Q2 HR Solutions becomes first Filipino company to receive back-to-back Investors in People (IiP) PH Platinum Award

MANILA, Philippines – The backbone of any business is truly its people.

Realizing the importance that human capital plays in its organization, Q2 HR Solutions makes sure to put its people first in two decades of full-service HR in one place, by far among the most effective and successful in the country.

Q2’s commitment to ensure the quality of its workforce has earned the company the 2020 Investors in People (IiP) Platinum Award from Investors in People Philippines. This is the 2nd time that Q2 received a Platinum citation, and the first time a Filipino company has earned a back-to-back highest accreditation for two consecutive times (an award is valid for 4 years). In 2016, it became the first Filipino company given the said accreditation by Investors in People (IiP), outside of the UK. It provides more than enough reason to celebrate amidst the pandemic, as Q2 marks its 20th anniversary this September.

Q2 founder and chairwoman, Trixie Whyte, believes that the citation “is not the be-all and end-all of Q2’s journey but rather, it is an affirmation that the company is here for the long haul. It added value to our relevance in the industry.”

Trixie Whyte

Investors in People (IiP) was organized 29 years ago in the United Kingdom. A non-profit organization formerly part of the UK government and independent since 2017, it gives accreditation to deserving companies that develop and nurture the culture of well-being among their employees. In IiP’s context, this pertains to social (relationships, teamwork, trust and respect, inclusion and diversity, opportunities for growth), psychological (mental, sleep and financial well-being) and physical health (staying in shape, nutrition, smoking cessation programs & alcohol awareness).

“I am proud to be part of this community, IiP has been our partner for 14 years. My Q2 team led by our HR director, Med Gelacio, and Sarah McLeod, my managing director, championed this initiative with me. This IiP Platinum Award has a deep personal impact because receiving this, in the midst of a pandemic and on our 20th year milestone, honours the legacy entrusted to me by my late husband Brendan, who was my partner when we first established Q2. It’s validation of a commitment to take care of the company that we built together, 20 years ago.” Whyte says.

“Achieving a back-to-back Platinum accreditation gives me a feeling of immense pride, accomplishment, and the knowledge that we continue to grow as a company. Our people are always at the forefront of our continued journey for excellence. It is that one moment you can put the stamp on all the hard work and take a moment to enjoy with your teams and claim it! Then the hard work begins all over again as with We Invest in People Award, continuous improvement is a constant journey.“ says McLeod.

Lead, Support, Improve the Workforce

Companies that apply for an IiP accreditation must undergo a rigorous screening process. Worldwide, some 5,000 plus employers have been accredited in 66 countries, thus far. Of this, only about 2% go on to earn a Platinum accreditation in each country.

There are Silver, Gold and Platinum award levels, valid for four years. To be accredited, a company must be a dedicated HR practitioner. There are surveys and interviews that are conducted among the company’s employees, feedback meetings, frequent check-ins, and the submission of an action plan to support the company’s well-being strategy.

IiP uses the Investors in People Framework to assess the suitability of companies for Silver, Gold, or Platinum accreditation. There are three principles on which assessment is based – Leading (inspiring, motivating empowering employees and leaders living by the values and behaviors set by the company); Supporting (motivating and rewarding high performance, encouraging people to work together) and Improving (leadership development, innovation, sustainability).

The Philippine counterpart of IiP, Investors in People Philippines, is the local accreditation organization that handles assessments and awards. It was granted its license in 2007, and operated within the People Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP) with proponents Gerry Plana, past President of PMAP, and Janet Webster-Watson, current IiP Chairperson. In 2011, IiP Philippines became an independent company.

In The Business of Uplifting Lives amidst the Covid-19 Pandemic

It has been a challenging year for most businesses due to the current global health crisis. “The uncertainty caused by the pandemic made all our previous strategic and operational plans irrelevant. We had to start from scratch and realign based on instinct, educated assumptions and government rules that are constantly evolving,” Whyte shared.

Whyte and her team focused on areas that they could control, such as converting contracts to revenue, controlling costs and expenses, and cash management. They were in constant communication with their teams and their clients, holding regular virtual meetings and town halls.

“During this extremely challenging time, our Q2 team leans on our core values of creating positive impact, embodying malasakit, having grit, gratitude, and innovation, that serve as our compass and our guiding principles. We aim to not only survive but to thrive in this climate,” Whyte said.

She believes there is an intrinsic opportunity in every crisis, which is why she set up the “Business Opportunity Task Force”, a program composed of a diverse group of people from various functions, levels, ages, genders and divisions, structured as a melting pot of ideas to allow individuals to collaborate, remove barriers, and provide a level playing field for healthy discussions, to generate bold and ‘out of the box’ ideas and solutions that are actionable and practical.

Indeed, a productive and thriving workforce is an important asset that can contribute significantly to the profitability and financial health of a company. Human Resources have long been acknowledged as the heart and soul of any business enterprise.
“We continue to create new services and product lines. Positivity is really the key to surviving any crisis. As Helen Keller once said, “A bend in the road is not the end of the road unless you fail to make the turn,” Whyte concluded.

For more information about Q2 HR Solutions, visit www.q2hrsolutions.com. Follow their social media pages: Q2 HR Solutions on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. The company headquarters is located at the 12/F 88 Corporate Centre, Sedeño corner Valero Streets, Salcedo Village, Makati. For further inquiries, call (02) 8 889.625

ADVT