STEPHEN LEUNG, country manager of drug manufacturing firm Pfizer Hong Kong, regularly checks the office pantry. When he discovered most of his staff did not like soft drinks ('too fattening'), he asked human resources to conduct an internal survey.
'We asked them [staff] what they liked to drink and when the results came back, I couldn't believe it. They wanted healthy drinks and yoghurt. But it's what they wanted, so they got it. Now we ask their opinions every three months,' Mr Leung said.
It is a small perk for Pfizer's employees, but it reveals the philosophy behind how the company is run. And it is only one of many privileges that staff enjoy.
Human resources director Polly Cho said: 'If it's a colleague's concern, it's not a small matter. We listen to our colleagues. We have established a lot of communication channels.'
The benefits are two-way: for senior management it is a chance to instil Pfizer's core values.
Mr Leung said: 'Pfizer employees must have a passion for health. We take the slogan seriously: Life is our life's work. It's the nature of the company. We don't just sell products, we spend our working lives saving lives, enhancing people's quality of life, prolonging life. We honestly believe that, so when we hire, we look for people with the same passion.
'We provide our colleagues with something they can be proud of when they present a business card. They know this is a good company. The implementation of our internal branding strategy allows each employee to feel good about whom they work for. That's very important.'