People are “at the heart of our business” says Ikea
According to Swedish furniture brand Ikea, their values are the ‘compass’ that guides them in everything we do.
Building a culture for 170,000 global employees can’t be easy and yet according to staff ratings on Indeed, Ikea are highly rated in terms of culture and work/ life balance. Plus, the retailer regularly conducts anonymous co-worker surveys and currently, 83% of employees rate Ikea as a great place to work.
According to Ulrika Biesért, head of people and culture at IKEA Retail, hiring teams are trained to focus on values, competence and diversity during the recruitment process.
“We’re focused on something we call “recruitment through values.” So even in the hiring process we put time into understanding a co-worker’s personality, values, attitudes, and we try to find people who fit our culture. Who you are is as important as your capabilities”.
Values-based recruitment works with specific values, beliefs, and aspirations when attracting, hiring, and promoting individuals. By focusing on specific core ideas, companies are able to build a team of the “right” people for the job.
In the case of Ikea’s values, they describe themselves as: ‘straight-forward, innovative, creative and common-sense problem-solvers. We’re constantly trying to find better ways to get things done and to bring out the best in ourselves and others. We strive for a nurturing environment that encourages the entrepreneurs in us’.
Darren Taylor, Country P&C Manager, IKEA UK & Ireland said, “People are at the heart of our business and supporting co-workers is a core part of our investment towards better lives for the many.
“Our commitment to them, as it is to our customers, communities, and those within our value chain, is in our DNA. As a starting point, we believe in paying a fair, sustainable rate of pay, based on the true cost of living, which is why we are a proud Living Wage Foundation employer.
“We’re also committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment where people feel valued and recognised for their talents and perspectives. We strongly believe that the uniqueness of our people benefits our business and our customers, and contributes to our ambition to be a great place to work.”
Ikea offers a plethora of benefits over and above the ‘standard’ offerings with financial incentives, wellbeing support, recognition and progression. These include; a ‘Wellbeing Hub’ with access to digital exercise classes, recipes from Hello Fresh and meditation sessions, access to free healthy food, a 15% co-worker discounts and social events to get to know your co-workers.
In addition to the above, every eligible member of the team throughout the UK and Ireland received a bonus in December – of approximately one month’s salary – recognising their contribution to the performance of the business over the past year.
“There are great benefits for all co-workers”, a manager who works at a Birmingham IKEA says. “Such as subsidised meals, Christmas presents and party, life insurance, interest free loans and the chance to earn an annual bonus. The culture and values within the company are strong.”
“IKEA is not the work of one person alone, it is the result of many minds and many souls working together through many years of joy and hard work”. Ingvar Kamprad, IKEA Founder.
IKEA was founded in 1943 and is named after the initials of 17 year old founder Ingvar Kamprad, Elmtaryd, the farm on which he grew up, and Agunnaryd, the nearby village.
Looking to recognise and reward your team?
Find out more about the People in Retail Awards 2023.
