By implementing holistic human resources policies, covering recruitment, training and work-life balance, Apex-Pal has managed to nurture a loyal and effective workforce.
You may not have heard of Apex-Pal, but you would have experienced the company's brands which include Sakae Sushi, Crepes & Cream, Hibiki, and Skål and many others.
Hiring The Right People
CEO Douglas Foo is mindful of the fact that recruiting the right people is pivotal to the success of the company. “We want people who will excel at their jobs and stay with the company,” says Douglas. “If the wrong people are hired, the costs are significant - not just recruitment costs but also productivity, training and opportunity costs. Hiring the wrong people can also impact company morale.”
To do this, Apex-Pal first considers what is required of every job position. An assessment process ensures that the employees recruited match the requirements. “We cannot rely purely on ‘gut feel’,” cautions Douglas. “Given the huge cost and risks associated with recruitment, it is important to get it right the first time, every time.”
Training And Developing Staff
Douglas takes a holistic view to staff training. “We look at career, family and community,” asserts Douglas. “We emphasise relationship-building, not a transaction process whereby we simply pay our staff and they work for us.”
Apex-Pal is a certified On-the-Job Training (OJT) Centre which meets the required standards and hallmarks of good OJT practices. Many of the company's training modules are certified by the Institute of Technical Education (ITE). Employees are awarded ITE certificates when they successfully complete the training.
Achieving Work-Life Balance At The Workplace
Work-life programmes were instituted the day Apex-Pal was founded. Douglas believes that employees need to have quality time with their family in order to be happy and productive at work.
The family friendly culture is carried through in all aspects. Besides comprehensive work-life benefits, Apex-Pal institutes special human touches like giving staff vouchers on their birthdays, offering flexible time-off for staff with children, and giving bursary awards or subsidising school fees for staff with financial difficulties.
The community is also not left out. Apex-Pal contributes to social causes like MINDS, the MILK Fund, orphanages and old folks’ homes. Besides monetary donations, the company also organises hands-on activities like sushi-making events and parties.
It is this progressive attitude that has contributed to their cohesive and supportive workforce. “People have always been our most important asset,” reaffirms Douglas. “We develop our talent and together we grow as a company.”
Apex-Pal’s Human Resource Secrets
- Uses an assessment process to ensure that the employees recruited match the job requirements.
- Provides certified training in-house by becoming a recognised On-the-Job Training (OJT) centre.
- Builds close relationships with staff through family-friendly policies and community work.
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Practical Tips
- When the wrong people are hired, it is not just a matter of wasted recruitment costs. They can have a negative impact on productivity and morale.
- Do not treat your staff as “people who get paid to do the work”. Treat them as your most important asset.
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