PRESS RELEASE
KappAhl gets top marks from employees
2010-02-17
KappAhl gets top marks from employees
Swedish fashion retailer KappAhl continues to be a very popular employer. An employee survey conducted by Mercuri International indicates a high level of satisfaction.
KappAhl scores an average of above four on a five-point scale when it comes to how satisfied employees are with their jobs, their manager, the workplace and the company as a whole.
– “This is an impressively high approval rating which well exceeds the industry average. It also reflects a long-term and focused investment into training, employee performance appraisals and good managers,” explains Kajsa Räftegård, who is KappAhl’s Human Resources and Public Relations Manager.
In December 2009, KappAhl was named one of the top five best workplaces in Sweden with regard to gender equality, the number of female managers, equality goals and salary spectrum.
Kajsa Räftegård comments “It’s extremely gratifying that we have also scored so highly in an internal survey. Staff turnover is low, we invest considerably in in-house training within the framework of the KappAhl Academy and there is a constant stream of applications for vacancies. What’s more, 97 percent of our employees recommend us as an employer, which is an impressive figure”.
KappAhl has been conducting its KappAhl Attitude Survey (KAS) since 1995. The web-based survey is a way of asking the company’s employees at its 370 workplaces in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Poland, the Czech Republic and Asia what it’s like to work for KappAhl. Everyone is requested to answer 50 or so questions about their jobs, relationship with their manager, their workplace and the company in general.
Nine out of ten employees have responded to the questionnaire, which indicates tremendous interest and commitment. Moreover, the results do not differ markedly between various jobs or countries.
KappAhl takes a long-term approach to management development and career opportunities. Store managers are among those expressing greatest job satisfaction, giving their workplaces a score of 8.5 on a ten-point scale.
– “Wherever problems arise, we deal with them quickly, listen to everyone and implement changes. We have invested greatly in employee appraisals. We focus strongly on creating a workplace that encourages creative ideas,” says Kajsa Räftegård.
KappAhl’s employees have given a solid four out of five points for their work situation and their relationship with their immediate manager.
– “These results are better than last year’s despite the fact that the survey was conducted during a tough and drawn-out economic downturn. KappAhl’s employees are contented, especially with their own workplace,” says Kajsa Räftegård.
For more information, please contact:
Kajsa Räftegård, Human Resources and Public Relations Manager
Tel. +46 (0)704-71 56 49. Email: kajsa.raftegard@kappahl.com
Facts about the survey
• The KappAhl Attitude Survey (KAS) 2009 was conducted collaboratively by KappAhl and Mercuri International.
• The study ran from 7th to 22nd September 2009 in the form of a web-based survey. The survey is entirely anonymous.
• A total of 90.1 percent responded to the questionnaire.
• The survey included employees from Sweden, Norway, Finland, Poland and other countries.
• Mercuri International uses a five-point scale, where >4 is Very satisfactory and a rating of 3–4 means “Pay attention to”. Immediate action is recommended where the score is below 3.
• The survey has been divided into four key categories: My work situation; My immediate manager; My store/department; Entire company.
KappAhl is a leading fashion chain with more than 300 stores and 4300 employees in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Poland and the Czech Republic. KappAhl sells good-value fashion to a wide range of consumers – women, men and children – with a particular focus on women in the 30 to 50 age group. All KappAhl garments are designed by its own fashion team. KappAhl’s sales for the twelve-month period ending 31st August 2009 totalled approximately SEK 5 billion and its operating income amounted to SEK 525 million. KappAhl shares are listed on the stock exchange. In 1999, KappAhl was the first fashion chain to receive environmental management standard certification. For further information, please visit www.kappahl.com.