DIGITAL - Companies Stay Connected with Facebook's Workplace

It used to be that “Facebook” was the ultimate f-word at the office.  Now bosses are encouraging employees to Like, follow trending stories and join groups.

But there’s a catch: they are not referring to baby pictures and YouTube videos. They are talking about Facebook’s new service called Workplace.

While it is built to look like a user’s personal Facebook page, Workplace is open only to members at a specific company.

It’s easy to use, as many employees are among the 1.7 billion people logging onto the traditional Facebook site each month, and it caters to mobile workers who aren’t always tethered to their desks.

Employees and management can post information, have group discussions about projects or issues, track News Feed items, and use the voice and video calling feature, all on a secure system.

Workplace also features Multi-Company Groups that allow employees from different companies to connect when working together on a project.

The service has been in beta testing for a year and there are more than 1,000 organizations worldwide, including the Royal Bank of Scotland, Danone and Starbucks, using Workplace.

On October 10, 2016, Facebook announced that Workplace is now available to anyone and everyone.

But unlike Facebook, Workplace isn’t free.

The company would pay a monthly fee based on the number of users accessing the service: $3 per user for the first 1,000 users and $2 per user for between 1,001 and 10,000 users and $1 for any users above that.

But for Workplace officials, the goal is more geared toward adoption that to make a ton of money.

"We want to grow to have hundreds of millions of people using it and then just as we've done for Instagram and Messenger, we will care about monetization," Julian Cordoniou, director of Workplace, said in an interview with CNN.

Facebook has tapped into the workplace social media market and despite competition from existing communications services like Slack and Yammer, it is poised to dominate the market with the new Workplace service.

By Rennay McLean
Rennay is a freelance writer and editor, animal lover, mom, and Gryffindor. She has written nonfiction books, corporate communications, blog posts, magazine articles and newspaper pieces on topics including caring for your pets, animal rescue agencies, the economic outlook of Alberta, archeological digs, and spa getaways. 

Mars listed on World's Best Multinational Workplaces for 2011

World-leading food company Mars, Incorporated praised for its global Associate engagement program

Mars, Incorporated has been ranked 19th in the inaugural World's Best Multinational Workplaces list, the world's first global workplace excellence ranking by Great Place to Work(R). The list, announced today at a ceremony and gala dinner at the New York Stock Exchange, honored the top 25 global companies to work for in the world.  The World's Best Multinational Workplaces list is based upon all the Best Workplaces Lists published between September 2010 and August 2011 and is featured on Fortune.com. 

Mars, Incorporated is the owner of  brands such as PEDIGREE(R), ROYAL CANIN(R), WHISKAS(R), KITEKAT(R), BANFIELD(R) Pet Hospital and NUTRO(R.  Mars, alongside other qualifying companies, was required to feature on at least five national Great Place to Work lists, have at least 5,000 Associates and have at least 40 percent of their workforce located outside the country in which their company is headquartered. Twelve of Mars, Incorporated's operations are featured on the list including Austria, Belgium, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Korea, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland.

  

"As a global business, we are united by our Principles-based culture," commented Paul S. Michaels, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mars, Incorporated. "Although we operate in 71 countries, speak different languages, and have diverse perspectives and opinions, our culture remains consistent and provides our 65,000 Associates with the opportunity to make their work mean more every day."

  

"To receive this recognition from Great Place to Work and to be featured in the inaugural World's Best Multinational Workplaces list is testament to every Mars Associate who is passionate about their work and takes pride in putting the Five Principles of Mars into action every day," adds Michaels.

The Mars Five Principles of Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom are the foundation of its culture and approach to business. They unite Mars across generations, geographies, languages and cultures.  First expressed by Forrest E. Mars, Sr. in the 1930s as his business model based on delivering a "mutuality of benefits" for all stakeholders, and later articulated as the Five Principles by the next generation of the Mars family, these philosophies guide Mars Associates' relationships with consumers, customers, business partners, communities and one another.

Click here to learn more about Mars as a workplace   

SOURCE  Mars, Incorporated