Smiths in the workplace
We believe in providing our employees with the means to add value to themselves as well as the business they work in. We support our employees by investing in improved safety in the workplace, ensuring their statutory rights are upheld, treating our work colleagues fairly and with respect, and developing the Group's talent.
Employees
Smiths continues to be a diverse group of businesses and our people reflect that diversity.
Adding value
Throughout Smiths, people are taking action to achieve the best possible long-term performance for our shareholders. We invest in the skills and capabilities of our people and expect them to reflect that investment in their performance in terms of business results.
Career progression
As a global technology group, we offer a variety of roles to help our people progress their career within Smiths in line with their capabilities and performance. We identify potential future leaders and provide them with development tools and opportunities to support their career ambitions and the needs of the business. We also recognise the need to balance internal development and promotion with external recruitment where this is necessary to fulfil our individual and team commitment to add value.
Diversity
We welcome diversity in our workforce, not only to adhere to our legal obligations but also because we believe that everyone needs to challenge constructively and to contribute ideas from their own perspective to support the achievement of business performance objectives.
Succession management
Smiths operates a systematic succession management process for leadership roles. Our businesses identify leadership talent and development needs using a set of key competencies, common tools and a consistent language. Development plans are monitored by senior management to optimise effective succession opportunities.
Developing talent
Smiths has a number of development programmes designed to evaluate and enhance core leadership competencies. These development programmes are designed and tailored to address a wide range of learning styles, incorporating workshops, experiential learning, mentoring, team working and project experience.
For employees to add value we have to ensure they are properly engaged with and committed to the business priorities. We provide not only the training and development opportunities that represent an investment in both their future and that of the business but also a safe and responsible working environment that encourages mutual respect, provides opportunities for personal growth and rewards individual and team contributions that realise value for the business.
Communication
Communication is crucial to helping employees engage with the business. At business unit level, we have a variety of channels including team briefings, presentations, intranets and newsletters. Many businesses have well-established forums for exchanging information and best practice as well as discussing current business issues including efficiency initiatives, training and development, and environment, health and safety issues.
In European Union (EU) countries we have workplace information and consultation arrangements at our sites. These link to the Smiths European Forum, through which employee representatives from across the EU meet annually to discuss transnational matters with Group executives. This year's meeting was held in Germany and included a presentation from Smiths Chief Executive, Philip Bowman, on the performance of Smiths and on the challenges facing the Group's businesses in the light of recent economic conditions.
Smiths Medical, Latina Italy: Family Day
Smiths Medical in Latina, Italy holds an annual Family Day in the summer. The day includes a drawing competition for children with the theme of environment, energy, and community. At the end, all children are given prizes and SmithsMedical Family Day shirts.
Smiths Detection: Multicultural Fundraising
A diversity lunch was celebrated throughout some of Smiths Detection's North American sites to promote the sale of their Multicultural Cookbook. Employees joined together for some cheer and enjoyed sampling a variety of ethnic foods.
The Smiths Detection Multicultural Cookbook included recipes from across different parts of the world. The sale raised USD$1045 which was donated to UNICEF, (the UnitedNations Children's Fund), a global leader in working with others to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease and discrimination place in a child's path.