As well as being renowned for supporting its staff with employment policies that go far beyond the minimum statutory requirements, the company aims to be a good corporate citizen and actively encourages its employees to get involved in community projects. As a major employer in places such as Birmingham, Cardiff, London and Swindon.
Zurich is committed to making a valuable contribution to these communities, and it has a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Council to co-ordinate its approach.
Zurich also funds and supports the Zurich Community Trust (UK) Ltd., a registered charity, through which it delivers a broad community investment programme. Since 1981 the Trust has donated over £55 million to local, national and overseas communities.
The programmes have received recognition from Business in the Community and the Insurance Times for their innovation. The Zurich Community Trust combines funding from the business and its staff and provides the umbrella for all grant giving, fundraising and volunteering activity, all designed to help disadvantage people achieve an independent future.
One of the Zurich Community Trust's projects is the India Programme, now in its 14th year, in which employees complete four-week assignments in southern India. Through their experiences of living and working in a different country, they bring new skills back into the business and an insight of a different culture.
Through its employee involvement programme, known as Zurich Cares, over £500,000 is donated by staff and around 700 charities are helped each year. Enthusiastic Zurich employees undertake numerous fundraising activities, from sponsored sky dives to dress-down days and cake bakes. Zurich UK employees also put in a staggering 46,000 hours of volunteer work last year, such as the Challenge event, which consisted of 187 different activities from decorating to day trips and from garden makeovers to BBQs.
The company also shares business skills through Skillshare. In one such case, Sales Director Jason Cripps has been working with Steph Hathaway of Koalas, the Swindon-based charity for special needs children, helping them to develop a three-year business plan. In another initiative, 15 staff from Cheltenham regularly give up their lunchtimes to help children improve their reading.
During 2006, 2952 business days were committed to Team Challenges, Skillshare projects and India assignments, helping Zurich’s charity partners to build their capacity, while providing unique personal development opportunities to the volunteers.
Community involvement is an integral part of Zurich’s corporate culture, and the company grants reasonable time off work to enable staff to undertake community activities. For example, special constables are entitled to an additional five days paid leave each year to assist with their constabulary duties, and members of the Reserve Forces can have up to 10 days paid leave per year to attend their annual training.
