The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY), a global confectionery and snacking leader and the largest chocolate manufacturer in North America, and Globoforce® (www.globoforce.com), a leader in social recognition, partnered last year to create Hershey SMILES, a global employee recognition program. Now, following the one-year anniversary of the program’s launch, Globoforce has named Hershey the winner of its Innovator Award to recognize the program’s effective implementation and continual incorporation of new and effective ideas. The award was given during an exclusive customer event at Globoforce’s 2015 WorkHuman conference, created to unlock the future of the human workplace.

Hershey SMILES was born out of Hershey’s desire to drive more employee engagement, support the company’s work culture, and create one consistent recognition approach for its 22,000 employees in 17 countries. Hershey wanted to offer peer-to-peer recognition, provide mobile access and offer a standardized experience for all employees that allowed for worldwide recognition. Globoforce’s platform, used widely by Fortune 500 companies, offered a simple user interface and was supported by a team of experienced consultants who advised on best practices and helped with the implementation.

“The SMILES program embodies everything that Hershey stands for,” said Kevin Walling, chief human resource officer at The Hershey Company. “The smile is a universally known symbol that is meaningful across all cultures and is closely connected to Hershey’s goals and vision. When our employees smile, we smile. And thanks to Globoforce we now have a way for recognition to reach all of our employees all over the world.”

After one year, the SMILES program has exceeded benchmarks and served as a model for other companies looking for similar solutions. Highlights include:

  • Influencing a Culture of Recognition: In the first week of the SMILES program, almost nine percent of the company’s employees were recognized. Within the first 90 days, more than 40 percent of Hershey employees had participated.
  • Improving Employee Satisfaction: Within the first seven months, employee satisfaction with rewards and recognition increased by 11 percent.
  • Reach a Global Workforce: Globoforce’s social recognition program enables easy program accessibility for Hershey’s diverse global workforce. To date, more than 65,000 SMILES have been awarded to employees, with 100 percent of the languages in the tool utilized and 81 percent country-to-country recognition.
  • Improve the Rewards Experience for Employees: Globoforce’s SaaS software enables Hershey employees to earn millions of rewards from both domestic and international brand companies, and also allows employees to buy company-branded apparel.

“The Hershey Company is one of the world’s most iconic and admired companies,” said Eric Mosley, CEO of Globoforce. “Working with Hershey to build a successful recognition brand and a culture that promotes its values and positivity across their entire organization has once again proven the power programs like this have to positively impact culture and business metrics. It was an easy decision to celebrate the success of the SMILES program with this award.”

About The Hershey Company

The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY), headquartered in Hershey, Pa., is a global confectionery leader known for bringing goodness to the world through its chocolate, sweets, mints and other great-tasting snacks. Hershey has approximately 22,000 employees around the world who work every day to deliver delicious, quality products. The company, which has more than 80 brands around the world that drive over $7.4 billion in annual revenues, includes such iconic brand names as Hershey's, Reese's, Hershey's Kisses, Jolly Rancher and Ice Breakers. Hershey is focused on growing its presence in key international markets while continuing to build its competitive advantage in North America. Additionally, Hershey is poised to expand its portfolio into snacking categories beyond confectionery, finding new ways to bring goodness to people everywhere.

At Hershey, goodness has always been about more than delicious products. For 120 years, Hershey has been committed to good business by operating fairly, ethically and sustainably to make a positive impact on society. This means contributing to a better life for its employees, consumers, communities, and, ultimately, creating a bright future for kids in need. This commitment is exemplified by Milton Hershey School, established in 1909 by the company's founder and administered by Hershey Trust Company. The children who attend the school receive education, housing, and medical care - thriving as direct beneficiaries of The Hershey Company's success.

To learn more:

  • Visit: www.thehersheycompany.com
  • Follow:
    • Twitter @hersheycompany
    • LinkedIn: The Hershey Company
    • Facebook: www.facebook.com/hersheycompany
    • YouTube: www.youtube.com/hersheycompany
    • Instagram: www.instagram.com/hersheycompany

About Globoforce

Globoforce is a leading provider of social recognition solutions, helping companies build strong cultures of engaged employees through the power of thanks. Named one of the Best Workplaces by the Great Place To Work® Institute, Globoforce is trusted by some of most admired companies in the world to inspire and energize employees and create best places to work. Our award-winning SaaS technology and proven methodologies empower HR and business leaders to take a modern, more strategic approach to recognition programs. What results is measurable business success, qualified by increases in employee engagement, retention, and productivity. The company is the creator of the HR conference WorkHuman, designed to help organizations unlock the power of the human workplace. Globoforce is co-headquartered in Southborough, Massachusetts, and Dublin, Ireland.

To learn more:

  • Visit: http://www.globoforce.com
  • Read: http://globoforce.com/globoblog
  • Follow:
    • Twitter @Globoforce
    • LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/globoforce
    • Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/globoforce