The third edition of HR.Weekend, held as part of Weekend.18 in Rovinj, was marked by a festive awards ceremony celebrating people, excellence, and workplace culture. At the center of attention were the Top Workplace awards, the brand-new Best of the Best category, and the traditional HR Manager of the Year award, now in its twelfth year.
The Top Workplace award, introduced in 2023, has quickly become one of the most relevant indicators of workplace excellence, as it comes directly from employees. What makes this award unique is that it originates from within – from the people who know best what it’s like to work at a company. Their voices and daily experiences form the basis for the decision, making this a recognition that employers particularly value because it cannot be won through PR or marketing campaigns alone. This year, as many as 72 companies and more than 36,000 employees participated, and among the best in Croatia were JGL in pharmaceuticals, Addiko in finance, Factory X, ASEE Hrvatska & Monri Payments, Visage Technologies, APIS IT and DECODE in IT, SeekandHit and Degordian in marketing, Sinago in the non-food industry, Mplus Group and Manpower Group in services, Jadranski luksuzni hoteli in tourism and hospitality, and MediGroup in healthcare. “From the very beginning, the goal of this recognition has been to reward and promote the best workplaces and inspire the entire community. When I see such an incredible response and competition, I am proud because we have truly succeeded,” said Daniel Ackermann, CEO of Luppa, the award’s organizer.
This year also saw the introduction of a new category, Best of the Best, reserved for absolute leaders who achieved at least 25% better results than the market average. In the category of large companies, the winner was JGL, with second place going to Addiko, while among small companies, Factory X and DECODE were the best. “This is an award for all our employees – it’s the third year in a row we’ve won the Top Workplace recognition. It’s a great privilege, but also a responsibility to keep moving forward,” said Lorena Dika, HR Director at JGL. Joining her was Marina Drmač, Group People Growth & Development Director at Addiko, who added: “A huge thank you to our employees – this is their award to us. It will serve as motivation for us to continue creating an environment where people grow, develop, and feel comfortable.”
The ceremony culminated with the announcement of the HR Manager of the Year, an award that has been presented for twelve years and recognizes individuals who significantly contribute to employee development and organizational success. This year, the main award went to Ivana Topalović from Ergomed, who said upon receiving the honor: “It’s a great honor to receive this award, especially because it comes from colleagues and professionals in the field of human resources. I believe that HR, in partnership with business, can be a driver of positive change and a builder of a culture where people and their development are always at the center.”
In addition to the main award, recognitions were also given to Danijela Knezović from Decathlon, Tomo Barić from INA, Sanda Sudić Bušljeta from Optimapharma, Jelena Drobnjak from Atlantic Grupa, and Marija Radovanović from Street Guys Hospitality. “The HR Manager of the Year award highlights excellence in human resource management and recognizes those who, through their knowledge and innovation, enhance workplace culture and business results. By doing so, we raise professional standards and strengthen HR’s role in the business world,” concluded Saša Jurković, President of Centar HR.
This year’s presentation of the Top Workplace, Best of the Best, and HR Manager of the Year awards once again confirmed the importance of people as the greatest strength of every organization. In a joyful atmosphere, with celebrations of the winners and emotions among those gathered, Rovinj became a hub of inspiration and innovation in the field of human resources.
