„The relationship between employee and employer is not limited to just the workplace or salary. It is important to us that people feel the organization’s support even when significant changes occur in their personal lives. Some of these are joyful, others – challenging, but in all cases, we want to show that we care about the person not only as an employee. Increasing social benefits is one of the concrete ways to turn this approach into real help,“ says Nijolė Kvietkauskaitė, General Director of „IKI Lietuva“.
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Twice as much – in four life situations
From September 1, the benefit for „Iki“ employees upon the birth of a child will increase from 150 to 300 euros. The wedding bonus, the taxable allowance for the death of an employee’s brother or sister, and the funeral allowance for the death of a close person will also increase up to 300 euros. Until now, employees were granted 150 euros in each of these cases.
„The employee benefits system cannot be static – we must constantly evaluate and change it along with people’s needs. It is important for us not only to provide opportunities for employees to learn, develop, and grow professionally within the organization but also to support them at different stages of their life and career – to provide additional financial or emotional assistance when needed. This time, after reviewing the available measures, we decided to allocate more funds to four specific life situations where additional financial support can be especially significant,“ says N. Kvietkauskaitė.
Additional benefits – from health to professional growth
Employee well-being at „Iki“ includes not only financial support during important life moments. The company provides employees with additional health insurance, organizes free seasonal flu vaccinations, offers emotional well-being measures, and other initiatives that help take care of themselves and their families. One of these is the anonymous emotional support line „How are you feeling?“, which offers free consultations with a psychologist.
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„Iki“ also invests in employees’ professional growth. Newcomers are offered training through the „IKI Academy“, and team members are provided with professional training to improve qualifications, leadership, collaboration, and teamwork skills. Employees also have opportunities to change their professional direction and pursue internal careers in different company departments, and belonging to the „Rewe“ group operating in more than 20 countries opens up opportunities to continue their careers internationally.
Attention is paid not only to additional benefits and professional growth opportunities but also to wages. At the beginning of this year, „Iki“ increased salaries for employees in trade, logistics, and production departments, and this year allocates nearly 7 million euros additionally for salary increases.
The retail chain „Iki“, belonging to the international „Rewe“ group, has been operating in Lithuania since 1992. With nearly 250 stores across Lithuania, „Iki“ is one of the largest retail chains. The company employs about 5,500 employees. „Iki“ also operates the home delivery startup „LastMile“.
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