MCLEAN, Va. -- Mars Inc. has been honored as one of the World's Best Multinational Workplaces by Great Place to Work, being ranked 22 on a list of 25 companies. The ranking is the world's largest annual study of workplace excellence, identifying the top 25 best multinationals in terms of workplace culture.
As in 2013, the list noted Mars' internal training and development programs, as well as high percentage of women in management positions. Mars has gradually increased the proportion of women in management roles each year, currently achieving 40% globally.
"You can't talk about Mars unless you talk about people. In most manufacturing businesses, the leaders are thinking about equipment, assets, metrics and the bottom line--but Mars clearly understands that we can't get any of that without people," said James "JR" Smith, associate at Mars Petcare US.
At Mars, associates can benefit from open offices that encourage camaraderie and collaboration, creating a fun and motivating workplace; free candy, Mars drinks and opportunity to bring their pet to work. The company was also credited by Great Place to Work in other key areas for its unique working environment and associate culture, including wellness programs and local and global volunteering opportunities.
"Earning a place among this year's World's Best Multinational Workplaces is a great achievement," said China Gorman, CEO of Great Place to Work. "These organizations are creating a consistent, high-trust culture around the world. This is good for their employees, for their business prospects and for our global society."
In 2013, Mars was also ranked on more than 20 great workplace lists globally, including being featured on Best Multinational Workplaces in Europe by Great Place to Work. In 2014, Mars has been named on Great Place to Work and other national workplace ranking lists in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Central America and Caribbean, Chile, China, Denmark, Europe, France, Germany, Greece, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States. Additionally, in 2014, Mars made The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers List in the U.K., climbing four places from 52nd last year to 48th this year.
Great Place to Work, based in San Francisco, is a global research, consulting and training firm that helps organizations identify, create and sustain great workplaces through the development of high-trust workplace cultures. Great Place to Work serves businesses, nonprofit organizations and government agencies in 51 countries.
Great Place to Work's annual World's Best Multinational Workplaces List ranks the top 25 global companies to work for. Qualifying companies must have been selected for at least five national Great Place to Work lists, have at least 5,000 employees worldwide and count at least 40 percent of their global workforce outside of the company's home country.
Mars Chocolate North America, a unit of Mars Inc., is based in Hackettstown, N.J. Mars Inc., McLean, Va., has net sales of more than $33 billion and six business segments including Petcare, Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks and Symbioscience.
Mars brands include Petcare (Pedigree, Royal Canin, Whiskas, Banfield Pet Hospital, Cesar, Sheba, Dreamies and Nutro); Chocolate (M&M's, Snickers, Dove, Galaxy, Mars, Milky Way and Twix); Wrigley (Doublemint, Extra, Orbit and 5 Chewing Gums, Skittles and Starburst and Altoids and Lifesavers mints; Food (Uncle Ben's, Dolmio, Ebly, Masterfoods, Seeds of Change and Royco); Drinks (Alterra Coffee Roasters, The Bright Tea Co., Klix and Flavia); and Symbioscience (Cocoavia and Wisdom Panel).
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