Personal Freedom and Professional Development
Freedom is a part of our corporate culture
We expect our employees to display a great amount of initiative, to have the ability to work independently and to be prompt in taking on responsibility. In an era in which there is a distinct trend towards restricting employees’ personal freedom, we are moving in the opposite direction. We give our employees the opportunity to be creative in their working environment and to play an active role in the ongoing development of our company. Our staff surveys indicate that this culture is one of the factors supporting the high level of satisfaction displayed by our employees.
Professional development – a key process
At BDO Ltd, the professional development of our employees is a key process. This is reflected in the fact that around ten percent of our income from services is allocated to the education, training and professional development of our employees. This investment starts with our youngest members of staff: at the beginning of 2012, we employed a total of 75 apprentices throughout Switzerland.
Most of our employees bring with them an excellent school record when they begin their employment at BDO. We therefore focus on developing social and management skills. Communication and dealing with other people are essential elements in success. Our employees must ensure positive experiences for our clients, while the task of our managerial staff is to challenge and encourage our employees. We value strong personalities who are naturally convincing. Since 2003, we have had in place a four-year managerial promotion programme, which prepares our young managers to handle complex, advanced tasks in a demanding and interdisciplinary environment. During this process, the participants of the promotion programme receive active support from members of senior management and other experienced mentors.