Revealing the Top 10% of Companies in Human Resource Management

In 20 years, SELECTIO has significantly influenced the development of the labor market and has played an important role in the development of organizations, primarily through the SELECTIO HR Academy, which has educated a large number of today’s well-known HR professionals, and through the SELECTIO Leadership Academy, which has transformed many Croatian managers. However, the most important project of the SELECTIO Group for development in human resource management is ‘Employer Partner’ – a certificate that has been building increasingly quality and healthier workplaces for the past 18 years.

Key Indicator

Each year, around a hundred companies apply for this prestigious certificate, undergoing a detailed evaluation of their HR systems to prove high-quality human resource management.

Among the certificate holders are organizations of various sizes and structures, and as their number increases each year, the data from the SELECTIO Group for comparing the quality of HR systems becomes increasingly advanced. Over time, the certificate has become a key indicator of the success of organizations that today make up the group of the most recognized and sought-after employers in Croatia.

The Best of the Best

To identify leading companies in HR change and whose HR practices align with top global practices, experts from the SELECTIO Group launched the ‘Above and Beyond’ certificate. This special recognition is awarded by SELECTIO to employers who have demonstrated high quality in all areas of human resource management for many years and who are in the top ten percent according to HR quality. To obtain the ‘Above and Beyond’ certificate, a company must achieve above-average results in the ‘Employer Partner’ certification and must also show excellent results in at least one of the following categories: ‘Impact’, ‘Satisfaction’, ‘Inclusion’, ‘Innovation’, and ‘Future’. In 2022, 14 companies met these conditions, namely: A1 Hrvatska, Atlantic Grupa, Coca-Cola HBC Adria, Dukat, Erste banka, Hrvatski Telekom, Ina, Jadran-Galenski laboratorij (JGL), Kaufland, Molson Coors BH, Pliva, BAT Hrvatska, TDR BiH, Zagrebačka pivovara. These companies, through advanced human resource management, successfully anticipate and respond to challenges, transform the work environment, and shape the future of current and future generations.

A1: Map of Jobs and Skills of the Future

– We value challenging projects, and being aware of the dynamic environment in which we operate, we are always looking for new opportunities for development, learning, and building the career path of each employee, focusing on future skills. To open this topic, in collaboration with experts from the scientific, technological, and business community, we launched the first interactive map of jobs and skills of the future – said Katarina Dijan, head of human resources and corporate culture at A1, a company that received the ‘Above and Beyond’ certificate in the categories of ‘Innovation’ and ‘Future’.

Coca-Cola HBC Adria: Growing Together with the Company

– We are happy that our efforts to achieve an encouraging work environment that motivates year after year yield excellent results. The fact that as many as 84 percent of our employees show a high level of commitment to their work gives us the opportunity to innovate, raise the bar, and ensure continuous growth. Growing together with our company, with people, and in an environment that motivates and inspires is a great pleasure – added Romina Ivančić Maćešić, director of the human resources department at Coca-Cola HBC Adria, a recipient of the ‘Above and Beyond’ certificate in the categories of ‘Innovation’ and ‘Satisfaction’.

Dukat: Systematic Investment in People

– Although we have distinguished ourselves with the ‘Above and Beyond’ certificate in the category of ‘Future’ in the area of strategic HR preparation for business future and employee development, we are also proud of the excellent results achieved in the other four areas, which have placed us among the top prestigious employers in the country, in the company of the ‘best of the best’. This recognition is the result of systematic investment in our people, their growth and development, motivation and satisfaction, as well as effective management of HR processes and innovation – emphasized Helena Karasić, director of human resources at Dukat.

Erste banka: Competencies of the Future

– Client orientation and listening to their needs, a structured strategy for promoting organizational culture, group and individual development programs focusing on future competencies are just some of the practices we strive to continuously improve, and we are pleased that they are recognized by our clients and external partners – said Maja Crnjak, director of the human resources sector at Erste banka, a recipient of the ‘Above and Beyond’ certificate in the categories of ‘Future’ and ‘Innovation’.

Hrvatski Telekom: Quick Response to Market Challenges

– We proudly emphasize that we have been among the best employers with the highest standards in human resource management for many years, and this gives us additional momentum to continue pushing boundaries. We earned the certificate thanks to our quick responses to market challenges, ensuring a sustainable future in terms of strengthening existing internal capacities, as well as through support to the wider community – said Anamarija Minarski, director of the employment, performance management, development, and employee experience department at Hrvatski Telekom, a recipient of the certificate in the categories of ‘Innovation’, ‘Future’, and ‘Impact’.

INA: Focused on the Future and Sustainable Business

– We are pleased to be recognized as a company focused on the future and sustainable business, as well as the continuous improvement of an inclusive work environment that respects the diversity, unique needs, and perspectives of all our employees. Congratulations to all other recipients because only together can we go above and beyond – stated Vladimira Senčar Perkov, director of human resources at INA, which received the ‘Above and Beyond’ certificate in four categories.

JGL: Talent Programs and Employee Development

– We are intensively engaged in talent programs, which we connect with long-term employee development plans to ensure opportunities for developing internal strengths and potentials. We encourage cross-functional and cross-geographical mobility, knowledge exchange, and developmental mentoring. All employees, through annual climate and satisfaction surveys, directly influence the focuses that ensure our healthy and sustainable growth – emphasized Lorena Dika, human resources director at JGL, a company that received the ‘Above and Beyond’ certificate in the categories of ‘Innovation’ and ‘Future’.

Kaufland Hrvatska: Giving Opportunities to Youth

– We are aware of how dynamic retail is and know that it is necessary to adapt business and strategy to new market opportunities. Investing in the development of advanced digital platforms and digital competencies is just part of our strategic approach. For years, we have collaborated with educational institutions and through various programs, we provide opportunities for young people to gain knowledge and practical experience – stated Dunja Firšt, director of the human resources sector at Kaufland Hrvatska, a recipient of the ‘Above and Beyond’ certificate in the categories of ‘Innovation’ and ‘Future’.

BAT – We are pleased that our business policies and innovative programs for enhancing the development and satisfaction of our colleagues have been recognized externally. Through regular satisfaction surveys, we work on their job satisfaction, balancing private and work life, and development through digital platforms and mentoring, as well as numerous practices of employer branding – said Darija Maričić, junior HRBP Cro&Slo CBU, who received the ‘Above and Beyond’ certificate in the categories of ‘Innovation’, ‘Future’, and ‘Satisfaction’.

Pliva: Caring for Mental and Physical Health

– Our experience has shown that it is very important to be able to make quick decisions and bravely innovate HR practices, adapting to new circumstances. We know how important it is for a company’s success to work on building an environment that promotes mental health and physical well-being. We believe that such HR practices will distinguish successful companies from less successful ones in the future – emphasized Blagica Petrovac Šikić, director of human resources at Pliva, which holds the ‘Above and Beyond’ certificate in the categories of ‘Innovation’ and ‘Satisfaction’.

Zagrebačka pivovara: Promoting Corporate Culture

– At Zagrebačka pivovara and Molson Coors BH, we recognized the importance of planning long-term strategies for managing employer branding and promoting organizational culture. We recognize and reward those who demonstrate our values in their daily work and continuously invest in their development to acquire future competencies – said Jadranka Sakoman, director of human resources at Zagrebačka pivovara, holder of the ‘Above and Beyond’ certificate in the categories of ‘Innovation’ and ‘Future’.