Africa will be a $29-trillion economy by 2050, according to Renaissance Capital chief economist Charles Robertson. With an evolving landscape that welcomes entrepreneurs and foreign investment, people need to know how to scout out — and keep — good employees in Africa.
DHL was voted one of the Top Employers of 2015 by the Top Employers Institute. Chevron is one of the largest foreign oil industry employers on the continent. We’ve looked at these companies to see how they attract and keep great employees in Africa.
This AFKInsider article was originally published March 3, 2015,
Provide training programs
According to DHL personnel, offering on-the-job training and development programs is important for attracting employees who hope to move up in the company. In a survey by EY professional services firm, 67 percent of companies that responded said that offering development programs is their most powerful way to keep good employees.
Source: Howwemadeitinafrica
Offer international mobility
Allowing employees to see a clear future within a company is crucial. Providing international mobility is very attractive to ambitious employees.
Source: Howwemadeitinafrica
Offer good benefits
In a survey of companies by EY professional services firm, most respondents ranked a good benefits package as the fifth most-important factor in attracting good employees, and the third most important in keeping them. The country manager of DHL in Malawi said, “A good benefit package gives employees a sense that the company cares and appreciates their hard work.”
Offer housing
Chevron is offering housing loan assistance to employees at its Cabinda Gulf Oil Company Ltd. unit in Angola.
Offer scholarships
Chevron Angola offers scholarships to potential employees who are already in their third, fourth or fifth year of education in the applicable fields. The company helps fund students in universities in and outside Angola.
Offer family benefits
Chevron Angola offers a family allowance, a Christmas allowance, and even scholarships for the children of employees. Chevron South Africa offers career ladder programs for families that have multiple wage earners.
Offer internships
Chevron Angola offers around two-to-three-month internships to potential employees so they can gain hands-on experience.
An involved manager
Alan Cassels, country manager of DHL in Kenya, said that employees want to feel a part of the company’s overall goals, and they want to feel informed. “This is achieved through open-minded managers being close to their teams and showing that they really care what employees think,” Cassels said.
Access to networks
Chevron in South Africa provides employees with access to useful networks like the Black Employee Network, the XYZ Network and the Women’s Network.
Constant feedback and answers
Both DHL and Chevron make a point of creating a communicative environment. DHL said, “Employees should be able to ask anything they want without fear of retribution. They may not always like the answers, but they should feel free to ask, and can expect an explanation if the answer is no. Chevron South Africa lists constant feedback as a part of its career support development.
Giving back to the community
Chevron of South Africa has several volunteer programs in several communities, showing their employees that they care about enhancing their hometowns.
Challenging employees
Head of DHL Mauritius, Rahman Bholah, emphasized that employees want to feel challenged and stimulated.