KPMG IN SRI LANKA
Strong, effective and empathetic leadership plays a vital role in shaping the overall work culture and employee satisfaction
Q: How would you define ‘corporate happiness’?
Priyanka Jayatilake (PJ): Corporate happiness is about creating a workplace where employees feel happy, motivated and engaged, leading to higher productivity and overall success for the organisation. It can be defined as the overall wellbeing, satisfaction and sense of fulfilment that employees experience in the organisation.
At KPMG in Sri Lanka, our people carve opportunities to do meaningful and impactful work while developing a thriving career in an inclusive, diverse and caring culture.
Q: The first of its kind Corporate Happiness Index (CHI) in Sri Lanka is being released by LMD in collaboration with PepperCube Consultants for the first time this year. In your opinion, how important is this initiative?
Suren Rajakarier (SR): One of KPMG’s values is to achieve excellence, meaning relentlessly delivering quality work to the highest professional standards.
In helping our people to be extraordinary, we value the work-life balance, provide a safe and healthy work environment, and invest in our people’s professional development so that they can reach their full potential.
The CHI is an incredibly important initiative that supports our purpose in Sri Lanka. For KPMG in Sri Lanka, being featured on the CHI reinforces our commitment to employee satisfaction and gives us valuable insights into how we can continuously enhance our workplace culture.
By setting this standard, the CHI encourages all corporates to prioritise their people, which can positively impact their performance and move the country towards economic growth.
Q: What does it mean for your organisation to be ranked among the happiest corporates in the country?
Harsha Rajan: Being recognised as one of the happiest corporates in the country is a tremendous honour for KPMG in Sri Lanka. It validates our efforts to create a workplace that values people as much as performance.
This recognition is not only a testament to our leadership but also the commitment of every team leader and member who contributes to fostering a positive and inclusive environment.
For us, it means that we are on the right path to creating a balanced, supportive and engaging workplace, which ultimately leads to higher productivity and stronger team cohesion.
It also motivates us to continue prioritising our employees’ happiness as a cornerstone of our corporate strategy.
Q: When ranking companies in the context of corporate happiness, the survey measures attributes such as camaraderie, leadership and career progression among others. With regard to your organisation and its happiness ranking, which attributes would you say are the most significant?
PJ: At KPMG in Sri Lanka, we believe in creating a caring, inclusive, purpose led and values driven culture – and an ethical and collaborative culture is essential for that. Some of the attributes significantly contribute to our happiness ranking.
For example, strong, effective and empathetic leadership plays a vital role in shaping the overall work culture and employee satisfaction. Camaraderie builds a sense of belonging, and strong interpersonal relationships in the workplace contribute greatly to overall happiness as we believe in working ‘together for better.’
In terms of career progression, we never stop learning and improving, and we believe that opportunities for growth and development are essential for long-term employee happiness. Wellbeing and safety ensure both physical and mental health support – including wellness programmes, health benefits and safe working conditions – have become increasingly important for employee happiness. We prioritise the wellbeing of our people.
These attributes collectively create a positive workplace culture where our people feel valued, engaged and motivated. We do what matters; and for over 125 years, we have inspired confidence by building trust while empowering change to shape a better future.
Q: In your view, why should happiness be part of an organisation’s corporate strategy?
SR: Our people are of strategic importance for KPMG’s purpose – to shape the future in positive, meaningful ways; inspire confidence; and empower change in all we do. Corporate happiness helps retain talent by keeping them satisfied and engaged.
Our strategy of being an employer of choice attracts new talent by showcasing positive attributes in the firm’s culture. We have a culture that can meet market challenges and demand excellence supported by our core values that guide everything we do.
These values define the expectations we have of each other and most importantly, ourselves. Ultimately, people are happy to be guided by a strong set of values and a positive culture.
KPMG in Sri Lanka has embedded these aspects to achieve a happy working environment, recognising that our people are our greatest asset. A happy workforce translates into better client service, stronger innovation and a sustainable business model – reducing turnover and fostering a loyal, committed workforce.
Our strategy of being an employer of choice attracts new talent by showcasing positive attributes in the firm’s culture
Telephone: 5426426 | Email : kpmgsl@kpmg.com | Website: kpmg.com/lk
