Smart program for employees wins CSR award

WIRELESS services provider Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) won an Excellence Award in Asia’s premier awards program on corporate social responsibility, the 9th Asian CSR Awards, for its employee wellness program, Live Smart: Healthy U, Wealthy U, Happy U.

Held at the Crowne Plaza Mutiara in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the excellence award was given under the Best Workplace Practices category. Live Smart! promotes physical, financial, social, spiritual and community wellness of employees. The program is one of only 13 awardees chosen among 141 entries from 99 companies in 15 countries.

“We are honored that our employee wellness program was given recognition by a highly-respected award-giving body. Smart believes that its primary asset is its workforce.

We developed the Live Smart: Healthy U, Wealthy U, Happy U program to contribute in providing a holistic and supportive work environment that considers the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, social, and financial well-being of employees.

Companies that care for their people usually have a higher level of engagement to the company’s mission, vision and values,” said Smart Human Resource Management and Development Group head Annette Santiago.

The Excellence Award is Smart’s third with the prestigious international award-giving body. During the 8th Asian CSR Awards in 2009, the Kabalikat sa Edukasyon program was adjudged the best education program in Asia under the Improvement in Education category. Kabalikat sa Edukasyon is a cluster of programs that has helped over 300 schools, more than 11,000 teachers and approximately 85,000 students since Smart launched its first education initiative in 2003.

Also last year, the company’s Alternative Power for Cell Sites Program won an Excellence Award under the Environmental Excellence category. Smart has 114 cell sites that run on renewable energy, wind or solar.

Live Smart has three pillars – Healthy U!, Wealthy U! and Happy U!. Under Healthy U! are fun physical wellness programs that encourage a healthy lifestyle such as weight-loss challenges, wellness fairs, wellness menus and exercises, sportsfests, among others.

Employees are given the rudiments of managing finances wisely under the Wealthy U! pillar. Through this, employees get entrepreneurship opportunities, attend seminars on managing finances, and enjoy discounts and promos.

Happy U!, on the one hand, serves as employees’ outlet for fun and meaningful
activities. Under Happy You! is Happy to Help, the community service program wherein employees get to choose a partner organization for their volunteer activity.

“Smart employees like to work hard, and play hard. We have 16 active clubs, and one of every three employees is part of at least one of the hobby groups. We have employee-initiated clubs for mountaineers, tennis aficionados, badminton players, book lovers, singers, budding photographers, among others. We also have volunteer groups such as Read-to-be-Smart, where members conduct regular reading tutorial sessions to public elementary school students,” said Santiago. (PR)