Solutions that Work—In and Out of the Office

At Intel, we're making efforts to improve the lives of our employees worldwide, both in and out of the office. Learn about the tools and work environment solutions we offer to make it easier for our employees to manage work and personal life commitments. 

Our Mission 
Managing a job and personal responsibilities is never easy. That's why Intel is committed to providing tools and work environment solutions that reduce barriers to effectiveness caused by work and personal life challenges, maximizing employee contributions over the course of their careers, and enhancing Intel's Great Place To Work value.  
 
Our efforts to improve both work and life environments at Intel are a strategic response to the significant changes that have taken place in work and life over the past 10-15 years. Our goal is to make it easier for people to manage their busy personal and work lives. We're taking a comprehensive and worldwide approach to Work/Life Effectiveness by offering tools and creating an environment that supports different phases of an employee's life—from the needs of working parents, to those of employees with elder care responsibilities, to those with personal education goals, to those planning a trip. Given the diverse needs of our employees and the multiple businesses across Intel, the range of options varies by geography, site, business unit and job type.

Worldwide Solutions 
Our strategies and programs are supported around the world in order to enhance both the work and personal lives of our employees. Not only are our efforts global, they are specifically tailored to be implemented according to the needs of a specific country, and are based upon the market needs and statutory requirements of each location. The range of options include:

• Flexible work schedules
• Compressed work weeks and alternate work schedules
• Telecommuting
• Home office options
• Part-time employment
• Job share
• Childcare assistance
• Resource and referral services
• Work/Life seminars and training
• Employee discounts
• Onsite convenience stores
• Fitness centers and recreation facilities
• Nursing mothers rooms
• Health and wellness benefits
• Employee groups and clubs
• Family events
• Rideshare and transportation programs
• Intel volunteer programs
• Geographically dispersed teams
• Paid time off (including sabbaticals in the United States)
• Leaves of absence

 
Source : Intel.com

What is Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)? A lot of persons have asked me this question. Let me explain the different aspects of CSR – All of us work for OURSELVES or our siblings, enjoy life for OURSELVES and do whatever is necessary to make OUR old age happy and comfortable. Have we thought of how – OTHERS – the not-so-fortunate people out there – probably millions – spend each day of their lives, their youth, their middle age and their old age? If we as Corporates can do something to make their youth, their middle age and their old age happier and more fruitful – that is Corporate Social Responsibility!

A very glaring example of CSR is that of the Tata Group of Companies – who built Jamshedpur and its infrastructure ONLY FOR THE BENEFIT of their employees and their families – they built schools, hospitals, training centers and housing complexes.

Tata Steel is one of the few Indian companies to be invited to join the UN-sponsored Global Compact. It has also been conferred the prestigious Global Business Coalition Award (GBC) for Business Excellence in the Community in view of its outstanding work in the field of HIV / AIDS awareness. Some of the Awards they have received for CSR are:
· The Betz Dearborn Environment Partnership Award.
· The CII-Exim Award for Business Excellence, 2000.
· The JRD QV Award, 2000.
· The Outstanding Corporate Citizen Award from The Economic Times.
· The Tata Steel Rural Development Society has won the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry award for Rural Initiatives three times.
· The company has won the National Energy Conservation Award for three consecutive years from the ministry of power, government of India.
· The Corporate Social Responsiveness Award from Business World and Compaq.
(Source: Tata Steel : Profile)

Another example of CSR is the E-Choupal initiative undertaken by ITC. Through the e-Choupal initiative, ITC aims to confer the power of expert knowledge on even the smallest individual farmer. Thus enhancing his competitiveness in the global market.

In the words of Mohanbir Sawhney, McCormick Tribune Professor of Technology, Kellogg School of Management, USA :
” A quiet digital revolution is reshaping the lives of farmers in remote Indian villages.
In these villages, farmers grow soyabeans, wheat and coffee in small plots of land, as they have for thousands of years. A typical village has no reliable electricity and has antiquated telephone lines. The farmers are largely illiterate and have never seen a computer. But farmers in these villages are conducting e-business through an initiative called e-Choupal, created by ITC, one of India’s largest consumer product and agribusiness companies.”
This is Corporate Social Responsibility!

Electrolux, under the able guidance of Mr Rajeev Karwal, the erstwhile MD, had also started a CSR Programme – Femme Force – a Self-defense Training Programme for Women. Over 600 women were trained with the basics of defending themselves in Delhi, NCR and Mumbai. The ladies – ranging from 16 to 65 – after completing the 4-day Programme – were more confident of facing any untoward incident. In fact, one such student wrote an e-mail – “Yesterday, I got chance to use the training – last night while returning from office I made complete use of the training. The man (an Army Captain) will never do anything like that in his whole life. I am more confident now.”
This, I believe is another aspect of CSR!