Bridgestone Mexico’s employees are the foundation and driving force behind the company’s sustainability. Their skills, motivation, safety and comprehensive development are the foundations for the profitability of the business and the satisfaction and trust that the stakeholders place in the company.
Employees
In 2016, Bridgestone Mexico had 1,408 employees (7.2% female and 92.8% male). There was a total of 121 new hires in 2016 (21 women and 100 men). Of this total, 120 employees were hired to form part of the fourth crew. Approximately 64% of Bridgestone Mexico’s employees are covered by a collective bargaining agreement. Employee turnover was 0.47% per month.
Training
Bridgestone Mexico believes that developing the talent of its employees is fundamentally important in helping drive the knowledge and skills of everyone who works at the company. This can be seen every single day in the positive contributions of each employee: ideas, projects, quality and innovative creativity. This investment also has a positive impact on the growth of the organization.
In 2016, a total of 1,254 employees received training, including directors, managers, middle managers, assistants and operators. This means that 89% of Bridgestone Mexico’s employees received some form of training during the year.
The total number of training hours was 39,507, an average of 31.5 hours per employee. A total of US $186,166 was invested in training by Bridgestone Mexico.
89% of employees received training.
22 training hours for women.
Investment in training
$186,166 dólares.
Of the 1,254 employees who took part in training sessions, the average number of training hours for women was 22, while for men the average number of training hours was 32.
Performance Evaluation
Continuous employee feedback is of key importance for Bridgestone Mexico, allowing the company to detect areas of opportunity and improvement.
All the organization’s employees have regular performance evaluation periods. These performance evaluation periods are scheduled for the middle and end of each year..
Bridgestone Mexico uses a Performance Management Appraisal (PMA) process to evaluate its employee performance. In 2016, 100% of employees underwent this evaluation process, with 82% of employees being classified as having a ‘solid’ performance and 9% exceeding performance expectations.
Justo al Blanco
Performance Evaluation System
The goal of this program is to learn more about the levels of safety, productivity, quality and behavior of the company’s employees, in accordance with the specific requirements for each post. In addition to measuring individual goals, this system facilitates the systematic, objective and comprehensive measurement of professional conduct and goal achievement (who people are and what they do and achieve).
This program is composed of two areas: practical, which encompasses the knowledge and skills inherent to the post, and behavioral, which focuses on people’s attitudes, i.e. the skills that they have. All staff participate in this program: (unionized) employees, supervisors, area coordinators, the labor relations department and the training department. The program is applied to (unionized) employees every two years, as well as when new employees are hired, when employees change posts and when there are any special requirements.
Talent Acquisition, Retention and Development
Bridgestone Mexico continually searches for the best talent on the market to offers its customers the very best service and quality. To achieve this goal, the company implements a range of activities to attract, retain and develop talent. Some of these programs are outlined below.
Bridgestone Professional Experience
The goal of the Bridgestone Professional Experience program is to attract young college talent. This program helps evaluate and retain college talent looking for an internship opportunity, offering them the possibility of a full-time position after the program has finished. In 2016, 43 interns took part in this program. 9% of whom these interns were offered a full-time position at Bridgestone Mexico.
Diploma for Leaders
As part of its talent development initiatives, a group of employees was selected to take part in a leadership and business skills development diploma, entitled: “Dan Totsu Leadership and Business Program”. Offered at a Latin America North (BS-LAN) level, the program focuses on the development of knowledge and skills encompassing leadership, coaching, strategy, customer management, processes, projects, innovation, results and negotiation. 32 managers from Bridgestone Mexico took part in this program.
9% of interns from Bridgestone Professional Experience program were hired.
Great Place to Work: Bridgestone Mexico was presented with the Great Place to Work award for the fourth year in a row. Being a company that is ranked as an excellent place to work is the result of the commitment and trust embodied by the company and its employees.
Balance between Personal and Professional Life
Employee satisfaction depends on a balance between their personal and professional lives, helping them to perform better every single day. Bridgestone Mexico wants to promote the comprehensive well-being of its employees, which is why it extends its employee benefits and programs to cover family members as well.
Bridgestone Summer
This is a summer program for employees’ children and nieces and nephews, the goal of which is to offer them a workplace experience by interacting with experts in each area. Registration for the program takes place at the beginning of June, with the program starting during the first week of July.
Requirements for participation include:
• Being the son or daughter of an employee.
• tudying the last semester of high school or the first semester of college.
• Being available from 7:00 am to 1:00 pm and having a GPA of 8 or higher.
• Having an interest in one of the areas of the business: sales, marketing, finance, manufacturing, etc.
In 2016, 18 students aged between 16 and 19 years of age took part in this program, 10% more than in 2015.
Open House
To drive equality and offer the families visiting the company an enhanced experience, in 2016, both full- and part-time employees took part in a number of tours of the Bridgestone plant to learn more about the production process alongside their families. A total of 60 families visited the Cuernavaca Plant on weekends from August to October.
Promoting Sports
During 2016, Bridgestone took part in the Corporate Games, with 30 employees representing the company in sporting events, including: soccer, bowling, squash and athletics.
Benefits
Bridgestone Mexico offers its employees stability and trust when they need them most. This means that its employees feel they are truly a part of the company, creating a peaceful and family-oriented working environment.
In terms of non-unionized employees, Bridgestone offers higher levels of benefits than those required by law through a comprehensive and varied benefits package called Key Flex. These benefits include:
• Base Salary
• Vacation
• Guaranteed Benefits:
• Food Stamps
• Bonus
• Savings Fund
• Vacation Bonus
• Variable Benefits
• Profit Sharing Program
• Performance Bonus
• Canteen
• IMSS - Social Security
For unionized employees, Bridgestone Mexico also offers more benefits than those required by law, such as performance bonuses, public holidays, uniforms, incentives for perfect attendance, bereavement leave, paternity leave and a meal program, among others.
Employee Awards 55 winners.
Talent Awards
Bridgestone believes that recognizing the talent and hard work of its employees is a key management tool in strengthening its relationship with them. It also believes that this can motivate them to develop new ideas and drive desirable behavior within the organization. Some of the activities and programs that were organized in 2016 to recognize the work being done by the company’s employees are outlined below:
Bridgestone Group Awards
Each year, the Bridgestone Group organizes a competition to find the best project, idea or activity which has contributed to one of the following five categories:
• Achievements
• Contribution to Society
• Education
• Environmental Excellence
• Risk Management
As such, it can recognize the work being done by all its employees, who, on a daily basis, contribute to the business and go above and beyond in their activities, reflecting the Bridgestone Essence.
Bridgestone President Awards
This is an award presented to employees for their performance or for their significant contributions to the business. This award is accompanied by a prize of US $300. In 2016, 55 employees were presented with the President’s Award.