How FairPrice Group upskills an ageing workforce and attracts young talent | Career Health at Work

Summary

FairPrice Group, a leading grocery retailer in Singapore serving over half a million shoppers daily, shares its strategies for employee engagement and retention. With a workforce of over 13,000, including many long-tenured staff, the company emphasizes upskilling, internal mobility, and flexible work arrangements to attract and retain talent. Initiatives like the Butcher Training School (BTS) and cross-departmental training enhance skills, productivity, and career growth, while technology supports operational efficiency. By fostering a culture of continuous learning, inclusivity, and career health, FairPrice ensures employees feel valued, empowered, and aligned with the company’s long-term vision, ultimately benefiting both staff and customers.

Takeaways

• 🛒 FairPrice Group serves over half a million shoppers daily across 570 touchpoints and employs more than 13,000 people in Singapore.
• 👥 One in three FairPrice employees has been with the company for over a decade, highlighting strong staff retention.
• 🍹 FairPrice experimented with a grocer bar concept in Clarke Quay to blend dining and retail experiences with nightlife.
• 🔑 The biggest talent challenges are finding local workers, rising labor costs, and managing an aging workforce.
• 🤖 Technology, such as self-checkout counters, improves productivity and helps manage an aging workforce effectively.
• 📈 Upskilling and multi-skilling initiatives, like career conversion programs, help employees perform multiple roles and ensure employability.
• 🎓 FairPrice trains employees extensively, with nearly 90-95% of frontline cashiers cross-trained for other roles, enhancing knowledge and customer service.
• 🔪 The BTS (Butcher Training School) program attracts younger talent by teaching specialized skills in meat cutting, promoting career growth and skill agility.
• ⏰ Flexibility in workload, time, and location supports diverse employee needs, including work-life balance and mobility across multiple FairPrice locations.
• ❤️ FairPrice prioritizes employee career health and longevity, reflecting a culture that values growth, training, and employee well-being alongside business success.

Q & A

What is FairPrice Group and what is its scale of operations in Singapore?

FairPrice Group is a major grocery retail chain in Singapore, serving over half a million shoppers daily through more than 570 touchpoints and employing over 13,000 people.

What is the employee retention rate at FairPrice Group and what contributes to it?

Over one in three staff members have been with the company for more than a decade. Key factors contributing to retention include career development opportunities, skill training, flexible work arrangements, and a focus on employee well-being.

What are the main talent challenges FairPrice Group faces in the current market?

The main challenges include difficulty attracting local workers to retail, rising labor costs and wages, and managing an aging workforce.

How does FairPrice Group manage an aging workforce effectively?

The company deploys technology such as self-checkout counters to improve productivity, upskills employees through multi-skilling programs, and redeploys staff to different roles, enhancing employability and justifying higher salaries.

What is the purpose of the multi-skilling program at FairPrice Group?

Multi-skilling helps employees learn various roles beyond their primary job, improving productivity, product knowledge, and enabling them to make recommendations and upsell to customers.

How does FairPrice Group attract younger talent?

The company has specialized training programs like the Butcher Training School (BTS), which upskills young employees in specialized skills, making them more skilled, versatile, and career agile.

Why is continuous skills training important for employees today according to the discussion?

Employees today value meaningful work experiences, work-life balance, and continuous learning opportunities. Continuous training helps align their personal goals with organizational objectives and enhances employability.

How does FairPrice Group implement flexible work arrangements?

FairPrice Group offers flexible work in three forms: flexi-load (performing different roles), flexi-time (working hours tailored to personal needs), and flexi-location (allowing employees to work at different locations within the company's network).

How do employees like Esther and Zus benefit from training programs?

Employees gain broader knowledge of store operations, learn new skills, and improve customer service. For example, Esther gained insights into other departments, while Zus developed specialized meat-cutting skills through BTS, allowing direct customer interaction and precise service.

What is FairPrice Group's philosophy regarding employee career health and longevity?

The company's philosophy is that if employees are well cared for, they will, in turn, take care of customers, which drives business success. This includes supporting employees' career growth, skill development, and rewarding them along the way.

How does upskilling contribute to FairPrice Group's business strategy?

Upskilling enhances workforce productivity, ensures employees are adaptable to multiple roles, improves service quality, and allows the company to offer competitive salaries, ultimately supporting both staff retention and business growth.