Mondelēz; Working Together on Health and Vitality Since 2018

Who is Mondelēz International, Inc.?

Mondelēz International was formed in 2012, when Kraft Foods split up. The company is known worldwide for brands such as Milka, Côte d’Or, Liga, Oreo, and Lu, and plays a major role in the cookie and chocolate industry.

Early Focus on Sustainable Employability

Mondelēz was among the first organizations to actively focus on sustainable employability, at a time when this topic was still relatively new. At the time, the entire budget allocated for health and well-being was directed toward this theme, which was the top priority at the time. Mondelēz had previously commissioned a PMO, but when Simple Check approached them, they did not actually have an immediate need for a new provider.

What ultimately tipped the scales was Simple Check’s broader approach. Instead of just offering a “basic” PMO, Simple Check also provided in-depth expertise, with health management and sustainable employability as key themes—going beyond the scope of a typical PMO. This fresh, valuable perspective ultimately convinced Mondelēz, and so the partnership began in 2018.

Small Observations, Big Insights

One of the things that stood out in the early years: despite the wide variety of treats available in abundance and for free on the premises, employees still turned out to be eating plenty of fruits and vegetables. This is a great example of how employees, despite all the temptations, often make the right choices on their own, and how valuable it is to highlight these kinds of insights.

“At Simple Check, we always look forward to visiting Mondelēz; our health check staff are all enthusiastic about it, and we often go home with a bag full of treats. But what never fails to impress us is how seriously Mondelēz continues to seek balance in a healthy lifestyle, despite all the delicious temptations. That theme—balance—is at the very heart of what we stand for at Simple Check.”

 

Talitha Rijken

Sustainable Employability Advisor, Simple Check

Relevant and appealing time and time again

Since the first Health Check, Mondelēz has continually reassessed how the check can benefit the organization. The specific components have varied over the years: from a DIX assessment to an eye exam to a greater focus on psychosocial work stress (PSA). Each time, the company evaluates what is currently happening within the organization and how the check can be refreshed and made more appealing to employees.

From Insight to Concrete Action

With every Health Check, Mondelēz carefully reviews the results and considers how they can use them to make a real difference for their employees. For example, fruit was made available in the workplace, and the results were shared via a poster and fact sheet to engage and inform employees in an accessible way. Training sessions or workshops were also occasionally considered, though in the end, a different, more suitable approach was often found. The entire organization is always consulted to determine what is needed and what employees themselves would like to see.

In conclusion

From an early pioneer in the field of sustainable employability to a partnership that has now lasted for years: Mondelēz demonstrates how a Health Check, provided it is continually adapted to remain relevant, can become an established and valued component of human resources policy.