Since 2001, Campbell Soup Co. has undergone a significant number of changes. On their corporate website, CEO Doug Conant attributes the success of the company’s transformation to its employees, stating ”we’re performing at a higher level and are more innovative and more self-governed because our employees believe that each individual can make a difference to Campbell’s success.” Campbell’s has received numerous awards recognizing the company’s commitment to the diversity of their employees.The awards highlight Campbell’s as a great place to work, supporting the employment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals, committing to corporate social responsibility and ethics, the advancement of women and promoting healthy lifestyles amongst employees and members of the public. Conant’s leadership has set the tone for the future of Campbell’s, celebrating the contributions of its employees along the way.
Best Practices: Tone at the Top
Upon arrival at Campbell’s, Conant had a long list of goals he wanted the company to achieve by 2011. With the help of employees and a strong corporate culture, Conant set the tone at the top, resulting in the achievement of company goals. In reviews from Glassdoor.com, employees at Campbell’s have praised company CEO Doug Conant for being a great leader, stating he lives the values of the company, is respectful of everyone in the workplace and knows what needs to be done to create a diverse, engaging workplace.
In the Businessweek article “Lighting A Fire Under Campbell,” Harvey Golub, Campbell’s chairman and the former head of American Express stated, “He’s (Conant) an extraordinary leader who behaves with the utmost integrity. People follow him and believe in him.” Conant’s ability to act consistently with company values adds credibility to corporate initiatives and policies. When top executives practice what they preach, employees are more inclined to work towards achieving company goals and bring forward new product ideas.
At Campbell’s, they are committed to “nourishing people’s lives everywhere, every day.” Conant understands the impact of employee recognition and takes time each day to personally commend employees for their efforts. In the article “Lighting A Fire Under Campbell,” Businessweek reports:
“In his time at Campbell, Conant has sent out more than 16,000 handwritten thank-you notes to staffers, from the chief investment officer to the receptionist at headquarters–notes often found hanging in people’s offices or above their desks. ‘[In business] we’re trained to find things that are wrong, but I try to celebrate what’s right,’ says Conant.”
Best Practices: Employee Relations
The development of employee engagement programs and support groups at Campbell’s has redefined the relationship between employees at Campbell’s. Winning in the Workplace, Winning in the Marketplace, Winning with Women, is an initiative geared towards increasing the presence of women in managerial, executive and manufacturing roles. In 2010, Campbell’s received a Catalyst Diversity & Inclusion award for this program, demonstrating a commitment to the advancement of women in the workplace.
Campbell’s Lifestyle Change Awards is a program established to recognize the achievements of employees who have made commitments to adopt healthier lifestyles. Examples of the types of lifestyle changes made have been developing healthy eating habits, participating in physical activity, weight management, reducing blood pressure and stress levels and quitting smoking. Campbell’s also developed a series of annual awards presented to employees and teams at the company’sExtraordinary Performance Awards gala.
Campbell’s has created a variety of employee networks to help provide support for employees and encourage workplace diversity and inclusion:
- Campbell African American Network
- Asian Network of Campbell
- Hispanic Network de Campbell
- Our Pride Employee Network
- The BridgeWomen of Campbell
- Global American Indian/Aboriginal Network
These support groups allow employees to come together and discuss challenges they face at work. Group discussions assist employees in understanding and relating to each other, creating an inclusive culture at Campbell’s.
Although Campbell’s has received numerous awards for improvements in employee engagement, innovation, employee diversity and inclusion, Conant repeatedly states that there is still room for the company to progress- always room to be better.
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i-Sight is a case management software platform designed to simplify your process and provide outstanding reports. It’s primarily configured to manage customer complaints and corrective actions, or employee relations, HR & ethics investigations. It’s also used for a variety of other customized case management solutions. We blog at i-Sight.com, providing advice and tips to HR managers and investigators in regards to managing internal investigations.
i-Sight is a case management software platform designed to simplify your process and provide outstanding reports. It’s primarily configured to manage customer complaints and corrective actions, or employee relations, HR & ethics investigations. It’s also used for a variety of other customized case management solutions. We blog at i-Sight.com, providing advice and tips to HR managers and investigators in regards to managing internal investigations.
