Four new companies received the MAMFORCE standard, one from BiH for the first time

The community of responsible employers, consisting of more than 50 organizations from the private and public sectors in the Adriatic region, welcomed four new members who were ceremoniously awarded the MAMFORCE Standard. At the award ceremony for the new or higher category standard recipients, their leadership role was highlighted, which not only enhances the culture of their organizations but also contributes to a more quality and innovative development of the labor market.

By introducing the MAMFORCE Standard, companies are working on developing a supportive and fair working environment that fosters a culture of flexibility and in which all employees enjoy the same employment rights, professional development, and advancement. Depending on the level of development of HR and DEI practices, organizations are entitled to use the Standard in the CHANGE, GROW, or LEAD categories.

The standard recipients are organizations that have demonstrated a commitment to developing a supportive, fair working environment that nurtures a culture of flexibility and supports equal opportunities through employment, professional development, and advancement.

The new recipients of the MAMFORCE STANDARD in the BASIC, CHANGE, and GROW categories are: Addiko Bank BiH (BASIC), HSM (CHANGE), JANAF (CHANGE), and BKS Bank (GROW). The award-winning companies stand out as leaders in transforming workplace culture.

By obtaining the basic (BASIC) MAMFORCE standard, companies confirm that they have undergone evaluation and have committed to implementing activities through an action plan that will further improve working conditions and organizational culture to reduce unconscious biases that underlie unequal opportunities for women and men in the workplace.

– We joined the MAMFORCE project to receive an external, independent, and expert assessment of our practices related to fairness, diversity, and inclusion – emphasized Suzana Tihi-Babić, Director of the Human Resources Management Sector at Addiko Bank Sarajevo.

– We are proud of the organizational culture we have built and strive to continuously improve – added Tihi-Babić.

Ivana Milković from JANAF highlighted that through certification, they adopted numerous measures that facilitate employees’ alignment of private and business obligations, ensure conditions for career development, improve the quality of daily life, and create a supportive business environment that fosters greater motivation, productivity, and satisfaction at work.

– The alignment of business and family life benefits our employees, our clients, and BKS Bank itself. Employees highly value MAMFORCE^© measures for aligning work and family life, and they also help us position the bank as a strong and desirable employer in the labor market – stated Ivana Biga, Director of the Main Branch Croatia, BKS Bank AG.

– A culture that nurtures open communication, equality, humanity, and accessibility is extremely important to us. MAMFORCE^© further encourages us to make changes, to continue building an inclusive culture and an environment where employees have the opportunity for personal and professional development – stated Jelena Jelinić Cvirn, HR Director, HSM.

Diana Kobas Dešković, Director of Spona Code and author of the MAMFORCE Standard, emphasized that the steps preceding certification help organizations develop responsible management tailored to people and business.

– Some of the measures we propose will soon become a legal obligation in many countries. However, changing the law is not enough if the organizational culture does not change, which we continuously work on with MAMFORCE standard bearers, who are also the bearers of change in their communities. I am very pleased that the community is expanding to neighboring countries, thereby jointly improving working conditions and opening better opportunities for women in the labor market – she concluded, congratulating the awardees.