Workplace relations
Competition for key employees is increasing even as it becomes more crucial to ensure that a knowledge organisation like AP4 is capable of attracting, keeping and developing skilled employees. Things like leadership, organisational culture, the working climate and employee skills development are key factors in attaining that objective. Aimed at ensuring eff ectiveness in this area, the Fund has a number of employee-related processes in progress.
LEADERSHIP
Managers at AP4 are responsible for ensuring that their employees clearly understand the organisation’s strategies and goals – and how everyone must contribute to implementing and attaining them. In order to enhance existing leadership and ensure the development of future leaders, the Fund is investing in management training.
Strong emphasis was also put on improving internal information while the change initiative is in progress so that employees are encouraged to participate actively. The employees clearly understand and accept how and why the various aspects of operations must be further developed so that the Fund can achieve its return targets.
SKILLS
AP4 is a typical knowledge organisation. A high percentage of employees are university-educated, most of them within finance and financial accounting.
The Fund provides its employees comprehensive opportunities for developing their skills, through both internal knowledge transfer and relevant external training.
WORKING CLIMATE
AP4 considers employee surveys and the subsequent feedback processes the essential ingredients for enhancing the quality of leadership and increasing employee commitment. The organisation carried out the annual employee survey in November 2008. The results of the employee survey were used as a basis for continued efforts to improve in the context of special group exercises as well as within the framework of the annual, individual performance dialogues.
GENDER EQUALITY AND ETHNIC DIVERSITY
The Fund supports gender equality and diversity and endeavours to maintain a carefully balanced mix of employees with respect to gender, sexual orientation and ethnic background.
HEALTH
AP4 encourages wellness activities to promote personal wellbeing and minimise sickness absence. For that reason, our employees are off ered subsidised wellness activities. The Fund has a low sickness absence rate.