Employee health
Having healthy and motivated employees is very important to Swisscom. In line with its strategy, Swisscom therefore makes targeted investments in initiatives and programmes for Occupational Health Management (OHM). The Board of Directors, Group Executive Board and management staff have all contributed to the success of OHM, which has resulted in the staff absence rate being reduced from 3.4% to 2.9% since 2009. Swisscom wants to achieve a staff absence rate that either remains constant or declines further by 2015. Further details and performance indicators can be found in the table “Employees in figures”.
As a result of this positive trend, the premium rates for work-related accidents, non-work-related accidents and the insurance for sick pay allowance were reduced as of 1 January 2013.
Through its involvement in the ConCerto project with the Federal Social Insurance Office, Swisscom makes an important contribution to ensuring that collaboration with the social insurance agencies is coordinated as effectively as possible. ConCerto aims to simplify and accelerate the professional reintegration of individuals who have suffered health problems. The ConCerto-pro association was set up in 2012. Its goal is to encourage all domestic employers, Federal Disability Insurance offices, sick pay allowance and accident insurers and SMEs to join the association and adopt the processes it has defined. The ConCerto-pro association, together with partners on a national level (FSIO, SECO, associations and institutions), also supports and coordinates the further development of issues pertinent to vocational reintegration.
The number of disability cases in 2013 fell by 25% in comparison to previous years. Through cooperation with integration partners and the heightened involvement of Group Human Resources, several trainee positions and internships could be filled once again. These positions are available to employees with health problems. OHM and, if necessary, social insurance agencies such as the Federal Disability Insurance office (IV) provide assistance and support with the deployments in these positions.
Swisscom aims to extend the focus of occupational health management to include prevention in order to promote and maintain employee health.
Occupational safety
As set out in the collective employment agreement (CEA), Swisscom undertakes to protect the personal integrity of its employees and provide an appropriate level of health protection according to ergonomic principles. In terms of ergonomics (design of workstations and working environment, health protection and health care, prevention of work-related accidents and occupational illnesses, workplace safety), the CEA grants the employee associations the right of codetermination and the social partners the right of information. Various committees coordinate and organise training courses, initiatives and measures aimed at promoting safety and health protection in the workplace. In areas where workplace safety is particularly important for employees, Swisscom operates an integrated, process-based management system and is ISO 9001:2000 certified. The company submitted this management system for approval to the Swiss Accident Insurance Fund (Suva).
The criteria, processes and tools for regulating and implementing workplace safety and health protection are integrated in a quality environmental and safety management system. For example, Swisscom’s subsidiary cablex follows Guideline 6508 of the Federal Coordination Commission for Occupational Safety (FCOS), which covers the ten elements of the operational safety system and ensures the measures necessary for safeguarding the health and safety of employees involved in installing infrastructure.
Co-determination rights are systematically implemented, especially in the area of safety, where internal (safety system) and external (“legal compass”) standards are conscientiously adhered to. Employee associations are represented at the quarterly meetings of the Safety Board.
Move! and the Swisscom Games
Move! is a programme which supports activities in the fields of health, sport and culture. Employees can become Move! coaches or take part in another activity. Activities are conducted during the employees’ free time. Move! aims to broaden employees’ sporting and intellectual horizons and give staff the opportunity to meet their colleagues from other areas of the company.
The Swisscom Games are held every two years. Employees have the option of enrolling for a team or individual activity in the fields of sport, culture and society. The 2013 Swisscom Games included two events – the Winter Games in Davos and the Summer Games in Tenero, in which a total of around 4,000 employees took part. The Swisscom Games are a key networking opportunity for employees and have become an important part of the corporate culture. The next Swisscom Games will take place in 2015.