Introduction:

British American Tobacco Bangladesh (BATB) is a well-known institution for their huge success

in tobacco business in Bangladesh. Not only this BATB is one of the largest tobacco company in

the private sector of our country. BATB sold in more than 200 markets around the world. It

believes that responsibility is their way of life that is why their moto is success and responsibility

go together. It is to be said that they are the first to be listed in DSE and CSE of Bangladesh. In

addition, they are now ranked amongst top 10 companies. According to BATB, they contribute

over BDT 8,436 crore as tax to the National Exchequer during the fiscal year of 2016-17.

Headquarter of BATB is situated in Mohakhali, Dhaka. But they process tobacco leaves in Kushtia.

Under BATB over 1,500 employees are working indirectly and more than 50,000 people are

working indirectly where most of them are farmers, distributors and local suppliers and this people

bring difference everyday to make BATB a better place. Their main goal is to be the best tobacco

manufacturing company in the global tobacco market. To gain this goal they follow some

principles and regulations. They give equal opportunity to every employee of the company. They

are open with the customer service. They always maintain a true and trustworthy relationship with

the consumer, supplier, distributor and partners. They are trying to improve their products quality

and manufacturing efficiency. And they never compromise their quality. According to BATB

(n.d.), “we make high quality tobacco products for the diverse preferences of consumers and we

are committed to embedding the principles of corporate social responsibility group wide.”

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Company Background:

Over the last few decades tobacco growth and production has increased, with farmers and leaf
being grown in various parts of the country. British American Tobacco Bangladesh (BATB)
dominates the premium segment of the cigarette market in Bangladesh. The competition comes
from companies such as Dhaka Tobacco Industries (DTI), Philip Morris International (PMI), Japan
Tobacco Industries (JTI) and Abul Khair Tobacco Company (AKTC) most notably. British
American Tobacco is one of the biggest multinational companies in the country, having been
present in Bangladesh for over a century. Initially known as Imperial Tobacco, Pakistan Tobacco
Company during the late 1940s and British Tobacco Company Limited after the independence, the
name was changed to British American Tobacco Bangladesh (BATB). Worldwide, they sell their
brands in over 200 different markets, while in Bangladesh they claim to directly employ over 1500
people and approximately 50,000 vendors, distributors and farmers indirectly. This year has been
their biggest in terms of sales and success. For many university graduates, working here is a dream
and one of the most prestigious companies to work for. Most recently, they won multiple awards
at the ‘South Asian Business 2 Excellence Award 2017, one of them being ‘The Dream Company
to Work for’. They were also awarded for recruitment technique and their CSR activities British
American Tobacco Group hold over 70% of shares, while the rest are owned by other shareholders
such as the government and Sena Kalyan Sangstha. The relationship between the shareholders,
partners and global corporate functions of the company play a huge part in their success and mutual
benefits. The vendors and farmers are even given training to improve their knowledge on certain

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aspects of the processes. In 2013, Shehzad Munim became the first ever Bangladeshi to become
the managing director of the company’s operations in Bangladesh.

Culture of interpersonal Relationship:

According to Mr. Raiyan Ahmed the culture inside BATB is one of the best parts of the company.
It allows you to enjoy the work you are doing and this was further enhanced by the approachable
nature of coworkers and reporting managers. It is however vital to understand the scope of
conversations in general, as at times employees are stressed out due to the workload. Most of the
departments have their smoking lounges, which often have televisions and foosball tables inside
them, for employees to relax or smoke between works. The company would also often have
gathering inside the premises to celebrate occasions such as award wins and operational
achievements. The employees are extremely hard working and many are willing to spend long
hours at the office, or even work weekends and or overnight on month ends. Especially in
procurement, the work is very hectic and there is a constant pressure to get things done. The co-
workers would always be mobile or attending meetings, they only freed up towards the evening.
However, the organization also provides a lot of benefits through paid vacations abroad and other
monetary benefits. Moreover, for many of the employees here the experience of working is such a
global organization is huge, they are aware that even if they leave this job they can move onward
to good positions in other.

Recruitment

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Recruitment means searching for potential job candidates in sufficient numbers and quality so that
the organization can select the most appropriate people to fill the posts. It’s a very impartment task
for a company as the development of a company mostly depends on its employees’ work quality.

BATB follows some standard recruitment and selection processes to hire employees. BATB
follows both the ways for recruiting-

1. Internal recruitment
2. External recruitment

Internal recruitment

For recruiting internally BATB use the succession planning. To do that they select the potential
employees and train them accordingly to make them fit for the posts in higher ranks. They do the
On-the-Job training programs for the potential employees to get them ready for further posting.

External recruitment

To recruit externally

• BATB seeks candidates like freshly graduates. Through the advertising, candidates get to
interview for them.
• They also take candidates through third party recruiting agencies.
• They put advertisement on intermit and newspapers.
• They also recruit by executives references through careful screening process.

Sources to reach candidates

BATB uses some trusty sources to reach the candidates, like-

• Campus engagements

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 • Job fairs
• Competitions like – Battle of Minds
• Online notices
• Seminars in campuses

Interview content

BATB firstly test the candidates though online interviews in that they arrange series of tests like –

➢ Numerical reasoning test,

➢ Verbal reasoning test,
➢ Cultural aptitude test.

Then the surviving candidates in those tests are called for one to one interview. They don’t usually
set very difficult question to make any candidate uncomfortably or stressed. They always keep in
mind to make a good impression on the candidates about the company even if they are not selected.

BATB mainly design their interview with situational and job-related questions. Their interview
time period with candidates may last for even 20 minutes or 2 minutes depending on how long it
takes an interviewer to know about the skills and potential of the candidates that may fulfill the
company’s long-term strategies.

So, they look for the candidates’ quality to match the company’s long-term goals through these
kinds of questions -

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 • Situational questions – In the interview they ask the interviewee how they’ll act on certain
situations while working in the company. They also ask about previous experience of an
interviewee might have about particular kind of job.
• Job related questions – BATB asks interviewees about job posting, if they are okay with
posting them in different cities of the country, if they’ll be comfortable with that of kind of
situation. They also ask the working shifts, as they have different times of working shifts.

Selection process
BATB is a renowned leader in Bangladesh with a long-established reputation that’s why they are
very conscious about their selection strategies as it can play a vital role in shaping an
organization’s effectiveness.

Their recruitment and selection process are online based. If there is any vacancy of any post they
give advertisements in their website. And the candidate must follow the process step by step. In
the selection process they focus more on choosing the right person who fits best for the job.

They use different kinds of selection techniques in their recruitment process. The recruitment and
selection process start with the advertisements of posting the job and then ends with the selecting
on hiring employees.

• Curriculum vitae (CV): The HR department firstly starts with a pre-selection by

identifying and rejecting those candidates who do not meet the requirements essential for
the given job. After the pre-selection, the decision then will be given by a mail to the
candidates.
• Testing: After that the staff members of HR hold the examinations to simplify the
selection process with some tests. The tests are conducted, assessed and feedbacks are
provided by specified trained HR personnel.

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 • Interview: In the interview board the head of the HR and some specialists conduct the
interview to know the candidates’ level of specialist knowledge and experience. When
the candidates come for an interview with BAT, the board members make sure that they
leave with a positive feeling for BAT. Everyone will be treating fairly, and they will be
having their best possible experience.
• Assessment Centre: The assessment center focuses on the candidate’s attitude and
behavior. The tasks are given below:
1. Presentation task
2. Role playing
3. Term exercises
4. Fact finding exercises.

• Final interview: The candidates who perform remarkably well in the assessment centers
are called for the final interview. This interview is conducted by the functional heads.
During the interview the interviewer predominantly checks the candidate’s interests,
commitments, willingness, motives, passion and positive attitude towards the role.
Afterwards they select the best candidates who fits for the job.

• Physical examination: BATB has an additional selection step which is known as the
physical examination. After all the psychological and critical tests BATB conduct this
physical test. This includes the strength and fitness test, drug test etc. Through these tests
they actually try to find out the employee will be capable to work in the company or not.
As a tobacco company its very significant for the workers (especially working in PMD)
as they need to be in contact with the tobacco all the time.

• Job offer: After selection of the candidates BAT finally offers the job to that employee.
Commonly, an HR personnel calls the selected candidate and congratulates for getting
the job. If the candidate accepts the offer, then he is called for fulfilling several
formalities. Afterwards he has to complete the employment contract and some other
procedures.

Training and development process of BATB

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BATB believes that training is the first and foremost thing in making candidates efficient one. So
that’s why they follow both on the job training as well as off the job training methods to train
their employees.

On the job training: BATB believes that 70% of the equitable learning they get from learning
while doing the job. That’s why they prefer on the job training the most. It helps in improving
the level of performance which results in higher productivity also reduces the cost as well as time
drawn in learning. Most importantly the supervisor can monitor the employee during the training
period and evaluate the effectiveness of the training.

OFF the job training: BATB believes that 20% of their learning is from off the job training.
This is actually a formal training session. The employees are taken away from their work to be
trained. BATB follow some off the training method such as effective lectures, outside seminars
and training via internet method to enhance the interpersonal skill of the employee. BATB
sometimes arrange outside seminars for the employees because when they visit outside the
workplace, giving them feeling like they are in a tour even though they are under the training
refreshed their mind which give them an extra energy to work. Beside this as BATB is a
multinational company, the employees sometime receive audio visual training from the
headquarter over the internet.

Other significant ways of learning:

• Learning through surrounding people: BAT believes that 20% of their learning they learn
from the people around them.
• Personal learning: employee willingly learn from internet or books that might help
him/her in doing their jobs effectively.
• Situational learning: when an employee is in a difficult situation where he has to take a
decision quickly but wisely, in that moment his action of taking the right or wrong
decision is based on the situation. So the decision depends on the situation.

HR Practices
The success of any business depends on appropriate, effective, well communicated, HR and
business practices as it depends upon meeting the recruitment of mandated laws and
regulations. In fact, good planning and the development of effective practices make regulatory
compliance much easier. BATB does some small thing which create a great impact on the
employee such as

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 • BATB believes in consistently showing genuine care to employees makes them feel
happier and more engaged at work.
• They provide good quality breakfast & lunch for all employees of their company.
• They have even a cricket team. Playing games like cricket can inspire them to work
• BATB gives their employee s a few hours during the work week to work on any project
or task. They can work anywhere, at the office, at home or elsewhere, as long as the
project is related to BATB.

BENEFIT OFFERED
British American Tobacco gives Freedom of choice to employees which is introduced flexible
benefits program, free2 with eleven benefits on offer In June 2004. This is a new approach to
employee benefits management which gives employees benefits packages in a way that is right for
them and buy the benefits when they need them. They are able to make their selection via on line
electronic enrolment system once in a year In June. They were able to sell or buy days of their
holidays. British American tobacco offers employee 22days yearly leave which can be use at any
time during the year. BATB also provided other benefits like:

• Convenience services and social facilities: British American tobacco give their staffs all
day free drinks and a free three course lunch. Sandwiches and soup are available as an
alternative and also there is a Starbucks coffee franchise at reduces prices. Morning
breakfast service is also available at low cost. On Thursday afternoon they delivered cakes

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 as a weekly treat. There is also a large coffee lounge and also a subsidized bar on Thursday
and Friday evening. When staffs don’t have time to visit shops they also get the facilities of
bank cash and stamp points on site and a small shop selling a range of magazines.
Employees can communicate with the board through two-way communication forum
provided by the staff council. The committee also organizes social events, Christmas party,
Bangla New year party and other events during the year.

• Maternity leave: British American tobacco offers 52 weeks maternity leaves with 26 weeks
at full pay for employees. BATB also give 2 weeks of paternity leave with full pay. BATB
gives child care vouchers and also cut the cost of childcare through national insurance relief
and a further 5% company subsidy.

• Parental and family support: British American tobacco fully support the family and
parental commitments of employees. In BATB employees have the benefits of childcare
vouchers. Child and eldercare is an important issue within the company and they try hard to
fulfill their employee’s requirements. Employees also have the benefits of confidential
counselling service on such issues like marital, relationship and lack of confidence.

• Health Insurance: British American tobacco offers employees huge benefits of their well-
being and health insurance. BATB offers 3 lacks of health insurance to their employees and
also 3 lacks for their spouses as well. Private medical insurance is also provided for all
staffs.

• Medical Leave: BATB give their employees benefits like health screening, counselling,
therapies full medical facilities. Also give medical leave according to their needs.

• Party: BATB always organize party’s in the lavish hotel where its employee can find
maximus satisfaction to enjoy.

• Vacation: When BATB sends an employee for a vacation, they provide a handful pocket-
money to spend.

• Car: A car is provided including the fuel expense for the pre-decided designated employees.

• Workers Provident Fund: There’s a provident fund for every worker.

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 • Transportation Facility: If an employee has been transferred to Barisal from Dhaka,
BATB will provide all the transportation expense.

• Gratuity: Due to its being a confidential information, we were unable to know the actual
amount but BATB provides gratuity to their employees.

IMPLICATIONS OF STRATEGIC HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

British American Tobacco Bangladesh is always concerned about their human resource as they
believe that human resource is the key factor of their grand success. BATB wants to be the leader
of the tobacco market in Bangladesh though they are but they want to keep the consistency as long
as they are in this country. They follow a set of strategy to keep their human resource managed
and they are-

❖ Equal opportunity for every employee. When BATB is making decision such as recruiting,
promoting, hiring, etc. under no circumstances they go through any discrimination.
❖ BATB provides every employee to practice their right to be open enough to share employees
point of view.
❖ An amazing thing that BATB provides is the ‘freedom through responsibility’. Here to be
precise, there is no strict rule for any employee to work for eight hours. If that employee has

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 done his/her in two hours s/he can leave the office without asking anyone’s permission. But
the noticeable thing is that s/he has to be responsible of that work, if s/he doesn’t complete that
or make any unfair excuses, that employee would be penalized.
❖ Employees are offered with standard salary.
❖ In every three or four-month BATB provides every regional team to go out for a vacation
❖ For employee termination, if any employee goes against the code of conduct, that employee
will be terminated upon fair investigation.
❖ BATB is against all sort of child labor, harming and polluting mother nature.
❖ Employee has the flexible working hour.
❖ They have all festival bonus.
❖ BATB always make every celebration as their own celebration.
❖ Incentives are being given based upon every employee performance.
3 types of incentives are being provide which are-
i. Outstanding: If the employee’s performance is outstanding that employee will get 16%-
20% of their salary additional.
ii. Successful: If the employee’s performance is successful that employee will get 12%-
15% of their salary additional.
iii. Precuring: If the employee’s performance is precuring that employee will get 8%-11%
of their salary additional.
❖ Employee can development themselves through personal development and learning method.
No other private organization provide such an opportunity to the employees. This method
ensures high quality of learning and development so that employees are encouraged to take
more responsibility with their effective input and having maximum output.

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RECOMMENDATIONS

Though BATB is a successful organization, it has some limitations too. We would like to suggest
BATB to consider our recommendations if they find it helpful and these are:

✓ Thinking about their recruitment and selection process, we believe though it is effective but
not efficient. They better come up with less steps of selecting a candidate.

✓ For the honeymoon period for probationary employees, if they couldn’t perform well in the
first 6 months which basically common for every employee, we think it is completely
unnecessary for BATB to do so. Because, focusing only on their recent performance and then
promote them to permanent sometimes demotivate other employees who were unable to
become one and also some there is halo effect for conducting a misjudgment.

✓ As we can see BATB spend huge amount of money on their employee’s satisfaction which
completely against the efficiency. They can use this money to facilitate their working
environment more attractive.

✓ There is term in training called “seed to smoke” which is mandatory for every employee. An
employee can be non-smoker for him/her it can be challenging to the training, so BATB need
to improve this training method.

✓ If an employee is unable to attend on time, s/he loses his/her attendance of that particular day
though if s/he work all day after that, we think this rule should be compromised due to heavy
traffic jam on the road.

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CONCLUSION
British American tobacco Bangladesh established themselves as a leader in the market of
Bangladesh. British American tobacco Bangladesh set up themselves as a pioneer in the market of
Bangladesh. HR office is the most imperative division for any association as well as BAT
Bangladesh. They give best client benefit by the HR office. By this administration they trust that
they keep up a benevolent situation for the client.HR department is the most important department
for not only any organization but also BAT Bangladesh. They give best customer service by the
HR department. By this service they believe that they maintain a friendly environment for the
customer. They also believe that all the stall of the organization’s contribution is the success of the
mission.

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 REFERENCES

1. British American Tobacco Bangladesh (n.d.). British American Tobacco-About us (para. 3).
Retrieved from
http://www.batbangladesh.com/group/sites/BAT_9T5FQ2.nsf/vwPagesWebLive/DO9T5
K3S?opendocument

2. British American Tobacco Bangladesh (n.d.). British American Tobacco-About us (para. 7).
Retrieved from
http://www.batbangladesh.com/group/sites/BAT_9T5FQ2.nsf/vwPagesWebLive/DO9T5
K3S?opendocument

3. British American Tobacco Bangladesh (n.d.). British American Tobacco-About us (para. 6).
Retrieved from
http://www.batbangladesh.com/group/sites/BAT_9T5FQ2.nsf/vwPagesWebLive/DO9T5
K3S?opendocument

4. British American Tobacco Bangladesh (n.d.). British American Tobacco-About us (para. 6).
Retrieved from
http://www.batbangladesh.com/group/sites/BAT_9T5FQ2.nsf/vwPagesWebLive/DO9T5
K3S?opendocument

5. British American Tobacco Bangladesh (n.d.). British American Tobacco-About us (para. 4).
Retrieved from
http://www.batbangladesh.com/group/sites/BAT_9T5FQ2.nsf/vwPagesWebLive/DO9T5
K3S?opendocument

6. Our history – a timeline. (2017, April 10). Retrieved from http://www.bat.com/history

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