Future of work
Even as path-breaking technological innovations continue to rise, the future of work has people at its core. The employment landscape evolves only with the betterment and wellbeing of the workforce. At HUL, we are taking progressive steps to equip our people and others for the future.
Reimagining the future of work
As we navigate the future of work, we are embracing broader societal shifts. We focus on redefining work structures and empowering our workforce through upskilling initiatives. We are innovating new work methods that cater to our business needs and individual preferences.
People are seeking greater flexibility and fulfilling work. In that spirit, we’re committing to flexible and skill-focused work models emphasising adaptability, resilience, and continuous improvement for success in the evolving work environment.
Our new employment models
Ultimately, we aim to make work accessible for people and ensure they stay employed – all while ensuring business resources are optimised. With new employment models, we are emphasising opportunities for learning and diverse work approaches, enabling individuals to experience a fulfilling career, now and in the future.
U-Work (1 of 2)
U-Work offers employees the flexibility of contract roles and the stability and benefits of regular employment. Individuals in U-Work engage in various assignments rather than a fixed role, with the freedom to pursue personal interests between projects. Whether actively on assignment or not, they receive a monthly retainer and a tailored benefits package. These assignments vary in duration and intensity and are flexible enough to accommodate different work preferences and lifestyles.
This approach benefits individuals looking to adjust their work hours, manage family responsibilities, or pursue other interests while maintaining a connection with Unilever. It also benefits HUL by providing managers access to skilled individuals familiar with the company, reducing the time and costs associated with onboarding freelance workers.
Hybrid working arrangements
Hybrid working fosters an inclusive, adaptable environment where individuals excel, and teams thrive in collaboration, creativity, and celebration. Our global principles optimise office spaces while offering flexibility, including spending 40% of time in the office for collaboration.
This is all because we envision a future focused on productivity over location or strict schedules. Our work options, like remote work, aim to balance work and life while valuing face-to-face interactions. This approach reflects our optimism and commitment to empowering our people.
Upskilling our workforce with future-fit capabilities
1,00,000+hours invested in learning and development
83%employees believe that HUL provides opportunities for skill development to advance them towards a successful future
With shifting market dynamics, evolving customer demands and emerging technology, it becomes critical to build a future-ready workforce who can embrace the changes while enhancing productivity.
Focusing on talent development, we have strengthened frontline sales and marketing talent through digital interventions and continued to upskill our shopfloor workforce. 45% of our shopfloor workforce is now skilled, a 500 bps increase year-on-year. We remain committed to our ambition of having over 50% of our shopfloor workforce skilled in the coming years.
We have continued to explore and invest in contemporary, new age learning tools as well. Through our partnership with Degreed and LinkedIn, we empower people to learn through different formats, anywhere and anytime, giving employees access to the world’s largest collection of professional learning content.
Our ‘Shape Your Own Adventure’ initiative empowers employees to drive their careers towards their aspirations through meaningful career conversations, transparency of opportunities, and clarity on roles, skills, and experiences.
With 100% advocacy, we have enabled our leaders through our flagship 'Leading the Unilever way' programme, providing tools to navigate key career moments and strengthen their leadership edge.