Standard Bank ranked in the top 20% of Forbes World’s Best Employer Awards

Forbes has named Standard Bank as one of the World’s Best Employers in 2023. The selected candidates who made it onto this prestigious list reads like the who’s who of global business. Of the thousands of companies surveyed, Standard Bank ranked in the top 20 percent of the 700 companies on the final list – a testimony to their purpose of driving sustainable, inclusive growth in Africa through their position as the leading financial services organisation on the continent.

According to Standard Bank, “Being included on this list is testimony to the combined energy and effort that our 50, 000+ people put in every day to make Standard Bank a great place to work. It is only through their dedication that we are able to bring our purpose and strategy to life in service of our clients and society at large.”

Only seven of the companies making it to the list are from Africa. According to Forbes, “Globally, the labour market can vary greatly by country. The Future of Jobs Report 2023 from the World Economic Forum indicates that jobs are more plentiful in higher-income countries than they are elsewhere. But there are jobs everywhere, in all shapes and sizes – and with more remote and hybrid roles harnessing innovative ways for teams to connect worldwide.”

The Forbes list is compiled in partnership with Statista. It uses rigorous independent surveys with a diverse sample of over 170,000 employees from 55 countries. Respondents are asked whether they would recommend their company to others, and to rate their employer based on criteria such as talent development, remote working options, parental leave benefits, diversity, work-life balance and pride in the product or services the company offers. What makes this collection unique is that it relies on anonymous feedback from employees, avoiding any influence from employers. The research focuses on determining people’s willingness to recommend their employer brands and their overall satisfaction with various work-related aspects.

Speaking about the awards, Standard Bank noted that they remain deeply committed to being an employer of choice in Africa by creating an environment in which people are engaged in meaningful work, have opportunities to grow, are empowered to perform at their best and feel a strong sense of belonging and connection to the company’s purpose.

The Standard Bank vision is to be the leading financial services organisation in, for and across Africa, delivering exceptional client experiences and superior value.

When asked what employees look for in workspaces in 2023, research suggests that some of the most important factors include an inclusive workplace, mental health benefits and flexibility in their workplace. According to various surveys, on average more than half of employees want at least some flexibility – meaning they are looking for workspaces that offer working remotely at least part of the time. According to the Talent Insight Group, “Particularly critical for the millennials and Gen X employees who now make up 46% of the workplace is a sense of shared values and purpose with an employer. Candidates are looking for employers that have a positive, diverse and inclusive company culture.”

Standard Bank is guided by the purpose Africa is Our Home, We Drive Her Growth. The foundation of that growth are the people who show up to perform their duty everyday to make an impact, not only for their clients, but also their fellow colleagues and most importantly themselves. The spirit of inclusion and acknowledgement that the group has fostered is testament to their success, and the happiness of the employees to be a part of this powerhouse brand.

Kirsty Watermeyer