Aon : Hewitt Announces the Best Employers – Thailand 2015 Awards

Bangkok, Thursday 2 April 2015- Aon Hewitt, the global talent, retirement and health solutions business of Aon plc (NYSE: AON), announced its list of the Best Employers -Thailand 2015 in an Awards Ceremony & Learning Conference. The agenda of the conference covered key market insights, benchmarks and case studies and a Leaders' panel that explored what Best Employers do better.

Aon Hewitt's Best Employers study was first conducted in Asia in 2001. The purpose of the program is to gain insights into companies that are creating real competitive advantage through their people, to explore what makes a workplace of choice and to identify the Best Employers in the region.

The Aon Hewitt Best Employers program is the most comprehensive study of its kind in Asia Pacific. It is run in 12 markets: China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand. The study's research methodology involves a rigorous process, conducted over a nine-month period that culminates in a solid, credible list of Best Employers.

Being recognized as an Aon Hewitt Best Employer means that:
- The organization inspires strong commitment and superior performance from its people;
- It drives business results through effective people practices; and,
- It manages its business in ways that build long-term success and sustainability.

"Best Employers clearly achieve better business results compared to market. We found that Best Employers in China achieve significant higher growth in their income profits when compared to market average, said Jeremy Andrulis, Chief Executive Officer, Southeast Asia, for Aon Hewitt Consulting. "This makes becoming a Best Employer a business agenda and not just an HR agenda."

The following organizations were recognized as Best Employers in Thailand:

The most noticeable trends that emerged in this year's Best Employers - Thailand 2015 research were:

Business and People Challenges
- Best Employers filled internally double the number of openings compared to market level.
- Best Employers attain 10% higher growth in profits than market average.

Employee Engagement

- Best Employers engagement score at 87% is significantly higher than market average (63%).
- Gen Y engagement score is the lowest age category at 62%. Best Employers Gen Y engagement score is higher at 84%.
- Only 54% of Gen Y employees said that their future career opportunities in their organization look good.

Compelling Employer Brand
- 85% of organizations have a clearly defined employer brand. However, only 12% of CEOs and HR are aligned on its nature.
- Product and Service Excellence is the most prevalent theme for Thailand organizations, with 52% having it amongst their top 3 descriptors.
- 88% of employees at Best Employers believe their organization delivers on promises, compared to only 62% of employees at participating organizations.
- 88% of employees at Best Employers would recommend their company, compared to 66% at participating companies.

Dr. Adisak Chandprapalert, Engagement Leader for Aon Hewitt Consulting in Thailand, highlighted: "There is a significant gap between 88% employees at Best Employers believing their organization delivers on promises compared to only 62% of employees at participating organizations. Best Employers clearly walk the talk and fulfill their commitment. This goes to reinforce the value of employer brand for Thailand employers when it comes to attracting and engaging the best performing talent."

Effective Leadership
- 83% Best Employers have mentoring programs for developing their leaders compared to 62% participant average.
- 84% of employees at Best Employers believe that senior leadership treat them as the organization's most valued asset, compared to only 58% of employees at participating organizations.
- 83% Best Employers integrate their high potential program to talent management processes compared to 54% at participating organizations.

High Performance Culture
- 75% Best Employers include the engagement scores of teams in their people manager performance ratings, compared to 62% participants.
- Only 54% of employees feel they receive appropriate recognition (beyond pay and benefits) for their contribution, compared to 79% at Best Employers.
- 87% of employees at Best Employers believe their organization offers excellent career opportunities to strong performers, compared to only 64% of employees at participating organizations.
- 85% managers at Best Employers are perceived to be more effective in meeting employee needs compared to 69% of other participants.

While the Best Employers study recognizes organizations that display standards of excellence, the journey to get there is one that Aon Hewitt recommends for every organization to embark upon.

"For organizations that don't make it to the Best Employers list, but are aspiring to become Best Employers, we want to reinforce that this is a journey. Becoming a Best Employer doesn't happen overnight, said Thaniya Kritsadavorakul, Best Employers Project Manager for Aon Hewitt in Thailand."It is possible for everyone to become a Best Employer, if you've articulated the destination you want to head to and have planned your journey wisely."

Participation in the program brings a wide range of benefits for organizations, such as finding out how employees perceive and rate their employer, the reasons why they are attracted to certain employer brands, and the type of organizational culture they value sufficiently to "stay and strive". The study also provides a benchmark against company competitors in the market. Participating organizations gain access to Aon Hewitt's latest market research insights, along with the best and most innovative people practices of Best Employers.

To find out more about the Aon Hewitt Best Employers Asia 2015 Study, please visit http://www.bestemployersasia.com

To find out more about the Aon Hewitt Best Employers - Thailand2015 Awards or to inquire about the next edition of the Best Employers program starting in soon, please contact Thaniya Kritsadavorakul, Best Employers ThailandProject Manager at thaniya.kritsadavorakul@aonhewitt.com

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About Aon Hewitt
Aon Hewitt empowers organizations and individuals to secure a better future through innovative talent, retirement and health solutions. We advise, design and execute a wide range of solutions that enable clients to cultivate talent to drive organizational and personal performance and growth, navigate retirement risk while providing new levels of financial security, and redefine health solutions for greater choice, affordability and wellness. Aon Hewitt is the global leader in human resource solutions, with over 30,000 professionals in 90 countries serving more than 20,000 clients worldwide. For more information on Aon Hewitt, please visit www.aonhewitt.com. About Aon
Aon plc(NYSE:AON) is a leading global provider of risk management, insurance and reinsurancebrokerage, and human resourcessolutions and outsourcingservices. Through its more than 65,000 colleagues worldwide, Aonunites to empower results for clients in over 120 countries via innovativeand effective riskand peoplesolutions and through industry-leading global resources and technical expertise. Aon has been named repeatedly as the world's best broker, best insurance intermediary, reinsurance intermediary, captives manager and best employee benefitsconsulting firm by multiple industry sources. Visit www.aon.comfor more information on Aon and www.aon.com/manchesterunitedto learn about Aon's global partnership and shirt sponsorship with Manchester United.

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