Hospitality is a tough industry in which to achieve top-employer status, with the requirements for long, unsociable hours and hard work. That only makes IRG’s achievement all the more remarkable.

Employees wax lyrical about career development opportunities, clarity of communication, fair and transparent pay structure and family-like culture.

IRG’s business is built on delivering excellence, consistency and value that makes satisfied guests want to return. “We all strive daily to be proud, professional, knowledgeable, passionate and friendly deliverers of dining experiences,” the company stated. Success depends on having an engaged, motivated team.

One employee said: “IRG’s whole reputation is built on mutual respect for our team and that is conveyed on a daily basis. Our teams are constantly striving to be better and not only for themselves, but for our loyal guests.”

Restaurants were among the hardest hit local businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic, but IRG’s response as an employer was appreciated by staff, strengthening workforce trust and loyalty. The company paid health insurance premiums in full for six months and provided daily lunch-to-go boxes for staff unable to work, so they could feed themselves and their families.

One employee said: “All employees were looked after during lockdowns and layoffs. Health insurance was covered and staff were given vouchers for grocery stores, along with other great gestures.”

An open-door communication policy welcomes feedback and ideas. Managers hold periodic staff meetings, enabling open discussion of how its restaurants can improve the guest and employee experience. Staff are paid to attend. IRG works hard to develop local talent. It has partnered with the Department of Workforce Development, Bermuda College and the Bermuda Tourism Authority to create, from scratch, a Restaurant Training Initiative, which includes on-the-job training at IRG.

The group also operates a Bermudians-only management programme, creating pathways for promotion for capable and motivated locals to higher-level posts currently occupied by work-permit holders.

WHAT THE EMPLOYEES HAD TO SAY …

“Equality, leadership and fairness all in one employer — the best in Bermuda.”

“Open effective communication and everyone in the company knows what is expected out of them to perform.”

“I even encourage my friends to work here, because they can learn and grow with this kind of management.”

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The Bermuda office of the international law firm employs 56 people, 80 per cent of whom are Bermudians and 80 per cent female — the highest proportion for both groups in the Top Ten — while from a racial perspective, the staff has almost equal Black and White representation.

Given those statistics, it may not be too surprising that diversity, equity and inclusion is of high importance to the firm, which strives to “foster a culture that values and celebrates our differences and individuality”.

Success in the legal profession has traditionally been associated with unsociably long hours of hard slog. The comments of employees suggest Walkers tries to break that mould.

One staff member said: “Particularly among law firms, it is difficult to find growth opportunities that come with work-life balance, but at Walkers, time off is valued and colleagues and executives will work to help you take vacation and be present for important life events.”

Another employee remarked: “Walkers’ growth in Bermuda has been remarkable. I joined a couple years after the firm opened and despite the stressors of opening and operating a new business, it is remarkable how management has maintained a positive and encouraging atmosphere.”

A theme of the survey feedback was that staff feel heard and their opinions valued. Another point many stressed was the opportunity and encouragement to pursue career development.

“The management structure is very flat and open and everyone is able to contribute their thoughts and ideas which will be considered on merit,” said a staff member. “The management team thinks about succession and career development and actively implements paths for people at all levels of the organisation to achieve success in their careers.”

Walkers looks to attract the next generation of Bermudian talent through its paid, four-week summer legal internship and through its Legal Scholarship Award, worth $20,000 plus up to three bursary awards of $7,500 each, awarded annually to a Bermudian studying law.

WHAT THE EMPLOYEES HAD TO SAY …

“Walkers puts an incredible amount of effort into nurturing and developing Bermudian talent.”

“The leaders are accessible, approachable and value the ideas and contributions of the whole team.”

“While it is a high- output firm where high standards are set, the environment is family-like.”

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Sun Life is part of an international group that has been around since 1865 and it has clearly learnt a thing or two about how to motivate employees.

Many staff described a positive culture at Sun Life, with an emphasis on teamwork, respect for all team members and the encouragement of personal and career development.

One employee said simply: “Sun Life International not only show they care about you, your development, and your work-life balance, but they also encourage you.”

Another said: “Great compensations and benefits. Great environment to work in. My manager is awesome.”

Benefits include an annual bonus, a percentage of salary based on personal and company performance, full healthcare coverage for staff and their dependents, and a yearly wellness benefit of $860 for external gym memberships and other wellness-related activities.

Employees are also offered paid sabbatical leave after each five years of service, “to give them a chance to to relax, recharge, and take part in any activities they weren’t able to take part in due to working for us” in the company’s words.

A hybrid, flexible working model allows employees to work from home when they need to, particularly valuable for working parents when their children are at home.

Sun Life gives two or three students a taste of life at their company each year, by participating in the Biltir Summer Internship Programme. Employees can also benefit from “speed mentoring” events and the company’s global mentoring programme.

Sun Life’s proactive support of local charities is exemplified by its Relay for Life team, the Sun Lifers, who won the award for top fundraising corporate team for the second successive year in 2023. On each occasion, they raised more than $45,000 — a staggering contribution to the cancer fundraising event.

WHAT THE EMPLOYEES HAD TO SAY …

“I am always busy and my immediate manager challenges me to be better.”

“They provide an array of educational opportunities, ensuring you’re enhancing yourself every step of the way.”

“I respect Sun Life for its fast and major initiatives in digital enterprise in response to Covid.”

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The smallest of Bermuda’s four regulated banks, BCB has its sights firmly set on growth after a change of ownership in 2021. Its headcount has risen by more than 20 per cent since last year’s survey to 63 people.

Employee comments speak to a culture of respectfulness at BCB, and it is evident the staff love their boss. Among the descriptions of CEO Neville Grant in the survey are “level-headed”, “not stuck up”, “real”, “honest”, “kind”, “approachable” and “extremely knowledgeable”.

In 2021 BCB launched a strategic plan with the top priority of “investing in, growing and developing our people”. Results are monitored via a quarterly employee engagement survey, backed up by group discussion sessions to turn the feedback into recommended actions. The efforts appear to be bearing fruit.

One staff member said: “My workplace is amazing. It has made me more passionate about the work I do and I feel inspired to grow and mature in my industry. I love the culture. Everyone is so nice and we all interact with each other well. I’ve never been happier. I am able to learn and ask questions. I am also trusted and given responsibility. There is a lot of opportunity for growth.”

Another said: “The employees are very friendly, the work environment is jovial and not so uptight and restrictive. It is a joy to come to work.”

BCB employees have evident pride in the value of their work to the community, particularly with regard to BCB being the bank of choice for the Bermuda Government’s Mortgage Guarantee Programme, which allows Bermudian first-time property buyers reduced borrowing rates and down-payment requirements, to help more people own “a piece of the rock”.

Charities to benefit from BCB support include the Convex End to End, the Bermuda Young Lawyers Professional Clothing Drive, the Women’s Resource Centre and the Salvation Army. BCB has also adopted a beach, Chaplin Bay, as part of a Keep Bermuda Beautiful cleanup programme.

WHAT THE EMPLOYEES HAD TO SAY …

“Senior management is attentive to the needs of the employees and encourages a healthy work-life balance.”

“Opinions of staff are encouraged and heard.”

“The CEO is in the trenches working with his front line staff.”

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Through consulting arrangements and secondments, Frontier provides recruitment, payroll, business consulting and immigration services.

While the 33 per cent turnover rate seems startlingly high for a excellent employer, there is good reason for that — 80 per cent of those who left Frontier last year joined one of the company’s clients. One of the attractions of working for Frontier is that it acts as a career springboard.

Frontier’s mission is “to be the employer of choice for top talent to advance their careers with a diverse team of professionals providing exceptional service and solutions to our clients in Bermuda”.

As one employee explains: “They provide a great avenue for career upliftment and consider this to be their role in the economy. They do not expect long-term employees, but this is just an aspect of the business model, rather than some negative, underlying issue.”

Young people seemed to be attracted to Frontier, with half of the 70-strong staff aged 35 and under.

The company strives to help locals, in particular, find career opportunities. One employee said: “We strive to get Bermudians ‘back to work’. We offer incentives/discounts for employers to hire Bermudians.”

Underscoring their commitment to the island is the Frontier Scholarship, which offers $15,000 per year of educational support to a Bermudian student studying accounting for up to three years. With a new scholarship recipient each year, Frontier this year is funding three students for the first time.

Several employees praise the company for its positive responses to the Covid-19 pandemic, during which it offered discounts to clients to hire Bermudians, which helped several locals land jobs.

All Frontier staff are eligible for staff referral bonuses and additional pay for exceeding chargeable hours targets. Benefits include full healthcare coverage and 13 weeks’ maternity leave.

Frontier is an active supporter of charities, through donations, volunteering, providing pro bono or discounted services, and sitting on boards.

WHAT THE EMPLOYEES HAD TO SAY …

“Management listens to the employee’s needs — professionalism in all dealings, good communication.”

“Previously worked in Big 4 accounting firm — Frontier has better work-life balance, pay and overall culture.”

“Frontier takes immense care in growing and developing people professionally.”

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The Class of 2005 insurer and reinsurer has a hard-earned reputation as an excellent employer, with the generosity of benefits highlighted by many staff.

As one employee notes: “Staff are only charged 3 per cent for payroll tax, health insurance is paid in full for our spouse/ children, all staff are eligible for the share scheme, bonuses have been paid in all years (even heavy cat loss years) to recognise the efforts of staff.”

Additional perks include 26 weeks of paid maternity leave and the use of an in-house gym, as well as a $1,200 annual wellness allowance to reimburse employees for an external gym, spa or other club membership. In addition, Lancashire rewards employees who participate in its wellness programme with extra time off.

Employees appreciate the company going the extra mile to give them benefits that stack up well against industry peers. One employee said: “We have numerous incentives that help to keep us motivated… We have a work-hard, play-hard environment which makes it easy to come into work daily.”

Another theme was the feeling that staff are listened to, a characteristic that adds to team spirit at Lancashire. One staff member said: “There is a team feel, people work together to get things done and this creates energy and a good buzz around the office. Management are team players, roll their sleeves up and make themselves available to all staff.”

Lancashire and its employees engage in charitable activities regularly, holding events such as silent auctions, bake sales, monthly parking raffles and donations to raise funds that can then be matched by the Lancashire Foundation.

Some of the recipients of its direct donations are The Family Centre, HOME, Tomorrow’s Voices, Action on Alzheimer’s and Dementia, and the Adult Education School. Lancashire is also a sponsor of Knowledge Quest, a programme that provides scholarships to allow capable young Bermudians of limited financial means to go to college.

WHAT THE EMPLOYEES HAD TO SAY …

“Outstanding support last year when I lost a parent when the repeated response from work was ‘take whatever time you need’.”

“Clarity of direction, heavy emphasis on teamwork that is demonstrated by senior executives and throughout company.”

“Lancashire’s culture is very positive. The company promotes a work/life balance and allows employees to grow and learn within the company.”

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The company is guided by its BEAM values (Believe in your co-workers, Engage actively, Act like owners, Make it happen), as it strives to create a positive, productive workplace.

Many employees make the point that their compensation compares favourably to previous employers, describe a culture in which all staff feel valued, and highlight the commitment to charitable causes and an environment in which all feel heard.

“I love working at Athene and it is mutually felt among my co-workers which makes for a very happy work environment,” said one staff member. “Athene encourages teamwork and that everyone has value to the contribution of success in the company.”

The company awards bonuses based on individual and company performance. All employees receive an allotment of $5,000 in shares when they join Athene that vests over three years. Other benefits include full healthcare coverage, access to an in-house gym and 13 weeks’ paid maternity leave.

Athene is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. Navigator is an entry-level, 10-month leadership development programme for high-potential employees from underrepresented groups. DEI activities in Bermuda include celebration of Pride month, Black History Month and the Chinese Lunar New Year.

Structured ways in which the firm develops talent include “Learning Circles”, a peer-to-peer group learning programme, and the six-month Ezra Coaching Programme.

Athene has a close relationship with the Bermuda College and led the fundraising effort for the Athene Career Development Centre. The Athene Scholarship, has run since 2019 and is available to Bermuda College students, who study in areas aligned with business needs and based on financial need.

The company is an active donor to good causes. It gave $150,000 to support events including the USATF Bermuda Games, Convex End to End, 5Fk Fun Walk, and Athene Life Career Expo, and $250,000 to local charities, donations managed by the employee-led charities committee.

WHAT THE EMPLOYEES HAD TO SAY …

“Hours worked for my last employer were far greater — I would say I work around 50 per cent less for 50 per cent more pay.”

“I can honestly say the move to Athene has been rewarding in so many ways and I look forward to coming to work every day.”

“Strong leadership that supports and challenges me to achieve goals, and empowers me to contribute in meaningful ways.”

The post #8 Athene appeared first on RG Magazines.

Artex believes that better relationships achieve better results and places high importance on listening to both customers and employees. It recently undertook an employee engagement survey and has used the feedback to address opportunities for improvement.

The company describes empathy, engagement, expertise and excellence as the blueprint for its success. Integrity, deep care and respect for each other are core values.

As the company states in the employer portion of the survey: “At Artex… we support one another, believe in one another, acknowledge and respect the ability of one another. That’s why we always go the extra mile to deliver and push for professional excellence whilst continuing to be a warm, close company, operating as one team.”

The employee comments suggest a team that is engaged and productive. One said Artex treats employees ethically, provides flexibility and autonomy, and considers employees’ lives outside work, adding: “The atmosphere leads to getting the work done with a healthy amount of fun, laughter and socialising.”

Another said the Artex team is made of “hugely talented people who are incredibly competent at their roles — the culture is supportive and the company attracts genuinely nice people”.

Diversity and inclusion is a priority and Artex’s workforce is 61 per cent Bermudian and majority female. Flexible work scedules enable parents of young children, or those with caring responsibilities, to fit work around their other life commitments.

Despite offering work-from-home options, Artex also invested in upgrading its office space, a point raised by several impressed employees.

Benefits include full healthcare coverage, 13 weeks’ maternity leave, a share purchase scheme through parent company Arthur J Gallagher & Co and bonuses, both monetary and non-monetary.

To help develop local talent, Artex sponsors an ABIC scholarship and offers a summer internship programme. Artex is also a big supporter of local charities, including PALS, Bermuda Cancer and Health and Bermuda Heart Foundation.

WHAT THE EMPLOYEES HAD TO SAY …

“Great work environment, new modernised work space while still allowing a hybrid work schedule which provides a work-life balance.”

“I have a chance of growth in the company. I work with a good team. And I like the morale.”

“Artex really supports their employees from all aspects – mentally, emotionally, career wise.”

The post #9 Artex appeared first on RG Magazines.

It is clear from employee comments that this is a listening company that values its employees not only for what they can do, but also who they are. The staff enjoy working in a culture they describe as collaborative and inclusive.

One said: “I feel incredibly appreciated and welcome at this company, and there is genuine care for all employees… When I first joined, the CEO took time to get to know me — not asking about my resume, but my life. When we have international ‘big bosses’ come down from elsewhere, they also take the time to hear feedback from all employees, regardless of rank, to know how we can improve and what we can do better.”

Employees love what one described as an “industry-leading benefits package”, including full healthcare coverage, performance-based bonuses, a discount share-purchase scheme, an in-house gym, work-from-home options, 13 weeks of paid maternity leave and four weeks’ paternity leave. Some of the pleasant perks of life at Bowring Marsh include time off on birthdays and summer Friday afternoons, fruit bowls in the office and ad hoc staff lunches.

Bowring Marsh has a strong philanthropic focus and in the past year has donated more than $100,000 to the community, focusing on children, the environment and feeding the needy. Marsh employees also give their time and effort to good causes, for example participating in two Keep Bermuda Beautiful cleanups annually, regularly partnering with the Salvation Army to cook and serve food to those experiencing homelessness and participating in the Convex End-to-End.

There is also a clear commitment to education and the development of local talent. Bowring Marsh contributes $30,000 to the Bermuda Foundation for Insurance Studies programme and $20,000 to an Association of Bermuda International Companies (ABIC) scholarship. By conducting an interview prep and resume review session with students from CedarBridge Academy the company helps to prepare young Bermudians to seize opportunities.

WHAT THE  EMPLOYEES HAD TO SAY …

“A very diverse company that provides opportunities for young staff to get experience in the insurance industry.”

“An inclusive workplace with meaningful relationships so we can support each other in both our work and personal lives.”

“Even though the focus is on growth, colleagues and senior leaders care about us and our communities. We are always looking to evolve and be better.”

The post #10 Bowring Marsh (Bermuda) Ltd appeared first on RG Magazines.

Carey Olsen Bermuda Ltd took top honours in the Top Employers Awards for the second time in the three years it has participated in the survey. The island branch of the international law firm repeated the first-place ranking it managed on debut in 2019, having also placed sixth last year.

The survey is based on the views of employees, with the data processed by Global Research, a leading quantitative research firm who partnered with The Royal Gazette on this project for an eleventh year. Professional- services firm PwC Bermuda once again provided generous sponsorship, as it has done for more than a decade.

The thirteenth edition of the Top Ten saw three previous winners rank in the top four. Record five-time winner FedEx Express, the courier services and logistics firm, maintained its stellar track record with a third place this year. In fourth was Frontier Financial Services, the professional services firm that led the way in 2018 and has now filled each of the top four places in its four years participating.

Perhaps the surprise package of this year’s survey was Bermuda Travel Concessions, which operates three restaurants at LF Wade International Airport, a business at the intersection of the hospitality and travel industries, for which the Covid-19 pandemic was a perfect storm.

The company, a joint venture with SSP America, kept its staff fully employed and paid full healthcare coverage for more than a year of crisis conditions in an exceptional example of prioritising employees. Glowing employee reviews gave Bermuda Travel Concessions second place in its Top Ten debut.

Meritus Trust made its second appearance in the Top Ten, following up its fourth place on debut last year with sixth spot this time.

But the remaining five employers were all newcomers to the survey: Athene Life Re (fifth), Artex (seventh), Bermuda Commercial Bank (eighth), LOM Financial Ltd (ninth) and CG Insurance (tenth).

Arthur Wightman, territory leader of PwC Bermuda, the sponsor of the Top Ten Awards, said: “We congratulate this year’s Top Ten Employers on their outstanding talent strategies that have created the best places to work in Bermuda. Their focus on employee physical and mental wellbeing, flexibility, corporate responsibility, diversity and inclusion, and career development has greatly elevated the employee experience at their organisations.

“At a time when the world of work is fundamentally changing, and ‘the great resignation’ has taught employers not to take their workers for granted, retaining talent requires truly innovative thinking.

“A recent survey by PwC found that one in five employees is likely to switch to a new employer in the next 12 months. While being fairly rewarded financially was a main factor in considering a change, purpose and authenticity were both nearly as important.

“Our research has found that the workforce is the number one risk to growth — and also the principal means by which companies can execute growth-driven strategies. Understanding workplace power in all its aspects can help leaders energise their workforce, tap into the power of their people and accomplish bolder goals.”

Several traits of great employers were consistently evident in the employee responses from all of this year’s Top Ten Employers.

• Employees feel valued: financial and non-financial rewards and benefits meet and sometimes exceed expectations for their industries; employers take actions to retain staff during difficult times, because they put a high value on their people.

• Employees feel listened to and respected: substantial, two-way conversations between manager/ owners and staff are happening inside all of these companies — and employees’ thoughts are not only being heard, but considered and sometimes acted upon.

• Strong and positive culture: clarity of mission, values and goals from management gives employees a clear sense of purpose, encouraging staff buy-in and helping companies to achieve their strategic goals.

• Career development initiatives: every employer in the Top Ten earned positive employee comments about the opportunities for growth and nearly all had mentoring programmes in place.

• Active in the community: all of the Top Ten support charities through varying activities on varying scales. Many match charitable donations made by their employees.

Another interesting trend was the predominance of female employees: eight of the ten companies employed more women than men. Bermudians also made up a large majority of the Top Ten’s combined workforce, with eight of the ten companies having more local employees than non-Bermudians. Five of those had 70 per cent or more Bermudian staff. The survey includes a Diversity Index, based on employees’ level of agreement with four statements:

• My company hires people from diverse backgrounds.

• Promoting workplace diversity is important to the senior leaders of my company.

• Promoting workplace diversity is important to my direct manager.

• Administrative tasks are shared equally among my team.

The four who scored best on diversity were also the top four in the survey overall, but in a different order, with Carey Olsen topping the index, followed by FedEx Express, Bermuda Travel Concessions and Frontier Financial Services. Their success suggests that embracing diversity — and the inclusiveness and fairness that this entails — is another strong indicator of an outstanding employer.

An honourable mention also goes to BE Solar, the renewable energy company, which just missed out on the Top Ten list, but did place ninth on the Diversity Index.

Great employers are a valuable asset to a community at any time. But with the economy still in recovery mode after the shockwaves from the pandemic, even as inflation and rising interest rates are hitting wallets hard, the outstanding employers highlighted by the Top Ten Awards should be treasured.

Click to watch all their presentations 

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