Employee Engagement

3M is a great place to work, a claim consistently supported by our Standard Opinion Survey process. We value employee input, which is why we measure and report employee opinion on a regular basis. Our reputation in the marketplace, emphasis on innovation, competitive compensation and fair-minded, friendly culture are just a few of the reasons why most 3M employees look forward to each work day

Employee Opinion

Since 1951, 3M has been soliciting employee insights on a range of topics through the use of organizational surveys. Currently, 3M measures and analyzes employee input using the following tools:

Standard Opinion Survey (Global Business Unit Survey)

It is corporate policy that every business unit worldwide surveys their entire organization once every two years using the Standard Opinion Survey. The survey allows employees to candidly express their views about 3M, their business unit and their jobs in complete confidentiality.

Leadership Survey (Global Corporate Survey)

The Leadership Survey is administered to leaders worldwide. The purpose of the survey is to establish benchmarks for the future, evaluate current key corporate initiatives and to help target areas for action.

An Emphasis on Innovation

The key to innovation is coupling 3M's highly diversified and differentiated technology to high growth market space opportunities to create new-to-the-world product platforms.

"Giving people room" to innovate is a 3M tradition, exemplified by the "15% rule" which encourages people to spend 15 percent of their time on projects of their own choosing and initiative.

New Product Forums are regularly held, where divisions can share their latest products and developers can solicit support for a new product, idea or technology.

Researchers can apply for Genesis Grants. The grants provide significant funding to individuals or teams to pursue embryonic new product ideas or concepts.

Why Employees Stay

In the industry, 3M has an enviable track record of employee retention. Why do employees stay? In addition to competitive compensation, employees enjoy the culture and opportunity at 3M. Here are a few of 3M's attributes that contribute to employee pride:

Reputation

3M has a worldwide reputation for innovative, high quality products. We are a company that values science and innovation, a combination that attracts the best and the brightest in the fields of technology and science. We are a responsible, ethical company, underscored in our core corporate value of "respecting our social and physical environment."

Nature of Work

3M employees like working for a company that produces useful, innovative products. Autonomy is an important part of the culture and is reflected in a wide variety of mechanisms including the dual ladder structure that allows technical and professional people to develop their careers without sacrificing their focus on research and other professional interests.

Great People

Our focus on innovation attracts highly talented, motivated people who are focused on working together to create great results for the company.

Opportunity

3M fosters a "promote from within" culture, where individuals can achieve career development and advancement consistent with their initiative and work contributions. Movement within the company is encouraged and expected.

Open Communication with Employees

3M supports programs in all of our business operations that allow employees to get their questions resolved in a fair and timely manner, including:

Programs that Support Open Communication

The company encourages employees to bring forward their questions or concerns through such programs as Let's Talk It Over, Between Us, and various internal and external help lines.

Full Disclosure

Corporate business goals and objectives are communicated internally to engage employees in our common mission. Business results are published quarterly and leaders are provided with tools to discuss quarterly results with employees.

A Dedicated Intranet

An extensive company-sponsored intranet provides global access to valuable work-related information, including business policies, work force directory and other business tools.

Employee Publications

Company publications such as the Stemwinder (3M St. Paul, Minnesota), 3M Mascotch (3M Brazil), Enlace (3M Mexico) and numerous others help to educate, connect and motivate employees at 3M locations around the world.

Ongoing Measurement of Employee Opinions

3M regularly measures employee opinions with a biennial Leadership Survey, business unit organizational survey (administered to all sites worldwide) and other survey mechanisms. Employee input weighs heavily in management actions.

One-to-One Communication with Leadership

3M encourages one-to-one communication with management in connection with the company's performance appraisal system. Management at 3M abides by an open-door policy.

Employee Groups

3M encourages employees with shared interests to pursue those interests in a supportive environment.

Employee resource groups such as PLUS (a Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender group), African American Society, China Club, Disability Advisory Committee, Latino Resource Group, Native American Council, South Asia Society, Team Austin and the Women's Leadership Network are sponsored by 3M under the direction of the Human Resources Advisory Committee on Diversity.

Support groups have been organized to help 3M employees and their family members to cope with issues that accompany life's challenges.

Across 3M, numerous special interest groups are sponsored by business and functional areas in support of personal and professional development.

Every country in which 3M does business has a 3M employee club that sponsors special events, activity clubs and sports programs and offers special discounts and privileges, in support of exercise, friendships and fun. The largest employee club is in St. Paul, Minnesota and has approximately 8,500 members.