Microsoft Australia named as a 2009 Best Employer

Hewitt Associates has announced that Microsoft Australia is one of the nation’s top workplaces, following its accreditation as one of the 2009 Hewitt Best Employers in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ).

“The Hewitt Best Employers in ANZ study is the largest employee research project and market practice audit in Australia and New Zealand,” said Mary Dimitropoulos, Hewitt’s team leader for employee engagement in Australia and New Zealand.

“Accreditation under this program represents a significant accomplishment and demonstrates that Microsoft Australia has consistently achieved excellence in engaging and supporting its workforce,” she said.

“In particular, the company’s focus on diversity was shown to be highly valued by its workforce. Microsoft Australia can be very proud of its Hewitt Best Employer accreditation status.”

One of only five companies to be accredited in ANZ in 2009, Microsoft passed the multiple stages of a rigorous accreditation process to achieve Hewitt Best Employers Accreditation status. The criteria for selection is based on five elements:

• Employee engagement
• Leadership commitment
• A compelling promise to employees
• Connecting employees to the company and strategy
• A differentiated high-performance culture

“This award reflects the passion, energy and commitment of our employees in creating a great place to work,” said Tracey Fellows, Managing Director, Microsoft Australia.

“We want our employees to walk into work every day feeling great about what they do, while giving them the opportunity, support and encouragement to fulfil their potential. This award shows we’re moving in the right direction,” she said.

Microsoft was previously named a Hewitt Best Employer in 2007. This year the company also won the 2009 Australian Diversity@Work awards for Women in Leadership and Work/Life Balance.

Microsoft is now in the running for the Hewitt Best of the Best award. An independent judging panel, chaired by Roger Collins, Professor Emeritus at the University of New South Wales, will meet to determine the Best of the Best of those organisations accredited as Hewitt Best Employers in ANZ in 2009.