RZ-100-wt4-E-flipbook-240702 - Flipbook - Page 118
In order to also quantitatively measure the extent
It starts with the collegiate three-man Board.
to which the company succeeds in this objective,
The three Board members each have their own
employee satisfaction surveys have been
areas of focus and have final responsibility for the
conducted regularly since 2003. Every employee
entire company. All important decisions are taken
in the Netherlands has since been asked to fill
unanimously, and there is intensive cooperation
in a questionnaire once every four years, and
with short lines of communication. The same
the anonymised results are discussed with the
concept of multi-member management is also in
group personally by the Board and HR in each
place at almost all of the subsidiaries and in the
department. This satisfaction survey is now also
larger departments. In Rijk Zwaan’s philosophy,
conducted in the larger subsidiaries worldwide.
this helps to keep the organisation horizontal and
further increases stability.
For its unique, people-oriented approach, the
company was awarded the title ‘Best Employer in
Maintaining the people-oriented corporate
the Netherlands’ in 2010. The rationale for choosing
culture is the primary objective for the Board in its
Rijk Zwaan aptly describes the essence of the
work, but because of the growth of the company
company: ‘As an employer, Rijk Zwaan stands out
and the many foreign subsidiaries, it can no longer
due to its people-oriented approach, which is
be propagated by the management alone.
reflected in a great deal of freedom, responsibility
But, contrary to popular belief, maintaining the
and openness and a good working atmosphere. [...]
(family) business culture hasn’t become more
The high level of responsibility leads to a strong
difficult as the company has grown. This is how
commitment to the company, something that is also
Ben Tax explains it: ‘You see, because you’re
evidenced by the very low staff turnover at Rijk Zwaan’.
bigger and active all over the world, this corporate culture becomes more firmly entrenched
One very characteristic feature of Rijk Zwaan is
all the time and it generates an interaction. [...]
the horizontal structure of the company, in which
People realise that these universal values are
Left: Rijk Zwaan accepts the ‘Best
decisions are taken as low down in the organisa-
independent of national cultural differences. [...]
Employer’ award from Effectory in 2010.
tion as possible and employees are encouraged
The fact that employees anywhere in the world
to work as if Rijk Zwaan were their own company.
can feel that we are one worldwide Rijk Zwaan
Right: Rijk Zwaan achieves first place in
This horizontal structure is combined with a multi-
family is hugely stimulating and entrenches the
the 2009 Hillenraad100.
member management team at Rijk Zwaan.
corporate culture even more.’
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Rijk Zwaan | Moving forward together
