Employers who want to maintain a competitive advantage and attract and retain talent focus on building the resilience of their employees. The balance between private and professional life ranks high on candidates' priority lists, regardless of generation. Employees increasingly expect workplace flexibility and wellbeing packages that meet individual needs. We spoke with Andreja Gracin, Executive Director of Human Resources at Telemach Croatia, who shared insights into the wellbeing programs they offer their employees and how they manage to balance employee needs with company goals. She also highlighted the importance of involving all management levels in wellbeing initiatives, making them a foundation for a supportive work environment.
Telemach Croatia has confirmed its long-term investments in human resources and the development of a strong and motivated team with the Future Resilience certificate. This certificate is awarded to companies dedicated to building resilience, empowering employees, and ensuring their psychological and physical well-being. In addition to existing benefits, Telemach employees now have access to thematic educational workshops based on cognitive-behavioural principles and free, anonymous telephone psychological counseling with certified professionals.
How did your career path unfold? Which projects have marked it, and what are the key priorities for your current role?
I started my career in 2000 at the Ministry of Finance during an intense period of Croatia's accession to the European Union. For the past 18 years, I have been building my career in the ICT/telecom sector. I joined Telemach in 2020 during a dynamic transformation period. I worked on interesting projects related to insourcing and outsourcing, as well as on all key HR projects, from developing relevant HR processes and policies to social dialogue. Since July 2024, I have been serving as the Executive Director of the Human Resources sector, where, along with a team of experts, I work on improving HR processes. Our goal is to increase employee engagement and satisfaction and to develop human resources in line with the long-term goals of our organization.
How would you describe wellbeing in your organization?
At Telemach, we focus on employee satisfaction, so we implement various programs across different areas, with wellbeing being one of the most important. We know that a balance between private and professional life is key to employee satisfaction. That’s why our employees have access to a high initial number of vacation days, as well as other benefits such as paid leave for childbirth, days off for birthdays, adjusting children to school and kindergarten, or, for example, children’s medical check-ups. We are flexible when it comes to working hours and remote work.
We regularly carry out different projects and introduce new initiatives aimed at raising awareness about health and a healthy lifestyle among our employees. We want to provide them with a work environment where they feel healthy, comfortable, and satisfied. We encourage them to stay active through MultiSport and PassSport services, participation in the B2BRun race, and the Summer Step Challenge – an internal sports walking challenge. We also provide regular medical check-ups for our employees through additional health insurance and annually celebrate Health Day, where employees can participate in various activities focused on raising awareness of the importance of health and adopting healthy habits.
Can you share an example of how one of your wellbeing initiatives directly impacts employees?
One of the most interesting wellbeing initiatives at Telemach is the Summer Step Challenge, an internal sports competition where employees promote a healthy lifestyle through walking and step collection. This initiative gathers numerous teams from different business areas each year. Besides helping employees adopt healthier habits, it fosters a positive team spirit and strengthens connections among colleagues.
How do you collaborate with management and other departments to ensure wellbeing remains a priority in the organization?
An organization is only as strong as its team. That’s why Telemach invests heavily in the development of our employees, whether through professional training or programs that support their psychological and physical health. It is important to us that our current and potential employees perceive Telemach as an employer who cares about them while also providing professional growth and a balance between work and personal life. The management of the organization is the strongest advocate of this approach, and the significance of existing and new projects is recognized by all departments, which provides great support for their successful implementation.
Adrian Ježina (CEO Telemach Croatia), Andreja Gracin (Executive Director of Human Resources at Telemach Croatia) and Aleksandar Zemunić (CEO SELECTIO Group) at the Future Resilience certificate award ceremony
Why did you decide to include employees in the Future Resilience program?
We continuously listen to the needs of our employees and strive to introduce benefits they have expressed interest in. The Future Resilience program addresses some important challenges and helps develop skills that we believe will be highly beneficial to participants. Building resilience through effective stress management, adaptability to uncertainty and changes contributes to strengthening employees’ emotional and mental wellbeing and helps create a strong and motivated team.
Can you describe some of the challenges you faced while implementing wellbeing programs and how you overcame them?
Good organization is the most important factor in the implementation of such programs. It is crucial to ensure continuity at the department and team levels while allowing participants to attend without disruptions. This works well for us, and interest in this and many other programs we have offered employees always exceeds expectations. We see this as confirmation that we are doing the right thing and that our workforce is eager to grow and develop.
Can you share advice for other HR professionals looking to launch or improve wellbeing initiatives in their organizations?
Every company has its specific challenges, and the first step is to understand employee needs, whether through targeted surveys or regular organizational climate assessments. Additionally, involving the management and leadership team in wellbeing initiatives is crucial for their success. Their support is the foundation of a culture where psychological and physical health becomes a priority for the entire organization.
Regular organizational climate and employee engagement survey helps identify which aspects of work best predict employee engagement. Based on research, companies can determine which steps to take to increase productivity, reduce turnover, absences, and sick leave rates, and build a better work atmosphere.
To empower teams and recognize the unique potential of all members, organizations increasingly use the Belbin Team Roles® questionnaire. This methodology helps managers, HR professionals, and teams identify the strengths and weaknesses of each team member, allowing for better task distribution and laying the foundation for more successful collaborative projects. Additionally, the Belbin Team Roles model provides a basis for better diversity and inclusion management and the development of highly functional teams.
If you would like more information about the Future Resilience certificate, organizational climate and engagement assessments, or the Belbin Team Roles questionnaire, feel free to contact us!
