Microsoft has been certified as one of Africa’s Top Employers in 2012/2013 for its operations in East Africa, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa. This is the first year that the CRF Institute has extended into the rest of the continent to create the Top Employers in Africa Index with the first class of Certified multinationals.
As part of this Africa expansion, the CRF Institute has certified the first class of multinationals with steady or growing operations in Africa. This is in light of the unique challenges these organisations face in the attraction, retention and engagement of top talent on the continent.
“As businesses grow their footprints on the continent, it becomes more and more important to develop applicable, relevant HR policies and practices alongside,” says the CRF Institute’s Country Manager, Samantha Crous. “These policies become essential for managing the massive redistribution of talent that will be necessary to sustain successful business development in the continent’s man’ emerging markets,” she says. “And it’s for this reason that we have created the Top Employers in Africa audit.”
Microsoft was among seven multinationals awarded Africa’s Top Employers in 2012/2013 status. The other companies were British American Tobacco, Ernst & Young, G4S, Old Mutual, Siemens and Unilever. According to the CRF Institute, these organisations have successfully demonstrated their excellence in the application of their Human Resources policies and practices across all of the countries where they have been researched.
According to Cherise Mendoza, HR Lead Microsoft WECA and IOI, it is Microsoft’s vision to give more people in Africa access to technology at a more affordable price. “To achieve this vision, we have made a significant investment in our people on the ground, to allow us to enable businesses in Africa to realize their full potential through innovative technologies.”
She adds that Microsoft as a global organization has been able to instill a culture of performance excellence in its employees. “We have big goals, dreams and aspirations particularly for the African continent. We are bringing products and services to African businesses that meet their needs and help grow their businesses and it’s our team of dedicated people, who truly understand the African economic and business environment, that make this a reality on a day to day basis,” she concludes.
Staff writer
