We recognise that employees are the drivers of business performance and our human resources policies are aimed at enhancing performance through staff recognition schemes, equality of opportunity, training and development, a safe and healthy workplace, sound employee relations and an employee well-being programme.
A performance-driven culture aligns reward to the achievement of the group’s strategic, financial and operational objectives.
We are committed to ensuring that our employee profile is representative of the customer base it serves and the communities in which Lewis trades
The employment equity plan for the three years from 2009 to 2012 focuses on increasing the representation of designated groups, mainly in the senior management, professionally qualified and skilled technical areas. Strategies have been developed to achieve internal employment equity targets, including the implementation of a comprehensive learning and development plan, in-service training of retail management students, granting bursaries, job profiling and performance assessments. Management monitors the group’s performance against these targets to ensure employment equity is promoted across the business.
Employment equity details of the workforce in South Africa at 31 March 2010
Internal communication is key to staff motivation and to reinforcing our positioning as an employer of choice. As the majority of staff are located in stores across the country, a range of cost-efficient and effective communications media are used for information and training purposes:
Lewis Group has a formal recognition agreement with the South African Commercial and Allied Workers’ Union (SACCAWU). Recognition agreements have also been concluded with unions in Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland.
We are committed to providing a healthy and safe environment for employees and customers. Safety management is incorporated into business practices to ensure accidents and incidents are minimised. A health and safety policy aims to improve adherence to health and safety standards and ensure legislative and regulatory compliance. The health and safety committee reviews risks and reports to the executive committee on a regular basis. The internal audit department monitors compliance with the policy.