Employer Partner: 13 Certificates Awarded to Fortenova Group Companies

As many as 13 companies of the Fortenova Group have received the Employer Partner certificate for 2022, demonstrating excellence in human resource management. The Employer Partner certificate has been awarded by experts from SELECTIO Group for over 18 years, comparing domestic HR practices with global trends, thereby enhancing standards in human potential management and promoting practices that exemplify excellence in HR.

The Fortenova Group continuously invests in the development and improvement of HR processes, as evidenced by the increasing number of Group companies that have shown excellent results by undergoing a detailed evaluation of the human resource management system, which assesses employer practices and employee experiences in seven key areas and 40 topics.

Five companies successfully passed the recertification process – Konzum, Pik Vrbovec, Jamnica, mStart and Fortenova Group d.d., while for the first time, eight new companies reached the high Employer Partner standards – Mercator-Srbija, Mg Mivela, Roto dinamic, Zvijezda, Dijamant, Belje, Pik Vinkovci and Vupik.

– When so many different companies from one Group receive external expert confirmation that the standards they apply in their operations are at the highest level, it is a reason for pride and proof that our internal ties are getting stronger. However, due to the state of the labor market that employers have been facing for several years across all markets, this certification holds special weight for us as it carries a significant positive resonance and recognition. Having satisfied and motivated employees and stimulating work environments, creating and maintaining that partnership today represents one of the key competitive advantages for employers. At the same time, it means positively influencing a whole range of processes in our regional environment, which is a fundamental prerequisite for long-term sustainability, said Fabris Peruško, a member of the Management Board and CEO of Fortenova Group during the ceremonial awarding of the Employer Partner certificate.

– This is truly a valuable recognition for all the previous initiatives in the field of human potential development carried out in the companies of the Fortenova Group and for all the teams that work diligently on this. Besides showing that the companies’ operations are heading in the right direction and that the influence of employees on the growth of organizations is continuously strengthened, the recognitions are also a significant motivation to continue being an example of good practice for other companies in the region by putting employees at the center of our business, added Gordana Fabris, Director of Human Resources at Fortenova Group.

– It has been a pleasure to follow the Fortenova Group over the last three years since the first company from the group engaged in the assessment of the quality of human resource management. Today, thirteen certificate holders employ over 26,500 employees, thus not only influencing the Croatian economy and the economy of the region but also the quality of many work environments. The companies of the Fortenova Group particularly stand out for the quality of their recruitment processes, onboarding new employees, and developing employees through internal academies with an impressive tradition. We look forward to the future successes of the Fortenova Group members, stated Lara Šubić Šuša, Project Manager of Employer Partner.

The methodology for the Employer Partner certificate was designed in 2005 and has been continuously revised since then. Last year’s revision involved over 50 top HR experts, and the standards were defined based on the best global HR practices.

Today, the Employer Partner has been implemented in over 200 organizations from more than 50 countries, and interestingly, some organizations have included the certificate as a key indicator of HR department performance, making it much more than just a recognition.