Peter Stenberg (centre), director general of Nera Networks, accepts his firm's Via Bona award. (source: Courtesy of Pontis)
THE PONTIS Foundation distributed its Via Bona Slovakia awards for the 11th time to publicly recognise companies and entrepreneurs supporting corporate social responsibility (CSR) and corporate philanthropy in Slovakia at a ceremony in mid April. Awards were given in 10 categories this year to reflect the broader development of CSR and corporate philanthropy activities in Slovakia. In addition to the two Main Awards – traditionally given to a large corporation and to a small or medium-sized enterprise – the other eight awards were designed to recognise outstanding work in specific types of CSR and corporate philanthropy.
Main awards
- The Main Award for Large Corporations for a omprehensive approach to CSR went to Orange Slovensko. Pontis wrote that the mobile operator’s strategy for corporate social responsibility is based on several programmes: it supports the Návrat non-profit organisation which assists children in coming to families from institutional care; it is active in the environmental field; and it is the only telecommunications business in Slovakia to create the position of independent ombudsman for its clients.
- The Main Award for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises for a comprehensive approach to CSR went to Nera Networks-Liptovský Hrádok, which focuses on three pillars – people, planet and profit – and its main priority is its employees. “If we treat people in a decent way then we can have people give 100 percent of their labour force every day,“ said Peter Stenberg, CEO of the company.
- Honourable mention went to Martin Štrba, the manager of the online bookshop Martinus.sk. Pontis wrote that this online bookshop has become the most popular and the highest quality online bookshop thanks to Štrba’s straightforward approach towards employees and fairness towards customers.
Corporate social responsibility:
- The winner of the Green Award for an environment- related project was Envi-Pak company. The company was recognised for its direct support of recycling in more than 800 towns and villages in Slovakia.
- The Award for a Responsible Approach to Employees was won by Orion Nova for its project of supported employment for young people who have grown up in orphanages.
- Tatra Banka received the Award for Socially Responsible Market Operations for its Talking ATMs project which enables blind customers to handle ATM transactions without any third-party assistance or the need to disclose their PIN code.
- GlaxoSmithKline company received an Honourabl Mention for adopting measures and standards to increase transparency in the pharmaceutical industry.
- An Honourable Mention for a responsible approach to employees went to Embraco Slovakia for its exemplary approach to its employees during last year's floods.
Corporate philanthropy:
- The Award for Long-Term Positive Corporate Impact on society and the surrounding community was given to Embraco Slovakia for its project enhancing the department for newborns at the hospital in Spišská Nová Ves over the past 12 years.
- The evaluation committee granted the Award for Courage to Support a Difficult Issue to the Creative Department company for its pro bono preparation of an advertising campaign called ‘Age Concerns Us’.
- The Award for Employee Engagement in Volunteer Activities went to RWE IT Slovakia for the change of its corporate team-building activities from sports to volunteering for the Dorka family crisis centre.
Source: Via Bona
