Benetton India: Focus On Honesty, Integrity And Inclusivity
The Benetton Group is a well-known global fashion company. Currently, present in all the important markets around the worldwith a network of approximately 5,000 stores. A survey ranked Benetton India No. 3 among the top 50 Great Mid-Size Workplaces in the country for 2019. Businessworld met CEO Sundeep Chugh to understand the work culture at Benetton India, and what makes it a ‘Great Place to Work’ at.
Benetton India believes in ‘our people first’ philosophy, where it appreciates and encourages its employees talent, and in return they are adding a huge growth to the organisation. The company also believes that an organisation grows if its people grow; the growth is best if there is a seamless balance in the equation. The employee value proposition ‘Shine Unlimited’ focuses on recognising talent, carving opportunities for its employees, to showcase their merit and gives due credit to individual creative potential, which is helping them to move up the hierarchy.
“Honesty, integrity and inclusivity in everyday working life is a paramount for any organisation, and I hold extreme pride in accepting that all three are the pillars of Benetton’s practices,” believes Chugh.
In terms of people practices, it believes in collaboration, teamwork and inclusivity are important values. The company also believes that every individual in the company is significant to the overall success. This trust makes every individual feel important and responsible for the company.
With the progress, the team grew and the human resources adopted a holistic approach that encompassed all aspects of diversity and inclusivity. Inclusivity is a practice at Benetton globally and is not just restricted to the HR practices. The company tries to include inclusivity in its product line, campaigns and overall practices. Diversity is another important component of its practice – the buying department at Benetton India comprises of 90 per cent women. Even though the company has come a long way in its journey of evolution, it believes there is still a long way to go. “We as an organisation are also constantly learning from this and accordingly crafting our people practices to make it more universal for all,” he adds.
“I like to encourage people to follow their instincts, make decisions, take ownership and learn from that. It is an important aspect of learning. When you involve your people in decision making, it gives them room to think and act responsibly and have ownership; that is imperative for any organisation. At Benetton, our core values -- value for people, passion, entrepreneurial spirit, collaboration and execution are the foundation of our people practices,” he comments.
On an average, an employee spends seven years at Benetton before moving to another organisation. The company always tries to help the employee to grow and develop in its career. While hiring, the company looks for candidates, who fit into its culture. It believes that finding right employees, who will feel a strong bond with the organisation, begins with crafting an environment. The company recently completed 25 years in India with many employees, who are still a part of the organisation.
The company believes that the employees are its biggest ambassadors. “People are the heart of any organisation and for a company to thrive, the heart has to be kept in best shape. It is imperative to provide an enabling environment to employees to put in their best foot forward,” Chugh concludes.
