“We do not like the term ‘Human Resources’” Cecilia Coll
When any of us has thought what their ideal work would be like, for sure we would imagine one where time flexibility would be present, where compromise would be above any type of schedule, where performed tasks would be recognized and rewarded, and above all things, concilliation measures would be real and feasible. Even though we do not believe these companies exist. However, one of them is found in Valencia, specifically in the province of Alicante.
We’re taking about Quinton Laboratories, a family owned business with over 20 years of history, in which 96 percent of its employees are happy to belong to the company. And no wonder, the company has more than 80 conciliatory measures that have been mutually agreed between management and employees. It would take the whole post to list them , but here are some of them: Private Medical Service; intensive day all year; work leave by family emergency without accounting for hours; laboratory use for them and their families free of charge; physiotherapist services during working hours; training on demand; flexible hours of entry and exit; telecommuting; awards and bonuses, among others.
And how you get to all that? «With a mutual commitment between employer and employees,» reveals Cecilia Coll, head of People and Company Values. What other companies call Human Resources Department, in Quinton Laboratories is called «People and Values Management». «We do not like the term Human Resources», tells us since the beginning Cecila Coll, who adds that Quinton has made a great commitment to the team, and to society in general. «We have an organizational philosophy linked to the development of an entire project, where we take care of all aspects.»
«Not only the quality of our specialties, but also the human quality with which we treat our team and our society,» explains Cecilia. Again, she emphasizes that her company does not speak of Human Resources, instead they speak of People and Values Management. Values which represent the foundation of the company’s philosophy, and also of the person who will occupy a certain job in the company. «Obviously we seek competence and skills for a position, but it is also important for them to be aligned with our values.» When you talk to them you immediately realize that nobody needs to be told what to do, everyone knows their job and the time they have to do it, as well as their tasks management. Worker feel part of the company, they know their job responsibility is the basis of the business «.
And how do you get here? With hard work, Cecilia says. The company has also won two European certifications, as she explains, which «support our commitment to conciliation and the flexibility with which we work all year.» «These two certifications allow us to measure, to carry out internal and external audits, and provide us with indicators showing if what we do works.» And the results are obvious. 96% of employees feel happy to work there and the company has been chosen as one of the best Spanish SMEs to work in.
At Laboratorios Quinton they are convinced that a pleased worker is more productive, and more profitable. «This style of management companies will ultimately lead to external recognition that end up being important and that help you improve your employer brand. And employer brands are often recruiting talented people within the organization, «says Cecilia Coll. She only sees advantages in this business management model. «This investment we make is very profitable because we reduce absenteeism, we reduce voluntary turnover, improve production rates, improve the training plan, and everything is perceived in the financial accounts as a gain,» she argues.
And of course when we see the flexibility workers enjoy, the first question that comes to mind is: Do they all meet their objectives ?. Well «yes» Cecilia confirms, in all this time only once they have found a worker who did not meet the premise of commitment.
A family business with over 20 years of history.
How and why was Laboratories Quinton born? «My father is a chemist very much into alternative medicine, who has worked for many years on the subject of homeopathy and the properties of seawater, according to the René Quinton protocol. In 1996 he had the opportunity to purchase the laboratory in France and brought it to Spain «, explains his daughter Cecilia Coll. They began earning 500 000 pesetas with three people on staff and are now they are 43 and bill almost 4 million euros. The company has been growing steadily but constantly. During this time they have not had to fire anyone, on the contrary, they have been hiring people. «We export at 80 percent, and that has been an advantage for us, we managed to create jobs in a period of crisis,» says Cecilia satisfied.