Sabre's Initiatives to Retain and Attract Top Talent

(18 May 2022, 11:28 +07)  As a global employer of over 7,000 people, with offices in 70 countries, Sabre has launched a number of initiatives designed to transform the employee wellbeing experience, fostering a supportive environment where people can thrive, learn, succeed and give back.

The company is investing in its team members to be their best, both personally and professionally, as they focus on immediate post-pandemic recovery and on driving Sabre’s ambitious long-term goals.

“Sabre has a bold vision – and we need the best people to make this happen,” said Shawn Williams, Chief People Officer, Sabre. “We employ some of the world’s top talent and we’re focused on creating an environment in which they can reach their full potential, helping us reshape the global travel industry from the inside out. Investing in our people – both present and future – is a huge priority for us, and it is our aim to cultivate a culture that is rewarding, supporting and transparent.”

Sabre office in Singapore

Some of the main initiatives include:

Sabre’s global Work from Anywhere (WFA) program has been running successfully for over 18 months and is designed to accommodate employees’ individual needs and circumstances.

Three years ago the company began offering a global minimum of 12 weeks paid leave for new parents, for adoption or birth.

Recognizing the importance of volunteering, Sabre allows all team members to take four days of paid time off per year to volunteer for any purpose they choose.

The company has introduced a global mentoring program to help team members to develop technical and leadership skills in areas they believe they need support. Other initiatives include a leader speaker series, skill building series and peer coaching series where leaders coach and support each other.

The Sabre Wellbeing Advisor Network (SWAN), a council of employees from around the world, has been created to guide conversation around wellbeing, capture best practices and enhance tools and programs throughout the company. One of the first initiatives introduced by the council was a partnership with Headspace that provides free, premium access to its mindfulness app.

Sabre also provides complimentary access to additional mental wellbeing resources for team members and their families. This includes access to Sanvello, an app offering clinical techniques to reduce the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress; Talkspace, licensed therapists available 24 hours a day through talk, text and video; BurnAlong – a platform providing on-demand physical, mental, and financial wellness classes and the Global Employee Assistance Program, which includes five free counseling sessions per person, per topic, per year.

The initiatives that Sabre has introduced to support employees resulted in the Sabre Bengaluru Global Capability Center in India being certified by the Great Place to Work Institute as an organization that builds a High-Trust, High-Performance Culture. This recognition is a testament to team members’ passion and commitment to the workplace.

“With the pandemic creating an imbalance in work and life priorities, strengthening our team members’ purpose and pride in contributions they make for our community, customers and organization helps create a sense of belonging,” said Jaya Kumar K, VP & Managing Director, Sabre Global Capability Center, Bengaluru, India.

See also: Travel Industry Interview with Kurt Ekert, President of Sabre.