Hyundai Auto Canada Corp. is supporting employee engagement and recognition through its ‘Take Your Parents to Work Day’ program.
The initiative, which saw several employees bring their parents to the automaker’s Markham, Ont. headquarters last month, involves providing family members with a look at the day-to-day functions of employees, including a welcome speech by Hyundai president and chief executive officer Steve Flamand, a behind-the-scenes look at how the company’s television commercials are made and a tour of the building, says Jennifer Maki, Hyundai’s national manager of human resources.
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The program was inspired by the long-running Take Your Kids to Work Day initiative. “We already participate in Take Your Kids to Work Day, but we thought it would be really meaningful if people could also have the opportunity to bring their parents and show them where they work.”
Employee feedback was overwhelmingly positive, including from one employee who noted they felt recognized by the company by allowing their efforts to be showcased for family members.
In addition to this program, Hyundai engages employees through a recognition platform that allows colleagues to shout-out their coworkers’ efforts and nominate them for awards, says Maki, as well as the use of handwritten thank-you cards for managers to recognize their team members’ contributions. Throughout the year, the company also hosts multiple events such as employee appreciation days and outings to sporting events.
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