BY RACHEL TAN
From fair wages, career advancement opportunities, good relationships with colleagues and superiors to aesthetically pleasing workspaces, these are some factors commonly cited in employee satisfaction surveys.
A recent online survey found that while pay and benefits remain key drivers of employee satisfaction, workers these days are placing increasingly more importance on training and upskilling opportunities.
In August and September last year, The Straits Times and global research firm Statista polled over 8,000 employees based in Singapore to evaluate their own employer and other employers they know of. The scores were then used to tabulate a ranking of Singapore’s 150 Best Employers 2020. The companies are from 25 industry sectors.
Over the years, Statista has had a strong track record in the field of measuring employer quality, having conducted similar surveys in countries such as the United States, Germany, France and Switzerland. The Singapore’s Best Employers 2020 survey is the first of its kind in Singapore — and Asia.
Dr Thomas Clark, partner at Statista, stresses the uniquely broad approach of this survey. “Our intention was to conduct a comprehensive study where every company with more than 200 employees based in Singapore is considered,” he says in a phone interview. Mr Niklas Tamm, lead analyst of Statista’s Best Employers survey projects globally, and his team also observe that regardless of industry, individual advancement opportunities in terms of higher wages, self-development and training are valued more by employees compared with five years ago. Teamwork and a flatter hierarchical organisational structure also contribute more to an employee’s happiness than before.
These trends are evident in Singapore, too. Among the companies that have made it to the inaugural 2020 list, IT consulting and services company Optimum Solutions, medicines company Novartis and tech company CrimsonLogic place a strong emphasis on providing training opportunities for their workers.
It is a feat, says Dr Clark, to make it to the top 150 list, bearing in mind that almost 2,000 companies were considered.
“Every company in the ranking is a fantastic employer, regardless of its position,” he explains. “Thanks to the comprehensive approach, these employers can now compare themselves with others in the league of the best. We hope to conduct this survey annually so companies will see if they can progress in terms of their employer quality, or if there will be some fallbacks.”
Indeed, with Covid-19 pandemic disruptions now affecting workplaces the world over, including Singapore, Dr Clark and Mr Tamm hope that the ranking this year would encourage companies that made it to the list to do their utmost to keep their score amid these challenging times.
Men, on average, are happier with their current job than women; employees in the age group of 40 to 49 are the happiest; and those who have been with the same company for a longer time are generally happier.
Statista shares that these trends are in line with the results observed in the rest of the world, and that these findings could be used to help employers focus on overlooked areas to increase employee satisfaction.
RANK | EMPLOYER BRAND | SCORE | INDUSTRY |
---|---|---|---|
1 | UNIQLO | 9.08 | Clothing, Shoes, Sports Equipment |
2 | Adidas Singapore | 8.89 | Clothing, Shoes, Sports Equipment |
3 | Google | 8.85 | IT, Internet, Software & Services |
4 | Amazon | 8.8 | Retail and Wholesale |
5 | BP | 8.47 | Oil & Gas Operations, Mining and Chemicals |
6 | Healthway Medical Group | 8.42 | Healthcare & Social |
7 | Singapore American School | 8.41 | Education |
8 | AT&T | 8.29 | Telecommunications Services, Cable Supplier |
9 | Applied Materials | 8.24 | Semiconductors, Electronics, Electrical Engineering, Technology Hardware & Equipment |
10 | Bangkok Bank Singapore | 8.22 | Banking and Financial Services |
11 | Chevron | 8.18 | Oil & Gas Operations, Mining and Chemicals |
12 | Microsoft | 8.17 | IT, Internet, Software & Services |
13 | Citibank | 8.13 | Banking and Financial Services |
14 | Apple | 8.13 | Semiconductors, Electronics, Electrical Engineering, Technology Hardware & Equipment |
15 | Adeka (Singapore) | 8.11 | Food, Soft Beverages, Alcohol & Tobacco |
16 | Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) | 8.1 | Drugs & Biotechnology |
17 | 8.1 | IT, Internet, Software & Services | |
18 | Starbucks Coffee Singapore | 8.06 | Restaurants |
19 | Marina Bay Sands | 8.05 | Travel & Leisure |
20 | ACCOR Hotels | 8.03 | Travel & Leisure |
21 | Bank of America Merrill Lynch | 8.01 | Banking and Financial Services |
22 | United World College of South East Asia | 7.93 | Education |
23 | Kuehne + Nagel | 7.92 | Transportation and Logistics |
24 | CapitaLand | 7.87 | Business Services & Supplies (incl. Real Estate) |
25 | JP MorganChase | 7.86 | Banking and Financial Services |
26 | Cisco | 7.85 | IT, Internet, Software & Services |
27 | Automobile Association of Singapore | 7.83 | Insurance |
28 | Atos Information Technology | 7.83 | IT, Internet, Software & Services |
29 | M1 | 7.82 | Telecommunications Services, Cable Supplier |
30 | Westpac Singapore | 7.75 | Banking and Financial Services |
31 | H&M Hennes & Mauritz | 7.73 | Clothing, Shoes, Sports Equipment |
32 | Facebook | 7.71 | IT, Internet, Software & Services |
33 | Illumina Singapore | 7.7 | Health Care Equipment & Services |
34 | British-American Tobacco | 7.7 | Food, Soft Beverages, Alcohol & Tobacco |
35 | ExxonMobil | 7.69 | Oil & Gas Operations, Mining and Chemicals |
36 | Hewlett-Packard (HP) | 7.68 | IT, Internet, Software & Services |
37 | Sunray Woodcraft Construction | 7.67 | Construction |
38 | Boustead Singapore | 7.65 | Business Services & Supplies (incl. Real Estate) |
39 | Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) | 7.64 | Banking and Financial Services |
40 | Kingsmen Creatives | 7.64 | Media & Advertising |
41 | Federal Express Pacific (FedEx) | 7.62 | Transportation and Logistics |
42 | Continental Automotive | 7.62 | IT, Internet, Software & Services |
43 | Prosegur Singapore | 7.61 | Business Services & Supplies (incl. Real Estate) |
44 | Fish & Co. Restaurants | 7.6 | Restaurants |
45 | Procter & Gamble | 7.6 | Packaged Goods |
46 | Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) | 7.6 | Semiconductors, Electronics, Electrical Engineering, Technology Hardware & Equipment |
47 | CBRE | 7.59 | Business Services & Supplies (incl. Real Estate) |
48 | DHL | 7.57 | Transportation and Logistics |
49 | Marriott | 7.55 | Travel & Leisure |
50 | HSBC | 7.53 | Banking and Financial Services |
51 | AXA | 7.53 | Insurance |
52 | Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) | 7.53 | Government Services |
53 | Grab | 7.53 | Transportation and Logistics |
54 | Daimler South East Asia | 7.53 | Automotive (Automotive and Suppliers) |
55 | Ministry of Finance (MOF) | 7.51 | Government Services |
56 | Shiseido Singapore | 7.51 | Retail and Wholesale |
57 | BHCC Construction | 7.5 | Construction |
58 | TDCX (formerly Teledirect) | 7.5 | Business Services & Supplies (incl. Real Estate) |
59 | General Electric | 7.49 | Engineering, Manufacturing |
60 | Samsung | 7.48 | Semiconductors, Electronics, Electrical Engineering, Technology Hardware & Equipment |
61 | Sabre Asia Pacific | 7.48 | Semiconductors, Electronics, Electrical Engineering, Technology Hardware & Equipment |
62 | ISS Group | 7.45 | Business Services & Supplies (incl. Real Estate) |
63 | Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) | 7.44 | Restaurants |
64 | Challenger Technologies | 7.43 | Retail and Wholesale |
65 | Foo Kon Tan | 7.43 | Professional Services |
66 | Performance Motors | 7.42 | Automotive (Automotive and Suppliers) |
67 | AIA Singapore | 7.41 | Insurance |
68 | 7.41 | IT, Internet, Software & Services | |
69 | Ministry of Manpower (MOM) | 7.4 | Government Services |
70 | Maxi-Cash Financial Services | 7.4 | Banking and Financial Services |
71 | Siemens | 7.39 | Semiconductors, Electronics, Electrical Engineering, Technology Hardware & Equipment |
72 | Jardine Engineering | 7.39 | Business Services & Supplies (incl. Real Estate) |
73 | Singapore Airlines | 7.38 | Transportation and Logistics |
74 | Johnson & Johnson | 7.38 | Health Care Equipment & Services |
75 | Singapore Exchange | 7.38 | Banking and Financial Services |
76 | Autism Resource Centre Singapore | 7.37 | Healthcare & Social |
77 | Singapore Health Services (SingHealth) | 7.36 | Healthcare & Social |
78 | Infineon Singapore | 7.35 | Semiconductors, Electronics, Electrical Engineering, Technology Hardware & Equipment |
79 | Deloitte | 7.35 | Professional Services |
80 | American Express | 7.34 | Business Services & Supplies (incl. Real Estate) |
81 | Rolls-Royce | 7.33 | Automotive (Automotive and Suppliers) |
82 | DBS Bank | 7.33 | Banking and Financial Services |
83 | Bosch Group | 7.31 | Semiconductors, Electronics, Electrical Engineering, Technology Hardware & Equipment |
84 | Robinsons | 7.29 | Retail and Wholesale |
85 | Advanced Semiconductor Engineering (ASE) | 7.29 | Semiconductors, Electronics, Electrical Engineering, Technology Hardware & Equipment |
86 | City Developments | 7.28 | Business Services & Supplies (incl. Real Estate) |
87 | DSO National Laboratories | 7.27 | Marine, Aerospace and Defence |
88 | Visa | 7.27 | Banking and Financial Services |
89 | DXC Technology | 7.26 | IT, Internet, Software & Services |
90 | SAP | 7.24 | IT, Internet, Software & Services |
91 | ERA Realty (APAC Realty) | 7.23 | Business Services & Supplies (incl. Real Estate) |
92 | Dimension Data | 7.23 | IT, Internet, Software & Services |
93 | Goldbell Corporation (GBC) | 7.2 | Transportation and Logistics |
94 | SATS | 7.18 | Transportation and Logistics |
95 | GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) | 7.16 | Drugs & Biotechnology |
96 | NEC Asia Pacific | 7.16 | IT, Internet, Software & Services |
97 | Amgen | 7.12 | Health Care Equipment & Services |
98 | Crystal Jade | 7.11 | Restaurants |
99 | Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) | 7.1 | Education |
100 | Asia Pacific Breweries (Heineken Asia Pacific) | 7.1 | Food, Soft Beverages, Alcohol & Tobacco |
101 | Gammon Construction | 7.05 | Construction |
102 | McDonald's | 7.05 | Restaurants |
103 | Great Eastern | 7.04 | Insurance |
104 | Shell | 7.04 | Oil & Gas Operations, Mining and Chemicals |
105 | National Healthcare Group | 7.04 | Healthcare & Social |
106 | Ministry of Communication and Information (MCI) | 7.03 | Government Services |
107 | Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Co (Singapore) | 7.03 | Construction |
108 | Agilent Technologies Singapore | 7.03 | Drugs & Biotechnology |
109 | Kopitiam | 7.02 | Food, Soft Beverages, Alcohol & Tobacco |
110 | MindChamps PreSchool | 7.02 | Education |
111 | Lonza | 7.01 | Drugs & Biotechnology |
112 | JGC Construction | 7.01 | Oil & Gas Operations, Mining and Chemicals |
113 | Far East Organization | 6.99 | Business Services & Supplies (incl. Real Estate) |
114 | Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) | 6.98 | Banking and Financial Services |
115 | APL (CMA CGM Group) | 6.97 | Transportation and Logistics |
116 | National University Health System (NUHS) | 6.96 | Healthcare & Social |
117 | UOL Group | 6.96 | Business Services & Supplies (incl. Real Estate) |
118 | Mitsui High-tec Singapore | 6.94 | Engineering, Manufacturing |
119 | Sea | 6.94 | IT, Internet, Software & Services |
120 | RHB Bank | 6.94 | Banking and Financial Services |
121 | Sembcorp Industries | 6.93 | Utilities |
122 | Dulwich College (Singapore) | 6.92 | Education |
123 | GAC | 6.92 | Transportation and Logistics |
124 | Nestlé | 6.91 | Food, Soft Beverages, Alcohol & Tobacco |
125 | Ang Mo Kio - Thye Hua Kwan Hospital | 6.9 | Healthcare & Social |
126 | Jabil Circuit (Singapore) | 6.89 | Semiconductors, Electronics, Electrical Engineering, Technology Hardware & Equipment |
127 | Ernst & Young | 6.88 | Professional Services |
128 | Ministry of National Development | 6.88 | Government Services |
129 | PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) | 6.88 | Professional Services |
130 | Raffles Medical Group | 6.87 | Healthcare & Social |
131 | PropNex | 6.87 | Business Services & Supplies (incl. Real Estate) |
132 | Rockwell Automation Southeast Asia | 6.86 | Semiconductors, Electronics, Electrical Engineering, Technology Hardware & Equipment |
133 | Takashimaya Singapore | 6.85 | Retail and Wholesale |
134 | 6.83 | Drugs & Biotechnology | |
135 | Dell | 6.83 | Semiconductors, Electronics, Electrical Engineering, Technology Hardware & Equipment |
136 | Linde | 6.8 | Oil & Gas Operations, Mining and Chemicals |
137 | Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts | 6.8 | Education |
138 | Parkway Hospitals Singapore | 6.8 | Healthcare & Social |
139 | CIMB Bank | 6.8 | Banking and Financial Services |
140 | Changi Airport Group | 6.78 | Transportation and Logistics |
141 | Ministry of Trade and Industry | 6.78 | Government Services |
142 | Dyson | 6.77 | Semiconductors, Electronics, Electrical Engineering, Technology Hardware & Equipment |
143 | Systems on Silicon Manufacturing Company (SSMC) | 6.77 | Semiconductors, Electronics, Electrical Engineering, Technology Hardware & Equipment |
144 | Straits Construction Singapore | 6.77 | Construction |
145 | Accenture | 6.75 | Professional Services |
146 | Venture Corporation | 6.74 | Semiconductors, Electronics, Electrical Engineering, Technology Hardware & Equipment |
147 | Mapletree | 6.72 | Business Services & Supplies (incl. Real Estate) |
148 | Bank of Singapore | 6.72 | Banking and Financial Services |
149 | Standard Chartered Bank (Singapore) | 6.71 | Banking and Financial Services |
150 | United Overseas Bank (UOB) | 6.68 | Banking and Financial Services |