Reckitt's magic of putting people first

As a leading company behind some of the world’s most recognisable health, hygiene and nutrition brands, Reckitt is not only known for its trusted products, but also for its dedication to its employees.

As a multinational company, Reckitt has over 43,000 employees around the world. Guided by its unique Compass, Reckitt endeavors to ‘do the right thing, always’ by putting consumers and people first, seeking out new opportunities, striving for excellence and building a culture of shared success. These people-oriented measures have allowed Reckitt to foster an exemplary workplace culture, win numerous best employers awards and lead employees to sustainable growth in the future.

Comprehensive welfare that caters to every need

Putting people first is enshrined as one of Reckitt’s guiding principles in its Compass. As Tras Wong, Head of HR, explains, “It is important to prioritise the wellbeing of our colleagues as they are an invaluable asset to our company. By making every effort to understand and respond to their needs, we aim to cultivate an ideal work environment where they can thrive both personally and professionally.”

Wong notes that hybrid working arrangements have been implemented since the pandemic hit Hong Kong to protect the health of employees and provide them with a better work-life balance. This also gives employees a greater sense of respect and empowerment as they are trusted to deliver quality outcomes rather than merely fulfil strict office attendance hours.

“Furthermore, we have different initiatives in place to support the physical and mental health of our colleagues,” Wong outlines. “Standing desks and under-desk treadmills are available to promote exercise and reduce health risks associated with a sedentary lifestyle, while the Employee Assistance Programme offers emotional support by allowing employees to seek confidential and impartial advice from professional consultants.”

As a working mother, Christie Lee, Marketing Manager, is particularly grateful for the exceptional support Reckitt provided during her conception. “It was at the start of the pandemic when I got pregnant, and all my colleagues were very considerate as they strongly advised me to work from home to reduce my risk of infection."

“Additionally, as part of the company’s welfare package, I was given six months of maternity leave, which significantly aided my postpartum recovery and allowed me to spend quality time with my newborn,” Lee notes.

Empowering our people with the freedom to succeed

Reckitt’s people-oriented culture is underpinned by its employee value proposition of Freedom to Succeed. By cultivating four leadership behaviours among its employees, namely, own, care, create and deliver, the company endeavours to provide its people with the freedom to achieve personal and professional success.

“Reckitt implements the 50:40:10 model for learning and development globally to enhance employees’ competency,” Wong elucidates. “The comprehensive training programme allows colleagues to broaden their exposure and enhance their learning curve through job rotations and coaching. A global e-learning portal, including learning hubs for personal, leadership and functional development, is also available for colleagues to sharpen their skill set and develop a competitive edge.”

Having recently gone through Reckitt’s Management Trainee programme, Rachel Lau, Assistant eCommerce Manager, affirms that the 15-month-long programme has been highly beneficial to her personal and professional growth. “Through rotating between different departments, I acquired a deeper understanding of the operations of each department and the unique challenges they face, thus allowing me to communicate and collaborate more effectively with different functional teams. I also developed greater agility as I had to continually learn and adapt to the specific demands of each position within a short span of time.”

Reckitt’s commitment to the career development of their employees is also echoed by Wong. “We invest heavily in our colleagues as we believe that talent is crucial to our company. People are encouraged to provide and receive feedback from one another to better understand and develop their own strengths and interests. Additionally, when assigning positions to our colleagues, we take their opinion and preferences into consideration in order to place them in roles that are in line with their career goals. Plenty of global opportunities are also available for colleagues to broaden their exposure.”

At the same time, all employees are empowered and encouraged to take ownership of projects, care for their colleagues, create opportunities and growth, and deliver positive impact.

Lau states that despite being in an entry-level position, she was entrusted to work on and take ownership of big projects from the start. “In response to the growing trend of online shopping amid the pandemic, I was involved in exploring a partnership with HKTVexpress to support our business in intimate wellness, allowing lovers to express their love and get closer to each other without boundaries. The freedom I had to voice my opinions, knowing that they will be considered seriously, makes me feel valued by the company. It also allows Reckitt to promptly respond to market changes as we newcomers often bring fresh ideas to the table.”

Lee points out that, in line with the corporate culture of agility, colleagues at all levels are involved in new product development to meet the changing needs of consumers. “To better serve the people of Hong Kong during the pandemic, all our team members at Dettol, including our marketing interns, have worked hard to launch 10 new products last year to provide all-round support for our consumers’ wellbeing, from personal and family hygiene protection to caring for their skin, as well as introducing biodegradable products to the market.”

Reckitt has always been committed to protect, heal and nurture in the relentless pursuit of a cleaner, healthier world. Through producing some of the world’s most well-known consumer brands, such as Dettol, Durex, Vanish, Move Free and Strepsils, Reckitt strives to make access to the highest quality hygiene, wellness and nourishment a right and not a privilege.

Joining hands to create a bigger impact

United by a common purpose, employees at Reckitt all strive for shared success with internal and external partners. “I derive profound satisfaction from my work as I can bring tangible benefits to people around me,” remarks Lee. “In particular, Dettol’s partnership with different organisations, such as being the official hygiene partner for the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon and the Hong Kong Rugby Union, has safeguarded public health during major sports events in the city and protected these best moments.

Furthermore, Reckitt contributes to the wider society through different social initiatives. Reckitt’s Give Time programme, a global employee-driven initiative, allows employees to engage in volunteer work two days a year. On a local level, the company initiated the Community Anti-Epidemic Support Programme in 2020 to protect the health of individuals and families during the pandemic. Over the three phases of the programme, Reckitt has partnered with several local non-profit organisations to distribute protective items and disinfection products, successfully reaching more than 40,000 individuals, including students, the elderly, and those from low-income families. For the past ten years, the Dettol Health Academy has also contributed to public health by educating young Hong Kong children on good hygiene habits.

As a participant of Reckitt’s Global Volunteer Challenge programme in 2019, Lee recalls her experience travelling to rural Tanzania with 30 colleagues from 23 different countries to help improve the community’s hygiene standards. “It was a valuable opportunity to gain greater insight into the everyday challenges that locals face. By working with the community and colleagues around the world to design sanitation programs, people there were empowered to develop better hygiene practices and make positive behavioural changes.”

Looking ahead, Lee is confident that the company will persist in doing the right thing and continue to drive meaningful changes around the world. For Wong, she hopes that the company will continue to foster an outstanding workplace environment by investing in its employees. Lastly, Lau expresses her eagerness to see more new talents join Reckitt as she values the opportunity to support and learn from one another.

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