Our co-workers
Skilled and committed co-workers are one of the main reasons H&M has been able to grow with good profitability for such a long period of time.
Today, H&M has around 73,000 employees in 34 countries. Target growth is 10-15 percent new stores every year. For 2009 this means that between 6,000 and 7,000 new jobs will be created.
Words that are key to continued expansion are responsibility and commitment: for H&M to have committed co-workers who have the courage to delegate responsibility at all levels. If co-workers don’t grow, H&M doesn’t grow.
When H&M opens on a new market, it always recruits locally. During the start-up period, new employees are supported by more experienced co-workers. The first Japanese co-workers, for example, spent some time in stores in Norway and Hong Kong. During the sales-intensive opening phase, colleagues from other countries are then drafted in on a temporary basis.
Internal recruitment is the first choice.
Our recruitment needs will continue to be sizeable in the future. That’s why it’s important for H&M to continue being an attractive employer that actively communicates how its business is run and the opportunities it can offer to co-workers. Efforts are, however, concentrated on internal recruitment. It’s crucial to have talented co-workers in progress, who have the right H&M spirit, are committed to their work, and who are prepared to take on new work tasks.
Internal recruitment and work rotation mean that H&M can grow rapidly, yet still be a value-driven company where common sense, hard work and team work are central, and where co-workers can both challenge themselves and act on their own initiative.
H&M’s aim is to be a good employer
In order to meet the expectations of H&M as an attractive employer, we work hard to draw up global guidelines for diversity and equality as well as against discrimination.
H&M strives to have good relationships with trade unions that represent co-workers. The aim is to be a good employer – even in the countries were legislation and regulations do not live up to H&M’s standards. Our whole business is based on basic respect for the individual. This covers everything from fair wages, working hours and freedom of association, to giving co-workers the opportunity to grow and develop within the company.
H&M believes in people
H&M’s values are also the basis for a multicultural company in a multicultural market where respect for the individual is great and where everyone is represented. At H&M, everyone should feel part of the company’s success.
As a co-worker at H&M, it is possible to be an entrepreneur and take on responsibility at an early stage. Together with like-minded people, co-workers can be part of creating results and improving the company in both large and small ways.