Research shows that a company’s success is strongly related to the motivation levels of its employees. Motivated and satisfied employees perform better and produce better results. They are less frequently absent, stay with their employers longer and enjoy themselves more. In other words, Fortis’s success depends on us having a group of motivated employees who feel committed to and proud of working for the company. To assess employee motivation levels, we conduct an annual ‘Employee Motivation Survey’. The EMS provides Fortis with regular employee feedback, ensuring consistent action and continuous realignment with both corporate strategy and employee needs.

Fortis voted best employer in the Netherlands

Intermediair, a leading Dutch management and careers weekly, selected Fortis as Best Employer in the Netherlands (press release) in its 2007 survey of 120 companies. The annual survey ranks businesses in the Netherlands on two criteria. The first looks at employment terms and fringe benefits, social policy, HR policy and corporate culture, while the second reflects the views of employees themselves. Four hundred Fortis people were asked to rate their employer and their scores were combined to produce the winning total.

The survey found that Fortis offers the best overall package. We scored well in terms of employment including the employer’s contribution to pension and life-cycle schemes, and our programmes to help people achieve a good work-life balance. The activities of the Fortis Foundation and initiatives like BRAVO, which encourages staff to pursue a healthy lifestyle, also contributed to the strong overall score. Fortis employees – on both the banking and insurance sides – were found to have higher satisfaction levels than their counterparts at other financial institutions in the Netherlands.