Every company says that their greatest asset is their people.  But not every company really lives that commitment.  But Global International Relocation in Portugal has built its company philosophy around empowering people to be the best they can be. To want to do their best every day.  But how do they do that?

The company was started by Jorge DaCosta 16 years ago and is now run day to day by his son, also Jorge.  The company hosted a party at its very impressive warehouse during the ReloAdvisor meeting in Lisbon. It was clear for all to see that whatever they were doing, it was working.

“One of the first things we did was to create an employer branding department,” said Jorge Jr. ‘Employer Branding’ included marketing and communication, HR and quality control into one department.  It included employing a Chief Happiness Officer who worked with the team initially to inspire them and set in place motivation principles that they could carry forward to become part of the DNA of the company.

The company has also embraced what it calls an ‘emotional salary’.  It includes everything the company does to make people feel good about working at Global. Each department, for example, chooses the team building events that best suit them. There’s a programme of regular training to enhance skills and help people be the best they can be. Global has invested in technology and innovation to make people feel good about working there. And if anyone appears to be struggling, getting tired or bored with their job, they are given the opportunity to change. “We try to move them within the company to something else they would like to do,” said Jorge. “I give them a goal to work towards in their new position. We don’t want people to even think of leaving the company.” This does mean, however, that managers need to be acutely aware of people’s circumstances so they can recognise changes in behaviour.

Since COVID there has been a radical shift towards more home working. Now nobody is obliged to come to the office, but most do around 2-3 days a week. “We are very flexible as long as they deliver,” said Jorge. The change has been so significant that it’s made Global rethink its office needs.  This year’s planned expansion will include more ‘hot desks’, a chill area, a gym, even somewhere for people to take a nap if they need to. “We will also have somewhere for people to talk to HR if the have family or financial problems.”

Trust plays a big part.  Jorge said that he suffers from being a perfectionist.  “But now I have learned to trust people more. “If they do things in their own way, it doesn’t make them wrong, just different.  I now know that’s OK.”

Jorge (senior) had the final word.  “We are a big family,” he said. “We need to be the best we can be and help people understand that nothing is impossible.”