Brokerage employment tactic recognised in awards

Staff Reporter

Firstfolio's unique employee engagement program has been recognised as the best in the business by leading HR specialists.

Firstfolio's Connect-Share-Thrive initiative won an award for the 'best HR strategic plan' at the Australian HR Awards 2011 earlier this week.

The Connect-Share-Thrive program was developed to foster a common, shared culture across Firstfolio following a rapid period of growth.

Since 2007 Firstfolio has completed 10 acquisitions nationwide, resulting in 76 per cent growth in the group's loan portfolio to more than $20 billion.

The company's general manager human resources Linda Cooper said the Connect-Share-Thrive HR strategy was integral to the organisation's corporate culture and productivity.

"Ongoing acquisitions resulted in the blending of workplace cultures and a consequent diluting of the understanding of Firstfolio's business strategy. Many staff now working for Firstfolio joined the organisation via acquisition and therefore did not have a strong association with Firstfolio's culture and core values," Ms Cooper said.

"Connect-Share-Thrive is a grassroots, employee-driven program designed to overcome these issues and inspire staff to be the best they can be."

Firstfolio has seen a 9 per cent decrease in voluntary turnover, and an 11 per cent decrease in voluntary turnover of staff who joined the business via acquisition.