Zurich named one of Achievers 50 Most Engaged Workplaces®

In photo from left: Zurich employees Gerald Jones, Kelly Olsen, Marie Wiersema, Katherine Smith and Tracy Lampert with Achievers CEO and President Jeff Cates.

Zurich North America has been honored as one of Achievers 50 Most Engaged Workplaces® in North America at a dynamic time in the business world — when an unprecedented five generations representing many facets of diversity are coming together in offices and other places of work.

Zurich received the award at a gala dinner September 9 hosted by Achievers, an employee engagement platform provider. Now in its ninth year, the award recognizes employers that display leadership and innovation in engaging their workplaces.

While Zurich has been honored to receive this award in the past, it’s a particular point of pride in 2019.

“In a transformative time, this award is one indication we’re taking the right steps to ensure our employees feel vested in our purpose and values, and that they feel heard and valued as members of diverse, inclusive teams,” said Tracy Lampert, Head of Employee Experience & Culture for Zurich North America. “One constant is that our people are our greatest asset. We want to help them build a fulfilling career, and that looks different to different people.”

Studies have linked high employee engagement ratings to higher customer satisfaction ratings.¹ Zurich’s leadership recognizes that strong employee engagement doesn’t happen by default; it requires listening.

That’s one reason Zurich surveys employees just as it surveys customers — to learn about experiences, expectations and needs. Employee feedback, for example, led to a significant enhancement to managing performance and development at Zurich.

Other ways in which Zurich fosters employee engagement:

• Diversity and inclusion: Zurich employees are welcome to establish and lead affinity-based Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). New ERGs formed this year have raised the total to nine, ranging from AbilitieZ, whose mission is to raise awareness around individuals with disabilities, to ZAAA: Zurich African Ancestry Alliance. Each ERG has an executive sponsor as a resource to help achieve its goals.
• Community impact: Zurich sponsors A Time for Giving each September to create many opportunities for volunteerism (including options that don’t require taking time off) and philanthropic giving, with company matching funds often available.
• Professional development: Opportunities include an innovative earn-while-you-learn apprentice program; a training program where employees have months-long rotations with other departments; and design sprints, where employees collaborate on business challenges with colleagues overseas.
• Awards and recognition: Recognition of both professional performance and community leadership takes many forms, including through a peer-recognition platform. Many awards have a financial component.
• Sustainability: Sharing sustainability concerns with many employees, in 2019 Zurich committed to eliminating single-use plastics in globally managed facilities and catering services and to reducing paper consumption for internal purposes by 80%. 

Heightened competition for top talent is challenging organizations to put a greater focus on engaging employees, said Jeff Cates, CEO and President at Achievers, whose 2019 list of “50 Most Engaged” honorees also includes AT&T, CVS Health, General Motors, Kellogg Company, Meijer, Samsung Electronics America and others.

“Through the development of a people-first culture, the organizations listed epitomize an innovative, engaged and accomplished workforce,” Cates said, “and we’re honored to add them to our growing roster of past winners.”

A panel of 10 judges including academics, industry analysts, journalists and others evaluated applicants for the award. Winners were selected based on Achievers’ Eight Elements of Employee Engagement™: Leadership; Communication; Culture; Rewards and Recognition; Professional and Personal Growth; Accountability and Performance; Vision and Values; and Corporate Social Responsibility.

The Achievers 50 Most Engaged Workplaces® awards gala was held at the Chicago Public Library — Harold Washington Library Center before the opening of this year’s Achievers Customer Experience (ACE) Conference.