexibility they need to be and deliver their best, both professionally and personally.

“Given the nature of our work, our customers are 6,000 miles away. Yet, they have entrusted us with their entire intellectual property. While fostering a positive work culture to motivate our employees, we also attribute our continued success to building great work on the pillars of trust and confidence. 99x maintains a trustworthy and secure environment at all times for our stakeholders worldwide,” Observed Damitha Jayasinghe, Chief Peoples Officer at 99x.

Amidst these challenging times, 99x took proactive measures to ensure business continuity and care for employees. The company rolled out a cost-of-living allowance scheme ensuring all its employees in Sri Lanka will receive a robust salary package. Additionally, 99x has partnered with online medical consultation services, including oDoc and InReach Global, to facilitate online health consultation for its employees. 99x also enabled its employees to seamlessly switch to a Work from Home model at the onset of the pandemic. These crucial steps have enabled 99x employees to deliver the highest service for their global clients during these trying times.

At 99x, about 25 percent of the workforce comprises women, and over 78 percent of the overall workforce and 25 percent of the management team are millennials. Furthermore, 99x has contributed significantly to the local ICT industry from the university level. For the last ten years, it has collaborated with 30 local universities and empowered more than 25,000 graduates by providing them industry opportunities to work with cutting-edge technologies. Additionally, 99x has conducted over 500 technical sessions and supported close to 50 research projects.

Gamer.LK has been named one of 2022's Great Places to Work, by the global authority on workplace culture, Great Place to Work (GPTW) making it Sri Lanka’s first Esports company to receive such certification. Gamer.LK has risen rapidly to become one of South Asia's best Esports organisations, owing much of its success to a flourishing workplace.

 Earning the 'Great Place to Work' title involves deep analysis by the GPTW team on a company's workplace culture, management and employees' mindsets after which a company is scored on its ‘Trust Index’ and awarded the title. The Gamer.LK team's shared passion for Esports and gaming culture has created an atmosphere of fluid communication and infectious enthusiasm which is evident with Gamer.LK receiving over 90% on the Great Place to Work Trust Index.

 “We at InGame Esports & Gamer.LK have always had a work culture quite unlike any other. A company built by gamers, we’ve found the perfect balance between work and play - where the lines often blur in the best ways possible! We felt it was important to maintain this fantastic work culture as we went head-on into our growth stage, and engaging with Great Place to Work helps us with that goal” said Raveen Wijayatilake, CEO of InGame Esports & Gamer.LK

 In filling a niche as an Esports ecosystem builder, Gamer.LK has grown quickly and immensely. Since the beginning of 2021, the operation has more than quadrupled in size and now consists of 21 employees. Getting the best out of each uniquely skilled member of the Gamer.LK team has been made possible by prioritising a company culture fitting the unique gamer mindset of each employee. Gamer.LK does dynamic and fulfilling work while allowing employees to work entirely remotely.

 This level of trust and accountability is part of Gamer.LK’s core. Through a passionate and dedicated team of enthusiasts, Gamer.LK has put together some of the biggest gaming tournaments and events in South Asia and has redefined how brands communicate to young people through gaming-related content. Alignment of work and passion, enriched by a team that supports each other to the fullest, has made Gamer.LK a Great Place to Work.

 The Great Place to Work which originates from the USA, has taken its mission of helping every place become a great place to work for, all around the globe. They are the world's foremost assessor of high-trust and high-performance workplace cultures and are Fortune magazine's consultants when creating their list of the '100 best companies to work for.

Image Caption - Gamer.LK is Sri Lanka’s first Esports company to be Great Place to Work certified