share on
‘Amex Flex’ programme along with other recognition, development and wellbeing initiatives – learn more about the company’s efforts in building a supportive and empowering work environment.
This article is brought to you by American Express
American Express believes: “The best way to back our customers is to back our people.” This people-first philosophy enables the globally integrated payments company to deliver its mission to provide customers with access to products, insights, and experiences that enrich lives and build business success.
Calling its people “colleagues”, American Express strives to create an exceptional employee, or colleague, experience to provide unwavering support and foster meaningful engagement among them. Revolving around the four pillars of its HR strategy on career, culture, recruiting, and wellbeing, American Express focuses on:
- Developing a new career growth model, providing innovative learning experiences, and cultivating future leaders within the organisation;
- Engaging colleagues to strengthen and champion its culture, with a specific focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I), conduct risk, and its ‘Amex Flex’ programme;
- Delivering a great end-to-end internal and external recruiting experience to attract and retain top talent; and
- Promoting holistic wellbeing for all colleagues, supporting them across the moments that matter to them.
Among these imperatives, one much-emphasised is the introduction of the ‘Amex Flex’ programme. Adapting to new and flexible ways of working, the programme provides colleagues more flexibility to manage their professional and personal lives with options to work at home, in the office, or take a hybrid approach that combines both, while also allowing them to enjoy in-person connection, collaboration, and events.
To further support colleagues’ work-life balance, American Express has implemented another flexible work arrangement through the ‘Summer Flexi’ programme from June to August, during which colleagues were encouraged to spend quality time with loved ones by taking an extra afternoon or day off to be with their children during exam periods, or enjoy summer activities with their families.
As American Express transitions into flexible and hybrid working, how to ensure colleagues’ engagement and wellbeing has become its top-of-mind priority. To better motivate and engage colleagues, American Express has launched a holistic rewards and recognition strategy. This includes the ‘Reward Blue’ tool to enable colleagues to acknowledge each other's great work and success; highlighting colleagues’ outstanding achievements with the ‘Blue Awards’, which include monetary rewards and e-cards, during the dedicated ‘Colleague Appreciation Month’; as well as acknowledging milestone anniversaries every five years with personalised ’Fan Mail’ to honour colleagues' valuable contributions and accomplishments.
Meanwhile, prioritising colleagues’ mental and physical wellbeing is also crucial to help them be at their best at work. Therefore, American Express has introduced new resources to support colleagues, including 24/7 mental health counselling with instant access to an exclusive network of vetted and trained counsellors and coaches, on-site medical facilities ‘Amex clinic’, new flexible spending account to support colleagues’ expenses for work-from-home gadgets, as well as virtual yoga and steps challenge activities throughout the year to encourage colleagues to stay healthy.
Looking forward, American Express sees the importance of continuing to invest more in employee development and upskilling programmes to empower its colleagues for future success, while taking action on any practices that could hinder diversity, equity, or inclusion within the organisation – all as parts of its plan for an inclusive and equitable workplace for all.
‘Project MarketPlace’ and ‘Market Colleague Plan’ which provide different career opportunities for all colleagues; access to LinkedIn Learning and a customised leadership development programme in partnership with Harvard Publishing Certificate and leading business experts; and additional investments to achieve full gender pay equity globally are some of the prominent examples that well-represent its efforts in supporting the career development of all colleagues as well as in promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
By putting people first, American Express’ commitment to its colleagues remains steadfast: "You lead the way, we've got your back." As such, the company will continue to innovate and enhance its colleague offerings, build an exceptional colleague experience, support them to thrive both personally and professionally, and ultimately maintain its position as a great place to work and an employer of choice.
Photo / American Express
share on
