The Warehouse, Warehouse Stationery and Jeanswest have been voted as retail’s favourite employers in the New Zealand Retailworld Resourcing 2014 Retail Employer of the Year awards.

A record number of votes were cast this year in the awards, which celebrate brands that the public deems to have forged the most desirable working conditions.

For the third consecutive year, The Warehouse won the large category, for brands with an excess of 1000 full time equivalents (FTE).

The company was described as ‘truly people centred’, with many voters commending The Warehouse’s Career Retailer Wage and the commitment to providing continuous opportunities for further education and development.

Warehouse Stationery retains the award for the second consecutive year in the medium category for brands with 101-1000 FTEs.

The company was described as ‘focused on developing and nurturing all of its team members, maintaining a positive and friendly working environment and rewarding excellence’.

Jeanswest won the small category for brands with less than 100 FTEs.

This was its first win in the NZ arm of the competition, following on from their success in the medium category in the 2013 Australian awards.

One voter said “they are very supportive, offer the right mentoring and coaching and always have the best interests of the employees in mind. I love working for them!”

Trish McLean, Retailworld CEO, said “as competition ramps up in our local market it’s great to see local retailers owning their space by investing in strategies that engage current and potential employees.”