Personio becomes certified B Corp after five-year effort

Personio has become a Certified B Corp, with the certification independently verified by B Lab.

The human resources and payroll software provider for small and medium-sized businesses joins a European community of more than 4,500 certified companies, including customers such as Ecosia, Fairphone, RECUP and Tomorrow.

B Corp certification assesses companies on social and environmental performance, governance and transparency. For Personio, the certification follows a five-year effort across the business, including completion of the B Impact Assessment and B Lab's verification process.

The accreditation reflects practices already embedded in Personio's operations, including employee share ownership, mental health support, governance measures and supplier checks on labour and environmental standards.

Assessment areas

B Lab's framework examines performance across five areas: governance, workers, community, environment and customers. Certified companies must make their B Impact score and profile publicly available.

Personio said every employee holds equity in the business. It also highlighted access to mental health support through Olivia, its mental health platform, as part of the measures considered in the review.

On governance, Personio said its board includes independent members who do not hold a significant stake in the business and are not employees. It also cited a whistleblower system and a company-wide code of conduct.

In its supply chain, Personio said it screens direct suppliers for fair labour practices and environmental standards. The company said this approach is intended to raise standards beyond its own operations.

Foundation work

The certification builds on earlier social impact work through the Personio Foundation, established in 2021. The foundation holds a commitment of 1% of the company's equity for non-profits working in climate action and education.

According to Personio, the foundation has awarded more than €4 million in grants to 15 non-profit organisations worldwide. The company said the funding has helped protect 3.3 million tonnes of carbon stocks and supported access to education for 90,000 people.

Personio also runs Personio.org, which offers discounted access to its software for non-profits and public sector organisations. Its HR Accelerator programme separately provides free HR consulting, knowledge resources and a peer community for non-profits.

Founded in 2015, the business has positioned itself around helping smaller employers manage employment and payroll requirements across Europe. The certification adds a formal external review of its internal policies and broader social and environmental practices.

Hanno Renner, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Personio, described the certification as part of a longer internal process rather than a one-off label.

"Responsibility for all stakeholders, customers, employees and societies is something we've thought about at Personio since we founded the company in 2015. When we set out on this journey five years ago, we knew we didn't want a superficial badge. We wanted a framework that would rigorously challenge us across governance, workforce policies, environmental impact, and how we serve our community. What I appreciate about B Corp is how rigorous and independent the review actually is. External reviewers evaluated Personio, and we've made the cut. Getting here took years, and a lot of effort across the company. That's what makes me proud. Getting certified is also a commitment to keep improving and holding ourselves accountable to our employees, customers, and society every single day," said Hanno Renner, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Personio.

B Lab Germany also commented on the certification.

"Welcoming Personio to the B Corp movement marks an exciting step forward for sustainable business practices. By holding themselves accountable to B Lab's standards of social and environmental impact, Personio demonstrates how European business leaders can actively build a more inclusive and responsible economy," said Duvieusart.