LEADS first local organisation from NGO sector to earn Great Place to Work Certification

LEADS, a local non-governmental organisation, was recently certified as a great workplace by the independent analysts at Great Place to Work Sri Lanka, making it the first local organisation from the non-governmental sector to receive this recognition. 

The organisation received this certification following an extensive survey and evaluation conducted by Great Place to Work on the organisation’s staff and working environment.

Founded in the early 80s, LEADS is a child-focused agency that is committed to protect the rights, safety and wellbeing of the children of Sri Lanka. LEADS has been recognised by the State and international organisations for its interventions in child protection and community development for the children and marginalised communities of Sri Lanka. 

Its work in providing therapeutic care and counselling for survivors of child abuse is recognised by the National Child Protection Authority and the Sri Lanka courts system refers children in need of assistance to LEADS’ respite centres. 

“Since its humble beginnings in 1983, LEADS has evolved to work holistically towards the best interest of the child at national policy level and at grassroots with survivors of child abuse, strengthening families and communities of children at risk and providing necessary safeguards and support to reduce vulnerabilities of abuse, poverty and socio-natural disasters,” said LEADS Chief Executive Officer Monroe Jayasuriya. 

“The organisation’s vision and mission resonate with the collective goal of the LEADS’ family in creating safer spaces and brighter futures for children, while redressing social issues and contributing towards sustainable development in Sri Lanka.”

The Great Place to Work survey calculated a 95% employee confidence level in the organisation. The organisation’s overall score of 81% on the Trust Index Survey and Culture Audit Management Questionnaire revealed that the staff experience a high level of credibility, respect, fairness, pride and camaraderie. 

The work culture at LEADS is unique as it maintains a casual and family-like atmosphere. All employees are treated equally and inclusively. Additionally, LEADS enables a trilingual approach so that all the staff can communicate and interact in a language they are comfortable with. 

Furthermore, LEADS carries out a matrix organisational structure which allows multiple teams to easily communicate and collaborate between each other, while giving individual employees more autonomy. As employees answer to multiple managers instead of one functional manager, issues are resolved quicker and company-wide interaction is ensured. 

The organisation recently implemented a staff care policy which provides measures for the staff to release job-related stressors, especially since the staff of LEADS constantly work with survivors of child abuse. 

LEADS also offers their employees an environmentally-conscious workplace. Winning the Gold Award as a Green Building in 2019, the LEADS headquarters uses a low carbon and low energy building which enables the use of natural light and ventilation.

Great Place to Work is a global authority on workplace culture assessment and their work revolves around building a high-trust, high-performance culture within organisations. With over 35 years of serving the children and communities of Sri Lanka, LEADS is honoured to receive this certification, in recognition of the dedication of its staff towards the organisation’s vision and in turn the organisation’s commitment to create a safe and satisfactory working environment.