INDUSTRIAL PSYCOLOGY - Sunshine Holdings PLC

 INDUSTRIAL PSYCOLOGY - Sunshine Holdings PLC

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I'd like to thank Sunshine Holdings HR Department for providing me these details to complete my blog successfully. 

What is an organization?

An organization is a collection of peoples working together towards to a common goal with a deliberate structure. When a company has a deliberate structure, they can have a proper reporting relationship and it helps to take fast decisions when necessary. Some Organizations are focus on profit and some are focus on social well-being of the members of the organizations.

According to the purpose of the organization, we can identify two categories.

     Profit oriented organizations

     Non-profit oriented organizations

 

Sunshine Holdings PLC

 

Sunshine Holdings PLC, which diverse in Healthcare, Consumer and Agri Busines sectors over the 5 decades and they have become US$ 150 million company with a strong, energetic workforce of more than 2,500 employees working with them presently. Sunshine Holdings PLC is a diversified holding company contributing to ‘nation-building’ by creating value in vital sectors of the Sri Lankan economy – including healthcare, agribusiness, fast-moving consumer goods and renewable energy. The business units comprise of Sunshine Healthcare Lanka Limited, Watawala Plantations PLC, Watawala Tea Ceylon Limited and Sunshine Energy Private Limited which are leaders in their respective sectors, have secured partnerships with top global brands and have won prestigious awards at the national as well as the regional level. The leading brands of the group include Zesta, Healthguard and Watawala Tea.

 An organization’s steps to secure physical and mental health while creating a stress-free environment.

In any organization, it is very important to create a stress-free environment and confirm a good physical and mental health to every employee. For that purpose, companies require to consider about Employees’ Safety, Employees’ Satisfaction, Employee Performance and Organizations aim for success with the employees’ good health and well-being that means employees’ happiness and healthiness. We can identify Sunshine Holdings as an organization where always give priority to secure physical and mental health of their employees and already has arrangements to make workplace a stress-free environment.

We can identify these steps as follow;  

·        Organizations can organize employee-training programs: training opportunities can develop employees’ professional growth. While it enhance their skills, it reduces working stress as well.

 E.g. In Sunshine Healthcare Lanka has many training programs for employees’ growth such as followings;

Product trainings – They give a complete training on the products available in the company to all the employees. With this knowledge, employees can work with customers without stress.

IT related trainings – They conduct IT related trainings to provide a good technological knowledge. With this training, employees can work with confidence.

Arrange Performance Evaluation Program: Organizations can use these performance appraisals to show employees their support, to offer training and development programs and to distribute reward and appreciations. There it builds a good relationship between company and the employee. When an employee feels that their managers or the company care about them and helping them to do better and develop in their career, they mechanically involve with the company and when the employees contribute their level best, they ensure to carry maximum profits for their working company.

E.g. Sunshine Holdings conduct mid-year performance appraisals and year-end performance appraisal to their employees in every year. This appraisal process includes goal planning and competency assessment.

Please refer below for their Appraisal Process gradually. They use HRIS system for appraisals.

·        Every year they conduct a training on appraisal and goal planning process before they start appraisals. – It helps employees to do the appraisal process efficiency.

·        Self-Appraisals (Performance + competency) – first every employee should do self-appraisals by rating themselves.

·        Managers to complete subordinates’appraisals in the system and save – then reporting managers will rate their employee’s appraisals.

·        Then Managers will have the performance discussions with subordinates – there will be one to one discussions to give feedback, keep each other in the loop, resolve issues, and help the participants grow in their roles. Managers will decide training and development programs for the employees in need in this stage.

·        Managers will submit their subordinates’appraisals in the system and finalize performance appraisals.

·        Discussion with HOD on Goals – Reporting managers will be discussed the goals with Head of Departments and convey to the team.

·        Upload goals to HRIS system and submit by both subordinates and supervisors.

·        As per to the employees of the Sunshine Holdings PLC, this process helps them to create career growth, improve performances, evaluate goals, getting trainings and development programs, increase motivation and job satisfaction and improve working relationship with their supervisors.

Sunshine Holdings PLC is leading a YouTube channel and they keep letting know their employees on effective performance process. Few YouTube links are as follows.

Giving Feedback Using SBI Model - YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkQFLXTUQ00&t=104s

 

How to Conduct an Effective Performance Discussion using SBI Model - YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0imbKqJHgo

 

·      Organizations can arrange employees satisfaction surveys and researches : employee satisfaction surveys can use to find about how employees feel about various aspects of their work environment, such as job satisfaction, workload, communication, management, and work-life balance. These surveys can be conducted annually, quarterly, or more frequently based on the organization's needs. There are many kinds of surveys, a organization can use such as Regular surveys, anonymous feedback, customize survey, Track Progress and communication of results.

E.g. As a result of a good performance management system in Sunshine Holdings PLC, the company has gained following rewards recently.

      the Group has been recognized at the coveted ‘Most Admired Companies of Sri Lanka’ Awards 2020 under the ‘Honorable Mentions’ category.

      Sunshine’s exemplary work culture earns Great Place To Work Certification (GPTW). The Great Place to Work Certification is the culmination of thoughtfully crafted human resource practices and values, consistently applied over Sunshine’s 50 years of operations. The positive employee morale fostered in the Group is a result of a high-trust experience that enhances productivity and places great value upon employee happiness and well-being.

“It is a great honour to be recognised by the Great Place to Work Institute. It solidifies Sunshine’s deep commitment to foster an open, secure and diverse work environment where employees can thrive and excel in their careers and exceed stakeholder expectations. With a pandemic raging through the world, disrupting lives on an individual scale, it is vital that employees feel secure in their jobs and teams to perform at their optimum. As a company that has always placed immense value in the concept of family, we are doing our best to ensure that each member of the Sunshine family is taken care of in each sphere of their lives,” remarked Sunshine Holdings, Group Managing Director Vish Govindasamy.

Sunshine’s unique approach to building great, highly motivated teams is based on a healthy merit-based culture that highlights on the values of innovation, trust, perseverance, responsibility and integrity. To support their diverse businesses and employees across the Group, the company prioritizes and invests heavily in customized training and development initiatives, recruiting against competencies in a competitive market, benchmarking pay against the market and retaining high performers. Sunshine is also keenly aware and sensitive to the needs of the millennial generation who are entering the workforce in increasing numbers and is actively meeting their changing needs in terms of remote working and flexible hours, embracing technology, and being more open to generational diversity.

“We are always proud of our culture at Sunshine, but this third-party validation is another feather in our cap, and confirmation from our teams stationed across the country. All employees prefer to work with great people, at companies with a strong culture, and flourish on supportive teams that encourage them to be their authentic selves at work. Therefore, we will continue to put in our best effort to uphold this philosophy as we navigate through this difficult period of time together,” Govindasamy added further.

Great Place to Work is the global authority on workplace culture, employee experience and the leadership behaviors proven to deliver market-leading revenue and increased innovation. It uses validated employee feedback gathered with Great Place to Work’s rigorous, data-driven methodology. This certification will further the momentum Sunshine has accomplished to date. Additionally, it confirms the company’s commitment to develop and support an incredibly talented team to drive better business agility and make a difference for customers.

·         Promote Work-Life Balance: Organizations can encourage employees to maintain a healthy work-life balance by setting clear working hours or flexible working hours. Avoid after office works in order to respect their personal time with families.

Sunshine Holdings always encourage their workers to balance work life with personal life. They let families to gather in family events as well. Also they organize competitions or events such sharing essays or songs for mothers’ day, women’s day events, they organize art competitions for childrens’ day and play days for childrens’ day, 

A collection of sincere thoughts from SUN family members about their loved ones;

https://online.fliphtml5.com/zdlsf/udyn/#p=1 

 ·         Provide Necessary Tools and Resources: when employees get necessary tools and equipment for their work, they can perform their task efficiently. Outdated equipment can lead to frustration and stress.

e.g We can see Sunshine Holdings has provide necessary tools and resources to their employees in order to perform and reduce stress.

 

·         Open Communication : Organization can encourage their employees to express their concerns, ideas and feedback without fear of negative moments.

e.g Sunshine Holdings has an open communication system and always welcome their employees to come up with their ideas and feedback.

·         Arrange Health and wellness Programs : Organizations can arrange wellness programs to promote physical health. Such as organizing wellness challenges, offer healthy snacks, host workshops on nutrition, exercise and stress management, offer gym memberships and Bring a yoga instructor into the office once a month etc.

E,g Sunshine Holdings has diabetes awareness programs, Medical checkups etc for employees.

 

·         Mental Health Support : Offer counselling services

e.g. They arrange timely conversations occassionaly for their employees;

·         Ensure the job role : ensure the job role, responsibilities and performance expectations clearly is also reduce the stress and anxiety. 

 e.g. Sunshine Holdings has clear guidance on each employees Job Roles. Every Employee has clear Job Description and has awareness on how to perform.

 ·         Encourage Breaks : Organizations can encourage employees to take breaks throughout the days as it can improve focus and productivity while reducing stress.

e.g.  Sunshine Holdings has no limits on having breaks throughout the day. If the employees has complete their job, company has no boundaries.

 ·         Stress Management Workshops : organize workshop on stress management, mindfulness and relaxation techniques.

e.g Occasionally Sunshine Holdings is arranging programs on stress management and mindfulness. Special in Covid Pandamic Situations they had stress managing awareness programs for their employees.

Further, since stress can place huge demands on employees' physical and mental health and affect their behavior, performance and relationships with colleagues. It may make long-term absence from work, and knowing how to manage the factors that can cause work-related stress is key to managing people effectively.

How employees' Linguistic-verbal, Creative, and interpersonal intelligence are used for the company’s betterment.

Definitely, we can say Employees' linguistic-verbal, creative, and interpersonal intelligences contribute to a company's betterment in various ways.

Let's explore each intelligence and provide examples of how they can be applied:

1.      Linguistic-Verbal Intelligence: Linguistic-verbal intelligence states that ability to use language effectively to express ideas, communicate, and understand information. Employees with strong linguistic-verbal intelligence can contribute to a company's betterment in various ways. Employees with strong skill in spoken and written language can perform in their tasks well.

 Examples:

·         Internal Communication: A marketing manager with strong linguistic-verbal intelligence can create compelling internal newsletters, announcements, and memos that keep the entire team informed and engaged.

·         Client Communication: A sales representative with excellent verbal skills can articulate the benefits of a product or service clearly to clients, leading to successful sales and long-term relationships.

·         Content Creation: A content writer with linguistic-verbal intelligence can create engaging blog posts, social media content, and website copy that effectively conveys the company's message and values.

 

 

2.      Creative Intelligence: Creative intelligence consist of the ability to think outside the box, create new ideas, and find fresh solutions to problems. Employees with strong creative intelligence can contribute to product development, process improvement, and brand differentiation.

 

Examples:

·         Product Innovation: Designers with creative intelligence can come up with innovative product concepts that meet customer needs in new and exciting ways, giving the company a competitive edge.

·         Problem Solving: Engineers with creative intelligence can breakthrough exceptional solutions to technical challenges, leading to more efficient and cost-effective processes.

·         Marketing Campaigns: Creative individuals can develop captivating and memorable marketing campaigns that capture the audience's attention and resonate with their emotions.

 

 3.      Interpersonal Intelligence: Interpersonal intelligence involves the ability to understand and relate well to others. Employees with strong interpersonal intelligence can build positive relationships, work effectively in teams, and navigate complex social dynamics.

 

Examples:

·         Team Collaboration: Project managers with interpersonal intelligence can foster a collaborative team environment, ensuring that team members work well together and leverage each other's strengths.

·         Conflict Resolution: HR professionals with strong interpersonal skills can mediate conflicts among employees, promoting a harmonious work environment and reducing disruptions.

·         Customer Relations: Customer service representatives with interpersonal intelligence can understand with customer concerns, leading to better customer satisfaction and loyalty.

 

e.g. Sunshine Holdings confirms that add in above different intelligences into various sides of the company which lead to improved communication, innovation, teamwork, and overall organizational success. When employees are able to control their linguistic-verbal, creative, and interpersonal intelligences effectively, it creates a well-rounded and dynamic workforce that contributes to the company's betterment.

 

2.      How organizations increase their employees' motivation through rewards.

Organizations often use various reward systems to increase their employees’ motivation and job satisfaction. Here are few rewards most organizations use.

1.      Recognition and Appreciation : Organizations recognize employees’ hard work and achievements and express same as written thank you notes, public announcements or spotlight in company meetings. This helps employees to feel valued, appreciated and motivated.

 E.g. Diversified conglomerate Sunshine Holdings PLC (CSE: SUN) recognized their best-performing employees during the financial year of 2022/23 at the recently-concluded SUN Awards 2023. The three business sectors of the Group—healthcare, consumer goods and agribusiness—held their respective awards ceremonies under the theme of “Dare to Dream”

 

2.      Monetary Rewards : Financial incentives are one of common methods. It includes performance based bonuses, profit sharing etc. this make employees to work harder and achieve better results.

 

3.      Promotions : When employees see clear path to higher level positions, they put extra effort to develop their skills and capabilities.

e.g. Sunshine Holdings is willing to promote employees with skills without hesitate.

 

4.      Flexible Work Arrangements :  organizations can provide flexible work schedules, remote work or part-time arrangements in order to balance work life and increase motivation. This can improve job satisfaction as well.

e.g. Sunshine Holdings confirms that they have flexible working hours and work schedules in order to make balance employees work life with personal life.

 

5.      Employee Benefits : Comprehensive benefits packages, including health insurance, retirement plans can contribute employees’ well-being and job satisfaction.

e.g. Sunshine Holdings has Insurance claim settlement procedure shared with Softlogic Life Insurance to all employees.

6.      Team Events : Organize outings or social events can make a positive work environment which increase motivation and enjoyable feelings in employees.

e.g. Sunshine Holdings has many events to make workplace enjoyable to all workers.

Overall we can understand the well-designed reward systems can enhance motivation, job satisfaction and employees’ engagement. It is important to organize reward systems continuously in order to remain employees motivated.

The company’s steps to satisfy the five types of needs highlighted in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is a psychological theory includes five basic levels of human needs according to their investment ability. Organizations need to understand in which level their employees are stands and they can take specific steps to address these needs and create the environment to support employees’ well-being.

1.      Physiological Needs: these are most basic needs such as food, water, shelter, warmth, rest and sleep. Organizations can take following steps;

Competitive Salaries: when organizations offer a competitive wage, employees can afford their basic needs.

 Healthy Workspace: Organizations can provide a clean and comfortable working environment with proper lighting system and air circulation.

Break Facilities: Offer clean drinking water, kitchen areas, rest rooms or comfortable spaces for breaks.

 E.g. Sunshine Holdings has a competitive wage considering the job market. Also all the office areas has basic needs without any disappointment.

 

2.      Safety Needs: These needs includes physical safety, job security or protection.

Health and Safety Measures: organization can implement safety protocols and arrange trainings to ensure employees’ physical well-being.

Job Security: Organizations can offer stable job contract and fair treatment to reduce concerns about job insecurity.

Benefits and Insurance: for Financial Security organizations can provide health insurance, retirement plans and other benefits.

 E.g. Sunshine Holdings has their safety protocols. Also, every employees has stable contract and as well health insurance coverage.

 

3.      Belongingness: this need stands for social needs or social interactions and forming relationships. Organizations can arrange following occasions.

Team Building Activities: organizing team building events, workshops and outings to enhance relationships among the employees.

Open Communication: Encourage open conversations, dialogues and create friendly work culture.

Collaborative Space: designing workspaces that facilitate interaction and collaboration among employees.

E.g Sunshine Holdings arrange day outs or department lunch, dinner days in order to enhance the employees’ relationships.

 

4.      Esteem Needs:  these needs include recognition, self-esteem, prestige, feeling of accomplishment or sense of achievement. Organizations can provide these needs through;

Recognition Programs: rewarding their employees for their accomplishments and contributions.

Career advancement: organizations can provide opportunities for professional growth, promotions and skill development.

Autonomy & Responsibility: organizations can allow employees to take ownership or leadership of projects and boost their self-worth and joining them for decision-making.

 

E.g. Sunshine Holdings has award ceremonies and as well as trainings on professional growth.

 5.      Self-Actualization: This is the highest level of needs. This is involving with personal growth or fulfillment.

Professional Development: Organizations can offer trainings, workshops and resources that enable employees to enhance their skills and knowledge.

Challenging Projects: Handover meaningful and challengeable projects that align with employees’ strength.

Supporting Creativity: organization can provide space where employees can innovate, do experiments and explore new ideas.

By supporting these five level of needs of employees, organizations can create work environment that make employees’ well-being, motivation and overall satisfaction. This can increase productivity and loyalty among employees. 

REFERRENCES

 Web sites:

www.sunshineholdings.lk

Harvard Business Review

American Stroke Association

 From this blog, we can realize that by adding psychological principles into organizations’ policies, they can create workplaces that not only drive to success and profitability but also prioritize the whole development and satisfaction of their employees as well. These details shows the relationship between human psychology and the workplace, and it can shape the future of work for the better.