Employers urged to tap employees' hidden potential
Sep 21, 2017
The 2016/2017 awards were held under the theme: HR Analytics: Using people data to create value
HUMAN RESOURCE| EMPLOYMENT
The employers' fraternity in Uganda has been urged to tap into the hidden strength of their employees so as to improve performance in their organisations.
"The employees' strength should be capitalized by creating enthusiasm among them. This is by creating an enabling environment for them to work. This is also possible through employee engagement," Prof. Julius Kikomo of Makerere University School of Psychology, said.
Kikomo said this on Wednesday, September 20 at the Kampala Serena Hotel during the award ceremony of the Employer of the Year Awards (EYA). The EYA dinner is a corporate and social event organized by the Federation of Uganda Employers (FUE) to recognize and award the best employers in several categories as a climax of undergoing a survey carried out among established companies and SMEs under a specific people theme.
The 2016/2017 awards were held under the theme: HR Analytics: Using people data to create value
Kikomo said the competitiveness of the organization depends on the engagement of the employees. "A good employer makes the employee wanting to work for them and is proud of the organization", he said.
Kikomo also urged the public sector to adopt some of the practices from the private sector so as to improve performance and efficiency.
The executive director of the FUE, Rosemary N. Ssenabulya, said the EYA had undergone transformation ever since its inception in 2001. She said EYAs aim is to promote innovativeness and good HR practices in organisations.
Ssenabulya added that some countries such as Tanzania, Ghana and Switzerland had benchmarked from FUE and introduced best employers' awards in their respective countries and more countries were adopting it.
The Speaker of Parliament, Rebeca Kadaga, who was the guest of honour, said the surveys carried out for the awards give businesses chance to share experiences and information.
" With such surveys, there is an opportunity for business entities to learn new things, benchmark and learn from each other those outstanding people management practices that always come out during EYA surveys as they help maintain workplace harmony, but most importantly, delivering productivity towards the company bottom line," Kadaga. She was represented by Dr Chris Baryomunsi, the state minister for housing.
The awards were given in various categories: The overall winners, special wards, the SME, young employers and persons with di Total Uganda Limited staff receiving the Occupational Health and Safety award
Winners
Overall winners
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Uganda Breweries Limited (Gold).
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Uniliver Uganda Limited (Silver)
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National Social Security Funds (Bronze)
Young Employers
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Global Christian Trust (Winner)
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Ambrosoli Wonder (Runner-up)
Special category
Corporate Social Responsibility: Uganda Wildlife Authority
Occupational health and Safety: Total Uganda
Employee Motivation Initiative: Wagagai Limited
Learning and Development: Stanbic Bank
SMES
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EFC Uganda Ltd (Winner)
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Grant Thornton (Runner-up)
PWDS Awards
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Welthungerhilfe (Winner)
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Royal Suits Bugolobi (Runner-up)
Most benevolent CEO
Dr Andrew Seguya, Uganda Wildlife Authority