Sunshine Holdings PLC has always believed that its people are at the heart of its success. In its journey to create a high-trust, high-performance culture, it partnered with Great Place To Work®, the global authority on workplace culture, to enhance employee experience across its healthcare, consumer, and agriculture sectors. Through ongoing assessments, feedback, and values-driven initiatives, the Group has strengthened its culture of care and responsibility while guiding teams through periods of change.
Group Chief People and Corporate Communications Officer, Michelle Senanayake noted that a key shift was from “assumptions to evidence-based action.” Insights from the Great Place To Work® Trust Index™ Employee Experience Survey and regular pulse checks highlighted employees needs for clarity, trust, and belonging, leading to improvements in onboarding, leadership communication, and the launch of The Voice Sunshine feedback platform.
Sunshine Holdings has witnessed a clear link between culture and business performance. By embedding fairness, wellness, recognition, and inclusion, the organization has built a resilient, high-trust culture that sustains it even through political, economic, and sectoral challenges. Strong cultures enable strong performers.
Michelle Senanayake
Group Chief People and Corporate Communications Officer
Additionally, employee surveys and focus groups revealed gaps in onboarding and career visibility for frontline staff. In response, Sunshine enhanced its induction programs, added buddy systems, introduced cultural storytelling, and launched career clinics with clear growth paths. Michelle noted that these feedback-driven interventions made employees feel seen, supported, and empowered.
A Seal of Trust
Sunshine’s recurring Great Place To Work® Certified™ status has reinforced its commitment to people and culture, strengthening its employer brand and attracting talent, including returning overseas Sri Lankans. The annually renewed badge assures candidates of a consistent workplace experience, backed by sustained practices, revamped programs, and a post-survey action group that drives meaningful change.
Since earning Great Place To Work® Certification™, Sunshine Holdings has paired the recognition with internal changes and revamped employee programs. Post-survey analysis and focus groups discussions conducted by Great Place To Work analysts, has helped the organization identify root causes across levels and units, leading to collaborative improvements. Subsequent surveys confirmed that these efforts have greatly enhanced the employee experience.
You can’t fake culture – our people are the storytellers,
Sunshine Holdings’ GCEO, Shyam Sathasivam says, “You can’t fake culture – our people are the storytellers,” a sentiment that reflects the organization’s belief in the authenticity of its workplace environment.
Additionally, Sunshine Holdings was named one of Sri Lanka’s Best Workplaces™ in 2024, affirming its effective people practices and sustained trust and engagement across its employees.
Talent Attraction and Retention
Retention strategies focused on purpose, growth, and belonging have been reinforced through initiatives such as the Sunshine Skill Quest, cross-BU exposure, and guided interventions on recognition, psychological safety, and inclusive leadership.
Strong cultures enable strong performers, and the results are now evident and repeatable across our industries.
Sunshine Holdings analyzed insights at both group and unit levels, realizing that a “one-size-fits-all all” approach wouldn’t work. With post-survey consulting and Culture Audit™ feedback, it tailored actions to unit-specific challenges, aligning people practices and leadership accessibility.
Structured manager check-ins and standardized performance conversations further improved integration, reduced early attrition, strengthened succession pipelines, and enhanced collaboration for building resilience through transformation.
Michelle states that following the recognition and internal actions from assessment findings, Sunshine achieved stronger talent alignment with better-fit hires across entry-level, mid-career, and specialized healthcare roles.
Culture as a Business Driver
Michelle further noted that, “Sunshine Holdings has witnessed a clear link between culture and business performance. By embedding fairness, wellness, recognition, and inclusion, the organization has built a resilient, high-trust culture that sustains it even through political, economic, and sectoral challenges. Strong cultures enable strong performers, and the results are now evident and repeatable across our industries.”
Sunshine Holdings has witnessed a clear link between culture and business performance.
Looking Ahead
Going forward, Sunshine plans to continue benchmarking their workplace culture and to transition from periodic assessments to continuous culture curation, and by strengthening ESG – HR linkages through initiatives like Diyasarana and Suwa Diviya. “We are bringing the Great Place To Work® framework to life by how we live our values and lead with intention”, emphasized Michelle.
We are bringing the Great Place To Work® framework to life by how we live our values and lead with intention
When asked what advice she would share with other HR leaders, her response was clear: “Start by listening—deeply and without ego. Let the Great Place To Work assessment be a mirror, and not just a marketing tool. Build your culture around lived values, not slogans. Culture takes time, but done right, it becomes your greatest asset. And above all, remember: when people find meaning in their work, business follows.”
Culture takes time, but done right, it becomes your greatest asset.