Kellogg’s in Times Online 'Top 100 Best Companies To Work For'

On achieving number 30 in the Top 100 Best Companies to Work For (2009), Kellogg’s is the only Food Manufacturing Company to be included in the 2009 list.

Kellogg’s provides their workforce with a range of benefits such as pay packages and a 53rd extra week pay that goes towards a company share, which is perhaps why they have been voted the 30th best company to work for. Subsequently, the majority of all employees at Kellogg’s feel happy with the benefits that are available to them. Overall, Kellogg’s received “an 80% positive score which shows that the workforce believe [that] the experience they gain working at Kellogg’s will be valuable for their future”1
 
Kellogg’s prides itself in having a high ethical standing which centres around “open communication and real honesty” which are values that the employees at Kellogg’s respect. 80% of the company agree that the business is run on strong principles and colleagues feel that managers throughout Kellogg’s care about job satisfaction (74%) and also that the managers listen to the views of the staff (75%) which is 68% of the staff find motivational.

Kellogg’s have a number of training methods that they have implemented which have proved to be successful in areas such as staff retention and staff development. By encouraging employees to develop skills within the company, the staff turnover is now at 20% as a number of employees have been with Kellogg’s for over 20 years2. Formalised training has been found to lead to a more committed workforce and subsequently more long term benefits for both the employees and the company, for example, the individual will benefit from attending a course to develop their skills which may encourage them to stay with the company longer, which is also beneficial for the company in terms of keeping staff turnover low.

A number of the key training methods that Kellogg’s have implemented are reflective of the positive findings from the ‘Business Benefits of Training in the Food and Drink Manufacturing Industry’3 research.

Inferences from the secondary research review in the ‘Business Benefits of Training’ report indicated that those who were doing an apprenticeship were far more productive than their British counterparts who had not had the same level of training4. Kellogg’s offer placement schemes to students that have proved invaluable especially to those who are studying in food science areas. The placement schemes allow students to gain ‘hands on’ experience in a variety of different areas within the company and also in their particular areas of interest (evidence of this can be found in the ‘Kellogg’s Staff Testimonials’.

Further inferences from the ‘Business Benefits of Training’ research provide evidence that supports the ratings from the Kellogg’s staff in the areas of personal growth (77%) and skills development (66%). The majority of respondents from the Business Benefits of Training research agree that they there are a number of benefits of training the workforce in areas such as competence, teamwork, job satisfaction and technical skills. 

In conclusion, the training policies that Kellogg’s have implemented have proved to be successful thus far, ensuring that the company has a content workforce which are highly skilled and subsequently more productive.

1] The Sunday Times (2009) – Top 100 Best Companies To Work For. http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/career_and_jobs/best_100_companies/article5703854.ece

2] Kellogg’s Staff Testimonials - http://www.kelloggs.co.uk/company/recruitment/testimonials/
 
3] Improve Ltd (2008); Business Benefits of Training in the Food and Drink Manufacturing Industry.
http://www.improve-skills.co.uk/research-consultation/supplementary-research/business-benefits-of-training

4] Mason, G. and Wagner, K. (2002); Skills, Performance and New Technologies in the British and German Automotive Components Industries, London: DfES.