Dr. Pradeep Uluwaduge, Chief Human Resources Officer of the LOLC Group, is a key player in the company’s strategy to attract and retain top talent in a fiercely competitive market.
Under his leadership, LOLC Group recognizes human capital as its most significant asset, attributing its ascent to corporate prominence to the unique culture of unleashing employees’ innate potential. The company’s commitment to providing autonomy in job roles has not only retained high-potential individuals but also spurred cutting-edge innovations.
Notably, former LOLC employees often express interest in rejoining the company, a testament to the lasting impact of the organization’s culture. Despite challenges posed by a two-year rehiring policy, LOLC invests significantly in continuous learning opportunities, skill enhancement initiatives, and career advancement support, making it an appealing long-term career destination. Their focus on nurturing talent through scholarships, internship programs, and exposure to diverse sectors has successfully attracted top-tier professionals. Additionally, LOLC’s compensation structure and positive working ambience contribute to the retention of high-calibre talent across various industries.
The significance of company culture in driving employee engagement and productivity is not lost in the LOLC Group, and the organization is deliberate in nurturing and sustaining its unique core values. The performance-driven culture at LOLC provides employees with opportunities to tackle challenges in a dynamic business environment, instilling a sense of purpose and engagement. The replication of these core values across newly formed entities is ensured through organized cultural events, team-building activities, and initiatives aligned with the Group’s principles.
LOLC’s policies, ranging from grievance handling to performance management, are designed to reinforce core values in decision-making processes. However, a performance based rewarding and recognition culture goes beyond policies, as evident with leadership actively demonstrating and upholding core values, and serving as role models for the entire workforce. Integration of core values into employee training and development programs ensures that ethical conduct, honesty, integrity, diversity, respect, and customer satisfaction are ingrained in the corporate setup.
Recognizing the importance of adaptability, Pradeep states that LOLC embraces change while staying true to its fundamental principles, ensuring that the organizational culture remains relevant and resilient in a dynamic business environment. Through these comprehensive strategies, LOLC aims to create an environment where core values are not just statements but lived experiences, driving employee engagement, and contributing to sustained productivity.
Pradeep highlights that the LOLC Group employs a multifaceted approach to ensure robust employee engagement and growth within the organization. Clear career development paths are provided, supported by mentorship programs, career counselling, and personalized development plans, enabling individuals to navigate their professional trajectories effectively. The promotion of internal mobility is encouraged, allowing employees to explore diverse roles, enriching their skills, and fostering a sense of loyalty.
Robust training programs cover a wide range of skills and competencies, enhancing current job-related skills and overall professional development. The management development program, spanning 8 to 10 months, equips newly promoted management-grade employees with essential leadership and management competency skills through practical projects within the company. Scholarship programs for school graduates pursuing higher education, coupled with industrial exposure opportunities, exemplify LOLC’s commitment to fostering talent from the grassroots. Performance development plans address areas of improvement through peer learning, emphasizing its effectiveness over facilitator-led training. As Pradeep expresses, recognition of outstanding performance through awards, bonuses, and incentives motivates employees to excel continuously. Regular feedback surveys and initiatives like the Bright Ideas Program ensure that employee input shapes engagement strategies, fostering a dynamic and innovative work culture at LOLC Group where career progression and skill enhancement are integral components.
LOLC stands as one of the top conglomerates in local and foreign operations where diversity has been embraced. Pradeep expresses that the LOLC Group is dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace, with its vibrant workforce serving as a representation of all ethnicities, beliefs, and genders, including individuals from different strata of society.
He stated that LOLC actively promotes diversity in its recruitment processes, implementing strategies to attract a diverse pool of candidates and ensuring that hiring practices are fair, unbiased, and inclusive. According to him, there is no discrimination based on gender, family background, ethnicity, religion, or any other grounds, and rewards and recognition are solely based on performance. Pradeep highlighted that one of the key items in the annual employee engagement agenda is celebrating events to mark various religious and cultural events as a team, fostering a sense of pride and inclusion among employees, irrespective of their background.
He stated that LOLC Group has a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination of any kind and encourages employees to play the role of whistleblower when necessary. He mentioned that the organization actively encourages open and transparent communication across all levels, facilitating the sharing of diverse perspectives, ideas, and concerns, thereby contributing to a culture of inclusivity. Pradeep emphasized that, through these steps, LOLC Group strives to create a workplace that not only values diversity but also actively leverages it as a strength. He stated that the goal is to ensure that every employee feels respected, included, and empowered to contribute their best to the organization’s success.
Pradeep emphasises the organization has proactively embraced the evolving landscape of HR by integrating the latest technologies and adopting innovative practices to enhance HR functions. He expresses that LOLC has automated all HR functions through a customized HRIS, managing each step digitally, from sourcing CVs to employee separation. Further, performance management is streamlined through the system, minimizing human intervention, and enabling regular performance reviews, goal tracking, and feedback to enhance transparency and communication between employees and managers.
Pradeep highlights that the HR department utilizes data analytics tools to gather insights into HR metrics and employee performance, allowing for informed decisions related to talent management, workforce planning, and employee engagement. He emphasized that, to support employee development, LOLC Group has integrated Learning Management System (LMS) platforms that deliver training programs, track employee progress, and enable personalized learning paths, contributing to a culture of continuous learning and skill enhancement. Pradeep further stated that recognizing the increasing reliance on digital HR technologies, LOLC Group prioritizes robust cybersecurity measures to safeguard sensitive employee data, ensuring the privacy and security of HR systems.
Pradeep leadership at LOLC Group reflects a commitment to embracing innovation in HR practices. By integrating cutting-edge technologies, fostering a culture of continuous learning, and prioritizing data-driven decision-making, LOLC stays at the forefront of industry evolution. Pradeep’s vision ensures that the organization not only adapts to change but leverages it to create a workplace that values diversity, prioritizes employee growth, and remains resilient in the face of evolving challenges.
Taking up multiple roles has been a key in LOLC Group’s HR Policy, where individuals who are willing and capable enough to undertake various responsibilities have contributed immensely to the growth of the Group while accelerating their career development.
Pradeep himself has assumed an additional role as Executive Chairman of the Groups’ Plantation cluster, Browns Plantations, which comprises three large Regional Plantation Companies: Mathurata Plantations, Hapugastanna Plantations, and Udapussallawa Plantations which is claimed to be the largest Tea Producer in Sri Lanka, and the largest Cinnamon grower in the country. According to him his duel role has complimented each other without them creating any hindrances, mainly due to the unique LOLC Culture.