Innovative HR practices have the power to transform business and improve the work environment.
Successful strategies not only increase employee satisfaction but also boost productivity, improve talent retention, and make organizations more resilient and competitive, ready to face future challenges.
One of the most prestigious ways to recognize and celebrate outstanding HR practices is the Best HR Practices Award..
This award, which represents the pinnacle of recognition for companies and individuals in the field of human resources management, was launched in 2010 by Alma Career Croatia, which manages the leading Croatian employment portal MyJob. Since then, this initiative has continuously inspired many to raise the bar in HR.
The expert jury, consisting of top professionals from the HR sector, has evaluated more than 320 submitted projects to date. Since 2022, the award has expanded to the region, opening the door to applications from Slovenia, Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia. This step not only increases competition but also brings a diversity of ideas that shape the future of HR.
It is important to note that projects are evaluated according to clearly defined criteria, ensuring transparency and fairness in the selection. Additionally, more than 600 participants at the HR Days conference actively take part in choosing the best practices!
So, what were the best HR practices exactly 10 years ago, do they still 'live' today in an increasingly fast-paced business environment, and what can we learn from them? We bring you a brief review.
Connecting with Youth and the Community
As far back as 2014, the third-place award was won by INA with the project 'On-line competition for high school students - Junior Freshhh'.
This innovative program was created in response to the lack of interest among young people in natural sciences and specific engineering careers. The competition is held in two stages: the first stage offers a virtual game that guides teams through challenges in natural sciences, while the second stage brings the live battle between the five best teams.
With 294 registered teams in its first year, INA successfully sparked interest among young people and solidified its position as an attractive employer.
If you are in the process of implementing an HR practice that promotes business development and improves employee satisfaction, don't miss the opportunity to apply for The best regional HR practices! Share your successful strategies and inspire others, but also win a prestigious recognition.
Employee Development on Three Levels
The runner-up HR practice 10 years ago was 'Fast Forward', of Coca-Cola HBC Croatia. The program was focused on the development of employees, especially those recognized as gifted, and aimed at strengthening work engagement and retaining high-quality employees.
Nina Profaca, the company's Talent Development Manager, confirmed to us how possible it is to maintain the good HR practice from exactly ten years ago, but also to further develop it.
"We still have Fast Forward programs! They are conducted at 3 levels: FFW1, which prepares our employees for team management, FFW2, which prepares employees for senior management positions, and FFW3, which prepares our employees for director positions. Every year we have employees in all programs, and we try to keep them relevant (for example, we are currently working on a redesign to further modernize the programs). What is most important to us in monitoring the success of our talent programs is the percentage of employees who were promoted after the program - and I must say that we are quite successful, for example, our overall so-called promotaility is around 50%, while for FFW2 it is the most successful and is above 75%."
Internal Development Program to Reduce Turnover and Increase Productivity
The title of the best HR practice in 2014 went to BILLA with the project ‘B BEST,’ which aimed to develop leadership culture among sales managers, increase productivity in supermarkets, and reduce turnover in the sales department. A key element of the program was offering an exceptional opportunity – the selection of 4 candidates to enter a program that would ultimately prepare them for supermarket manager positions.
The program directly contributed to improving supermarket results and had a positive impact on a large number of employees. Moreover, it helped improve internal communication, increased motivation and engagement among candidates and mentors, and boosted interest in participating in the program and assuming leadership roles in sales. Ultimately, the program improved employee satisfaction and strengthened the perception and position of Human Resources as a business and professional partner.
What Can We Learn from the Top 3 HR Practices from 10 Years Ago?
- Recognizing the challenges a company faces is the first step in developing a successful HR practice
- It is essential to involve as many employees as possible and ensure clear internal communication.
- Setting clear practice goals makes it easier to monitor the success of the project
- Introducing HR practices positively impacts the position of the HR department within the company.
- Practices can be built upon and developed depending on the current needs of the company.
These practices have shown that successful HR is not static; it evolves, adapts, and inspires new generations!