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The 2023 Top Employers have been announced and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), an entity of the Department of Science and Innovation, has, once again, been recognised as a Top Employer in South Africa, an accolade that it is receiving for the sixth year.
The organisation continues to prioritise strengthening and building a strong pipeline through ongoing initiatives such as the bursary, internship and graduates-in-training programmes, and studentships, which have attracted and exposed young people to careers in science – a key component to building a robust National System of Innovation in South Africa.
Further, the CSIR continues to strengthen its capabilities, build high-end skills and ensure transformation through the Accelerated Principal Development Programme, Accelerated Researcher Development Programme, and Capability Investment Development Programme. The organisation is focused on the development of unemployed youth, women and people with disabilities through the Youth Employment Service (YES) Programme. Being a people-centred organisation, the CSIR prioritises the development of management and leadership skills through various programmes from junior management to Executive development and this is done in partnership with business schools.
Onsite and virtual wellness initiatives, reward and recognition programmes and a hybrid workplace are among some of the many initiatives implemented by the CSIR to create an organisational culture that supports a healthy and balanced work environment.
Being certified as a Top Employer showcases an organisation’s dedication to a better world of work and exhibits this through excellent human capital (HC) policies and people practices. The Top Employers Institute programme certifies organisations based on the participation in and results of their HR Best Practices Survey. The survey covers six HC domains consisting of 20 topics, including people strategy, work environment, talent acquisition, learning, well-being, diversity inclusion, and more.
Top Employers Institute CEO, David Plink, says: “Exceptional times bring out the best in people and organisations, and we have witnessed this in our Top Employers Certification Programme this year – exceptional performance from the certified Top Employers 2023. These employers have always shown that they care about the development and wellbeing of their people. By doing so, they collectively enrich the world of work. We are proud to announce and celebrate this year’s group of leading people-oriented employers: the Top Employers 2023.”
The programme has certified and recognised 2 053 Top Employers in 121 countries/regions across five continents.
CSIR Group Executive for Human Capital and Communication, Andile Mabindisa, says: “We are proud to have been recognised as a Top Employer once again. This is an indication of our unwavering commitment to fostering a work environment that promotes science and innovation, healthy work-life balance, cares for the overall wellness of our people, and strives to create mechanisms that support their professional growth and career aspirations. A combination of all these elements reflects the heart of the CSIR, which is its people and contributes to touching the lives of South Africans”.
“This recognition affirms the CSIR’s efforts in maintaining a people-centred strategy to encourage personal development and lead an EPIC organisational culture. A very big part of achieving our vision of being accelerators of socioeconomic prosperity through leading innovation means putting our people first. Our staff is the engine that drives the core of our business. This Top Employer certification reminds us of this and why our HC policies and practices should always reflect our people’s needs and aspirations,” adds Mabindisa.