Singapore, Friday 27 Feb 2015 – – Aon Hewitt, the global talent, retirement and health solutions business of Aon plc (NYSE: AON), today announced its list of the Best Employers - Singapore 2015 in an Awards Ceremony & Learning Conference. The agenda of the conference covered key market insights, benchmarks and case studies and a Leaders’ panel that explored what Best Employers do better.

Aon Hewitt’s Best Employers study was first conducted in Asia in 2001. The purpose of the program is to gain insights into companies that are creating real competitive advantage through their people, to explore what makes a workplace of choice and to identify the Best Employers in the region.

The Aon Hewitt Best Employers program is the most comprehensive study of its kind in Asia Pacific.It is run in 12 markets: China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand. The study’s research methodology involves a rigorous process, conducted over a nine-month period that culminates in a solid, credible list of Best Employers.

Being recognized as an Aon Hewitt Best Employer means that:

-The organization inspires strong commitment and superior performance from its people;
-It drives business results through effective people practices; and,
-It manages its business in ways that build long-term success and sustainability.

“Best Employers clearly achieve better business results compared to market. We found that Best Employers in Singapore achieve significant higher growth in their income profits when compared to market average, said Jeremy Andrulis, Chief Executive Officer, Southeast Asia, for Aon Hewitt Consulting and Managing Director of its Singapore operations. “This makes becoming a Best Employer a business agenda and not just an HR agenda.”

The following organizations were recognized as Best Employers in Singapore:

Alexis Saussinan, Head of Performance &Talent Management with Aon Hewitt in Singapore highlighted the introduction of a new category for Small and Medium Enterprises. One of the key objectives of the Best Employers 2015 program is to explore and cater to new workforce trends.  Selected SMEs in Singapore are able to leverage their talent to deliver better business results. Furthermore, SMEs have been trying to benchmark themselves with Best Employers in their industry category. With this in view, Aon Hewitt decided to include a new category to recognize Best Employers in SME.”

The following organization, having received 3 or more Best Employers awards in the region this year, was also recognized as Regional Best Employers in Asia Pacific 2015:

The most noticeable trends that emerged in this year’s Best Employers – Singapore 2015 research were:

Business and People Challenges

-CEOs see People Issues as their top business challenge (58%) followed closely by Organizational Efficiency (52%).
-Best Employers achieve 29% higher income profits than market average.
-Best Employers have 25% lower attrition.
-Best Employers filled 42% more openings internally compared to market level.

Employee Engagement

-Best Employers engagement score (80%) is significantly higher than market average (59%).
-Gen Y* engagement score is the lowest age category at 57% (although for Best Employers, their engagement scores are distinctly higher at 76%).

*Note: Gen Y employees defined as those born between 1979-1990.

Compelling Employer Brand

-58% of organizations have a clearly defined employer brand. However, only 15% of CEOs and HR are aligned on its nature.
-Learning and Careers is the most prevalent employee value proposition theme for Singapore organizations, with 48% of organizations having it amongst their top 3 drivers.
-78% of employees at Best Employers believe their organization delivers on promises, compared to only 56% of employees at participating organizations.

Alexis Saussinan, highlighted: “There is a significant gap between 78% employees at Best Employers believing their organization delivers on promises compared to only 56% of employees at participating organizations. Best Employers clearly walk the talk and fulfill their commitment.  This goes to reinforce the value of their employer brand when it comes to attracting and engaging the best performing talent.”

Effective Leadership

-67% Best Employers train their managers on career conversations, compared to 29% participant average.
-79% of employees at Best Employers believe that senior leadership treat them as the organization’s most valued asset, compared to only 58% of employees at participating organizations.
-100% Best Employers integrate their high potential program to talent management processes compared to 60% participant organizations.

High Performance Culture

-78% Best Employers include the engagement scores of teams in their people manager performance ratings, compared to 52% participants.
-Only 53% of employees feel they receive appropriate recognition (beyond pay and benefits) for their contribution, compared to 72% at Best Employers.
-Only 29% organizations provide coaching to their managers on how to provide career advice to their teams, compared to 67% at Best Employers).

While the Best Employers study recognizes organizations that display standards of excellence, the journey to get there is one that Aon Hewitt recommends for every organization to embark upon.

“For organizations that don’t make it to the Best Employers list, but are aspiring to become Best Employers, we want to reinforce that this is a journey. Becoming a Best Employer doesn’t happen overnight, said Gitansh Malik, Aon Hewitt Best Employers Singapore Project Manager. “It is possible for everyone to become a Best Employer, if you’ve articulated the destination you want to head to and have planned your journey wisely.”

Participation in the program brings a wide range of benefits for organizations, such as finding out how employees perceive and rate their employer, the reasons why they are attracted to certain employer brands, and the type of organizational culture they value sufficiently to “stay and strive”. The study also provides a benchmark against company competitors in the market. Participating organizations gain access to Aon Hewitt’s latest market research insights, along with the best and most innovative people practices of Best Employers.

To find out more about the Aon Hewitt Best Employers Asia 2015 Study, please visit http://www.bestemployersasia.com   

To find out more about the Aon Hewitt Best Employers – Singapore 2015 Awards or to inquire about the next edition of the Best Employers program starting in soon, please contact Gitansh Malik, Best Employers Singapore Project Manager at gitansh.malik.2@aonhewitt.com.

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About Aon Hewitt
Aon Hewitt empowers organizations and individuals to secure a better future through innovative talent, retirement and health solutions. We advise, design and execute a wide range of solutions that enable clients to cultivate talent to drive organizational and personal performance and growth, navigate retirement risk while providing new levels of financial security, and redefine health solutions for greater choice, affordability and wellness.  Aon Hewitt is the global leader in human resource solutions, with over 30,000 professionals in 90 countries serving more than 20,000 clients worldwide.  For more information on Aon Hewitt, please visit www.aonhewitt.com.

About Aon
Aon plc (NYSE:AON) is a leading global provider of risk management, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, and human resources solutions and outsourcing services. Through its more than 65,000 colleagues worldwide, Aon unites to empower results for clients in over 120 countries via innovative and effective risk and people solutions and through industry-leading global resources and technical expertise. Aon has been named repeatedly as the world’s best broker, best insurance intermediary, reinsurance intermediary, captives manager and best employee benefits consulting firm by multiple industry sources. Visit www.aon.com for more information on Aon and www.aon.com/manchesterunited to learn about Aon’s global partnership and shirt sponsorship with Manchester United.

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