For People
For People
Employer of choice
Dole South Africa is purpose driven and we work hard to adhere to the highest ethical standards in all our operations. Our aim is to be The Employer of Choice. This means treating all our stakeholders and colleagues fairly, with dignity and respect.
All of our key stakeholders and colleagues are bound by Dole’s Code of Business Conduct. This is a statement of principles for conducting business in a legal and ethical manner and we require that everyone understands and adheres to its principles when transacting with us.
Employee welfare and human rights issues across the supply chain are equally important to Dole. As a company we are committed to the ongoing development of a sustainable business and will continue to encourage personal growth and career advancement for all our employees while creating an environment that is safe, inclusive and free of discrimination.
A case in point:
Mandela Day
A healthy lifestyle
Fostering an environment of good health and encouraging positive lifestyle choices and nutrition of our employees is important to us.
Dole’s Wellness Month is geared towards combining a social awareness of the many health issues confronting its communities. A case in point is placing the spotlight on breast cancer. During the wellness month we encourage all our employees to participate in team challenges (both in the office and at home) all designed to improve their health and wellbeing while having fun.
In 2024 we partnered with ILoveBoobies, a project aimed at raising awareness and funds for breast cancer screenings in communities where no services are available.
A case in point: Growing tomorrow’s leaders
At the heart of our business is the investment we make in recruiting new employees. Developing young, bright employees to their full potential and retaining these talented candidates is vital for our growth and success.
This philosophy gave rise to the Dole South Africa Graduate Programme in the early 2000s, aimed at providing future highly skilled leaders to Dole as well as the South African fruit industry. The programme offers selected high-potential young graduates an introduction to working in the fruit sector through workplace opportunities in real business roles.
At the same time, we offer exposure, support and coaching from industry experts and professionals as candidates navigate the day-to-day operations. It is our plan that selected individuals also be considered for secondment into the Dole plc world-class teams globally as further preparation for making a valuable contribution to Dole South Africa’s talent pool.
A case in point: Key talent programme
Investing in our teams is what makes Dole different. The Key Talent Programme is aimed at developing and retaining the very best employees within our organization. Launched in 2018, with initial participants from the USA and Europe, the 2023 and 2024 programme was extended to include candidates from South Africa.
Across all boundaries, employees are mentored and supported in defining their career goals, given the added tools to improve their leadership skills and equipped to manage their teams more effectively. With small working groups created across the Dole entities, employees are exposed to shared experiences – making this a lifelong learning experience.
