Select element
Being open with our people and making them feel involved in the business is an important part of our culture. We believe that people should take part in decisions that affect them so we have taken specific steps to create a culture of openness and inclusivity. Key to this listening environment is our employee survey, which gives us valuable insights into how people think we lead, manage and engage with them. The findings from the survey will help us to drive continuous improvement in years to come.
Our aim is to meet or exceed global financial services benchmarks. In 2006, for the first time, the survey was completed by people in all our businesses. Response levels were excellent, with six businesses having more than 90% of employees completing the questionnaire. Overall, our employee engagement score, which gives us a measure of people's sense of achievement, commitment and pride, went up by 8% (from 59% to 67%) in 2006.
In Asia, quarterly staff meetings help employees and management to share ideas informally, but we also keep in touch through newsletters and a weekly radio show.
In India the Aviva Values in Action Awards help us to recognise and reward people who exemplify our values day-to-day. Team-building events are another powerful way of helping people to work together and feel involved. In Lithuania, we organise team events at least twice yearly, including a two-day outdoor event for employees.
Good communication is two-way, so we encourage people to talk to us through e-mail and at open sessions with senior managers. We also support dialogue through employee representative bodies, for example works' councils.
In 2006 our European Consultative Forum of elected representatives from twelve European businesses met in Budapest to discuss issues of pan-European interest. Topics included European business strategy, diversity, employee volunteering programmes and the growth of the business in Central and Eastern Europe. Discussions are introduced by senior executives, thus providing direct access to senior management and providing an opportunity for employees from diverse backgrounds to engage directly with Aviva's strategic challenges.
European Consultative Forum
In the UK, Norwich Union has an agreement with the trade union Amicus which provides for full consultation and engagement on business re-organisation, restructuring and redundancy arrangements. Amicus is represented by two full-time seconded representatives who attend meetings along with the elected employee representatives of Your Forum. Your Forum is made up of elected employee representatives from across the whole of the business. This representative body meets regularly to discuss with the senior management team key business developments and business decisions. The ongoing development of Your Forum and the training and increased training of employee representatives remains a clear objective for 2007.
