Annual Report 2009 - Husqvarna Group

Sustainable development Husqvarna Annual Report 2009 121
Social responsibility
Husqvarna’s social responsibility comprises the development of personnel,
the working environment, working conditions, respect for human rights,
and a constructive social commitment.
Employees
In 2009, Husqvarna had approximately 15,000 employees in
more than 40 countries, of whom 85% were outside Sweden.
Husqvarna’s goal is to offer an attractive global workplace.
Motivated personnel comprise a prerequisite for the Group’s
success. Husqvarna therefore maintains long-term programs
for developing competent personnel.
The workplace
Key factors for creating motivation and commitment include
promoting respect and tolerance at the work place, ensuring
fair working conditions for personnel, maintaining a safe workplace,
and offering opportunities for individual development.
Husqvarna has defined basic overall principles for personnel
relations, in the form of the Husqvarna People Process. It is
designed to support managers regarding recruitment and
selection, evaluation of performance, career development and
remuneration. The process is also aimed at ensuring that people
who contact the company are treated fairly. The Husqvarna
People Process, Code of Conduct, policies and guidelines
comprise the foundation for this work. This information is
available on the Group’s intranet.
Talent management
Husqvarna has a well-developed process for Talent Management
that is aimed at evaluating, developing and ensuring
access to future managers through both succession and mobility
planning. The process starts with the annual individual
review, during which goal-achievement and performance are
evaluated, and new goals are defined for the coming period.
In order to reinforce work on leadership development, in 2008
the Group introduced a tool for 360-degree evaluation. It is
used selectively to provide managers and key specialists with
feedback on their leadership from colleagues and their immediate
superiors.
As Husqvarna attaches great importance to the ability to work
as a team, teams are evaluated annually, see below on employee
surveys. On the basis of evaluations of both teams and team
members, personnel development is implemented mainly
through on-the-job training, but also through other activities
such as educational programs, coaching and feedback, job rotation
and promotion to new positions within the Group.
The process is driven by Group Staff Human Resources in
close cooperation with local HR managers and line managers,
who play an active role in this respect.
Seasonal variations
In light of the seasonal variations in Group sales, the number
of temporary employees in production varies during the calendar
year. It is normally highest during the first quarter and the
start of the second, when most garden products are produced.
The average annual share of temporary employees is normally
somewhat more than 20%. The figure for 2009 was 15%. The
large share of temporary employees involves relatively high
personnel turnover, and training is required for some employees
at the start of the season.
Training for managers and project leaders
Husqvarna offers three different Group-wide programs for
leadership development. They are available at regular intervals
during the year. The Husqvarna Next Level Leader program is
aimed at managers on a level directly under senior management.
The Husqvarna Leader Program is aimed at lower levels.
The tailored Husqvarna Project Leader program is aimed at
developing skills in project management and project leadership.
More than 300 employees have participated in these
programs since they were introduced in 2007.
Average number of employees
2009 2008
North America 5,581 6,285
Europe 6,469 7,151
Rest of the World 2,980 2,284
Total 15,030 15,720
of whom women, % 36 36
of whom men, % 64 64
of whom white-collar, % 38 36
of whom blue-collar, % 62 64
Number of employees and
sales by employee
Number
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
05
06
07
08 09
Avarage number of employees
Sales by employee, SEKm
SEKm
4
3
2
1
0
Employees by geographical area
Rest of the World, 20%
North America, 37%
Europe, 43%