Janashakthi wins again

Tuesday, 2 December 2014 00:15 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Leading insurer wins coveted Silver Award at SLITAD People’s Development Awards

Janashakthi Insurance PLC won the coveted Silver Award for the second year in a row at the recently held SLITAD People’s Development Awards. This affirmation of its commitment to the training and development of its employees is particularly significant this year as the organisation prepares for the splitting of its Life and General Insurance into separate entities, as per industry regulation.

“Insurance is not usually in a customer’s need hierarchy. As insurers, we need to create that need and sell our product to the customers, and this is why our people are so important to us,” said Gamini Peiris, General Manager – Human Resources and Administration. He explained further, “The company achieves this by treating its employees as it would a customer, while also investing in their development.” Other factors that drew praise from the SLITAD auditors were the presence of dedicated trainers who conducted personalised coaching programs for sales staff. In some instances, training officers traveled with the sales officers and watched them conduct sales in the field. Janashakthi develops all of its own training material. There are special programs targeting existing employees. Rather than teaching employees about one class of insurance, Janashakthi aims to ensure that employees are able to take a customer through all of the company’s products as they progress through different stages of their life – from buying their first vehicle, to purchasing a house, Travel Insurance, Life Insurance, and so on.

“At Janashakthi, we recognise that our people are our best asset. We spend almost Rs. 50 million a year investing in our people. Of this, around Rs. 12 million is used to send our employees overseas for training,” said Hasinda Fernando, Senior Manager – Human Resource Development. In the past year, approximately 1,330 employees of the company participated in planned training programs. The company sponsors employees for many local programs and courses as well. As a result, many of Janashakthi’s employees are either partially or fully ACII qualified. Many of the management also hold double qualifications. Janashakthi recently upgraded its eHRM system to allow employees direct access to their personal information, from attendance records to complaints, appraisals, study loan information and even to print their own pay-slips. There is a comprehensive Grievance Handling System that is operated by the company that provides its employees a safe environment in which to air their problems directly to representatives of the Senior Management of the Company. Employees have access to special loan schemes for everything from vehicles to education, starting from junior up to MBA level. Janashakthi encourages its employees to develop in other ways. The Welfare Club, for instance, conducts many CSR programs, encouraging employees to give to contribute to the community that supports them. Most recently, the Club donated stationery and educational equipment to deserving schoolchildren in Udu-Dumbara. The Club also organises annual outings, hosts an annual Talent Show, and a Christmas Party for the children of employees. These events receive the enthusiastic support of employees. No wonder, then, that Janashakthi has won this prestigious award yet again, Peiris said.