In recent years, a growing body of research indicates that spending in human performance areas - training, knowledge management, performance management and advanced human resources practices - translates into bottom-line growth. Pakistan State Oil, like many of the world's leading businesses, has found success in aligning business goals with human resources, therefore, sustaining a high-performance workforce.
PSO aims at motivating its employees through proper placement, challenging assignments, employee recognition, empowerment, two-way communication, and introducing employee skills development programs.
After right-sizing in the organisation in 2001, gaps within the management hierarchy were filled through an open, clear, speedy and just process of hiring, which ensures merit-based selection. Gaps were also filled through internal recruitment and development programs for employees with potential, providing growth opportunities to them.
The transparent recruitment system implemented in 2000 has brought about a position change in order to meet the challenges of the highly competitive business environment. Compared to the year 2000, when strength of professionally qualified employees was 18%, it has now climbed to over 52%. The employee group, falling below 30 years of age, has significantly increased from 4% to over 16%. PSO, now being recognised as an equal-opportunity employer, with its congenial environment, has substantially increased the portions of female employee to above 8%.
PSO has adopted a 'zero tolerance policy' against unethical activities. Owing to its drive for adoption of a proper code of conduct and conducive working environment, the company qualified for the 'Workers Employers Bilateral Council of Pakistan - Alliance Against Sexual Harassment at Workplace Award'.
Over the years, PSO has maintained cordial relationship with the PSO Workmen Union (CBA). An environment has been created with common understanding based on shared interest for success of the organisation and mutual respect.
To provide a vibrant and participative forum for recreational activities to the PSO Family, while enabling a healthy environment, PSO Club has been created. Sports and recreational activities are routinely organised through this forum, where employees are encouraged to participate along with their families. The club also includes physical fitness facilities within the offices around the country.
PSO's employee recognition policies are the backbone of its strategic corporate initiatives. New methods of measuring performance and rewarding contribution create the right environment for employees to pursue an inspiring endeavour. Compensation now has a strong linkage to performance and the most objective of the various systems of evaluation, through which employees are relatively ranked, has been in practice since 2000. Effort is made to pay, promote and praise according to visible, relevant and justifiable factors.
Prior to 2002, revision of pay scales was reviewed after every three years with the intention of bridging the gap created due to inflation and subsequent increase in the cost of living. This created a wide gap in pay scales in comparison to competitors, which presented alarming disparity and called for major adjustments. Therefore, in 2002 major revisions were conducted, and since then the company has been proactively conducting surveys for market- based remuneration every year and adjusting pay scales accordingly.
Every year, employees are nominated for two coveted awards 'Shaukat Raza Mirza Management Excellence Award' and 'PSO Managing Director's Award' to acknowledge smart work and beyond the call of duty work. In place for five years, this incentive has been able to inculcate a spirit of healthy competition amongst the employees besides rewarding and recognising their contributions.
A two-way communication channel has been established with the corporate goals, business challenges and expectations communicated to the employees from the highest level, the Managing Director, on a regular basis. Employee participation in improvement is not only welcomed but encouraged. Regular interactive communication meetings provide an open forum to all employees to share their achievements, grievances, ideas and observations regarding various corporate issues and strategies with the top management.
PSO believes that employee training is one of the most important investments a company can make for long-term advantage. As competition intensifies, employee competence becomes increasingly important to operate and maintain exemplary customer and ancillary services at standard specified. PSO carries out regular training and development programs for employees. Through computer trainings, various in-house sessions, sponsorship for staff studies at professional institutions and seminars, the company is providing its employees opportunities for continuous development and learning.
PSO also provides its employees with the opportunities to develop their skill and broaden their experience. Job rotation is one such concept in place. Through these programs, the company benefits from a multi-skilled diverse workforce while the employees gain from multidimensional learning and skills.
The company has been facilitating universities by providing professional and well-managed internship programs during summer and winter vacations for mentoring students by giving them live projects for professional experience. PSO's internship is considered to be one of the best in the country.
After re-inventing and repositioning, due to external requirements and internal dynamics, the organisation has now reconciled to the point where change has become continuous and ever accelerating. Policies are regularly scrutinised and revised to cater to the ever-changing business requirement affecting employees. Organisation health surveys are carried out to get employees' candid feedback to improve business systems and implement strategies.
All these efforts and much more have led to a much improved image, which is attracting good-quality manpower from the job market. At PSO, as with any successful organisation, it is strongly believed that by and large people are willing to do a good job, each team member is important and good communication strategy helps create a motivated team. The phenomenal growth and success in PSO performance is manifestation of the contribution and commitment of those ultimately responsible for it.
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