LIFE AT WORK 2018 Highlights: It’s time to Rethink the Workplace and Reinvent the Workforce

The Future of Work is here. Automation and digital technology are changing the way we work. In order to meet the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the Malaysian workplace and workforce needs to change.

With this in mind, TalentCorp organised LIFE AT WORK 2018, which celebrates companies that champion diversity and inclusion and have taken the bold steps to implement family-friendly work-life practices. This year’s theme, “Rethink Workplace, Reinvent Workforce”, reflects the challenge that Malaysia has to prepare for the Future of Work.

The Awards took place on Monday, 26 November 2018 at Connexions @ Nexus, South Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.  

Minister of Human Resources YB M. Kula Segaran and Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development YB Hannah Yeoh were among the many guests who attended the event.

The Government’s mission

“While the Government focuses on HR interventions such as education reforms and training programmes, we hope that the private sector will complement these efforts by upskilling and reskilling your existing people”, YB Kula said before presenting the awards to the winners.

During his keynote speech, YB Kula announced individual income tax exemption of up to 12 months to women who are returning to work after a career break. The tax break programme will be implemented in 2019 and is to be overseen and managed by TalentCorp.

This is to encourage more women to return to work after a career break.

“Women, who make up half the population and almost half the Malaysian workforce, is a significant contributing group to the Malaysian economy,” said YB Kula, adding that if more women join the workforce, Malaysia’s GDP could potentially increase by between RM6 billion and RM9 billion. 

While the Government focuses on HR interventions such as education reforms and training programmes, we hope that the private sector will complement these efforts by upskilling and reskilling your existing people."

Voices from the workplace

LIFE AT WORK 2018 attendees were also treated to talks and panel discussions by esteemed members of the industry.

In #TalentTalk1: “Breaking the Rules”, Malaysia’s first astrophysicist Dato’ Dr Mazlan Othman spoke about how she had to challenge conventional norms, discrimination and break numerous “traditions” to achieve her dream of becoming an astrophysicist. 

“If you follow your heart, you will find the way to get there,” said Dr Mazlan, who was Director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs from 2010-2014.

In the following talk, TalentTalk 2: Encouraging Performance through Innovative Technologies Sebastien Giard of Air Liquide Business Services spoke about how digital technology has been a game changer for his organisation and why it’s important to upskill talent so that they can cope with these technologies, he said.

“In IR4.0, what cannot be automated will be of great value,” said Giard.

 Next, came the lively panel discussion, Harnessing Strengths to Develop Potential, moderated by Johan Mahmood Merican, former CEO of TalentCorp and National Budget Director, Ministry of Finance.  The panellists had a lively discussion about the hopes and needs of the workforce in the face of Future of Work.

The panel members included Stephanie Caunter, Marketing and Communications Global Director at Catcha Group; Izzat Aziz, Cyber Security and Emerging Technology Manager of CIMB’s Group Technology Risk Management department; Ee Lynn Tee, Innovation and Experience team lead of Sime Darby Property and Danny Gnaniah, CEO and co-founder of local branding agency 4 Thirteen.

Facing the Future

The LIFE AT WORK Awards is a yearly TalentCorp initiative, organised since 2013. This year, 86 companies submitted their entries for participation, which was more than double the previous year’s 33 submissions. LIFE AT WORK 2018 also featured new categories: Best New Entrant, Best Small and Medium Organisation, Best Non-Profit Organisation and Best Leadership Team.  

In the Life and Work: Best Practice Sharing session moderated by TalentCorp Advocate Sugunah Verumandy, some LIFE AT WORK 2018 winners shared some best practices to ensure productivity while nurturing the workforce. The panellists included Tunku Alizakri (CEO, EPF), Noor Mohd Helmi Nong Hadzmi (CEO, IX Telecom), Nyon Kam Yew (General Manager, Shell Malaysia) and Nora Manaf (Group Chief Human Capital Officer, Maybank).

Tunku Alizakri said: “We offer a sense of purpose to our employees … we offer them a chance to make a real difference for Malaysia and Malaysians. That is the common glue that drives what we are.”

This year, the Employees Provident Fund emerged as the top winner, having won top accolades for three categories: Best Public Sector Organisation, CEO Champion: Public Sector and Outstanding Practice: Workplace.

Winners of the LIFE AT WORK 2018 Awards are as follows:

• Best Malaysian Organisation: Maybank
• Best International Organisation: Shell Malaysia
• Best Small and Medium Organisation: IX Telecom Sdn Bhd
• Best Public Sector Organisation: Employees Provident Fund 
• Best Non-Profit Organisation: Lean In Malaysia
• Best Leadership Team: Dell Global Business Center Malaysia 

CEO Champions 
• Public Sector Organisation: Tunku Alizakri Alias, Employees Provident Fund 
• Small and Medium Organisation: Noor Mohd Helmi Nong Hadzmi, IX Telecom Sdn Bhd
• Malaysian Organisation: Datuk Abdul Farid Alias, Maybank
• International Organisation: Chua Chai Ping, Experian (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd

Outstanding Practice: 
• Workplace: Employees Provident Fund 
• Workforce: DRB-HICOM Berhad
• Work: British American Tobacco Malaysia

Best New Entrant 
• Malaysian Organisation: Hong Leong Bank Berhad
• International Organisation: HSBC Global Service Centre Malaysia

Special Mention
• Kedah Industrial Skills and Management Development Centre
 
To view the entire roll of LIFE AT WORK 2018 Awards winners and participating companies, visit http://lifeatwork.my