Employee Friendly Company
"Our program allows us to take care of an employee – both professionally and personally," says Karolina Pajewska, Program Coordinator.
Jun 11, 2012
People are the most important asset in each company. A new program from T-Mobile in Poland supports its people with more than just professional training.
A company is nothing without its people. And the T-Mobile network operator in Poland, Polska Telefonia Cyfrowa (PTC), wanted to go beyond professional topics to help its people perform and grow. So it launched the Employee Friendly Company concept, which bundles a number of support programs with family days and training. The program is unique within the Deutsche Telekom Group and even recently won third place in an internal competition that evaluated projects and ideas for creating a successful corporate culture.
“A company is a place where we have to be professional. But that doesn’t mean we don’t function there like human beings,” says external consultant Luis Alarcon. If employees lead a good, satisfying life, they’re also better employees.”
Everyone included
The Employee Friendly Company helps T-Mobile in Poland make good on Telekom’s promise of diversity in both its workforce and its employees’ responsibilities. The program comprises such things as individual consultations on issues related to both an employee’s professional and private life, as well as workshops covering motivation, work-life balance and even parenting. The workshops can include up to 50 employees and follow one motto: they must be open and accessible for everyone.
Crisis intervention for sexual harassment, bullying and other situations as well as support for employees off on parental leave are also key components of the program, which is still in its first year. “Most large corporations invest a lot in professional training but it’s usually limited to employees’ responsibilities. Our program allows us to take care of an employee – both professionally and personally,” says Karolina Pajewska, Program Coordinator.
An annual Kids’ Day every December offers employees’ children an opportunity to see where and how their parents work. Children can take a spin in their mother’s office chair, try e-mailing from dad’s work computer and see for themselves what their mom or dad does when they are at school or kindergarten. The day also includes other attractions such as a magenta Santa Claus, Christmas presents, mini theater plays and an art workshop.
