Our people give back to the community / Social responsibility report

Transcription

1 Our people give back to the community 2009

2 2 / Our people give back to the community Committed to promoting good health Committed to the health of our clients At SSQ Financial Group, we believe that the protection and promotion of good health are key factors when it comes to effectively managing group insurance plans. That is why we offer our clients solid expertise and health solutions through our employee health and wellness program Health InSight. Each time we assist a group in adopting a healthbased approach and each time we reach an individual through our healthy life/work balance initiatives, we believe we have made a difference and are contributing to positive change and improvement. The groups we work with tell us how much they appreciate the health-related activities we help them set up in their companies. Committed to the health of our employees At SSQ Financial Group, we recognize the importance of good health for the groups we insure and for our employees. That s why back in 2006 we launched HealthWise at SSQ, an employee program that encourages positive work attendance through prevention and the promotion of a healthy lifestyle. Just a few of the initiatives offered at SSQ to encourage employees to take charge of their own health include a health and wellness intranet site, vaccination programs, ergonomic services, annual health check-ups, healthrelated conferences and physical activity programs offered right in the workplace. Along the same lines, we actively promote the Quit to Win! Challenge to support employees who want to quit smoking and the 5/30 Health Challenge to promote physical exercise and healthy eating. Our employees are our most valuable asset Competent and loyal employees With an excellent reputation, steady growth, solid values and interesting job possibilities, SSQ Financial Group is an employer of choice for anyone seeking a career in the insurance industry. In 2009, we created more than 100 new jobs. By offering competitive working conditions, a harmonious workplace environment and ongoing career skills development through training programs, SSQ s employee turnover rate is consistently among the lowest in the industry.

3 At SSQ, training and skills development means: / More than 4.5% of the company s payroll is allocated to training / Free access to specialized courses related to insurance offered by LOMA / internal training in communication, change management, employee recognition and team work / Conferences on cooperation and mutualism / Bursaries for work-related educational programs / language workshops, computer courses, first-aid training, advice on how to run a meeting, time and priority management training / Program to enhance welcome and integration process for new employees / Training program for new managers and access to helpful managerial tools / Internet portal devoted to performance management / Skills identification tool based on individual job profiles / E-training capsules for employees to learn at their own pace Employees with big hearts Sensitive to the needs of surrounding communities, many SSQ employees volunteer their time to over 120 different charitable organizations and activities including, to mention just a few, Magasin-Partage, Noël des enfants, the Cure Foundation, the Monique-Fitz- Back Foundation, the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation, Sun Youth, L Écluse, Portage, and the Fondation des maladies de l œil. All together, approximately 200 employees of SSQ perform volunteer work on a regular basis, which represents nearly 10,000 volunteer hours per year. Preparing for the future In addition to participating in industry-related activities such as business internships, SSQ also puts considerable effort into recruiting and training quality employees for the future. Thanks to our recruitment program, every year a number of students benefit from valuable insurancerelated training and hands-on experience in the workplace, while continuing to study. SSQ is a firm believer in the principles of mutualism and cooperation and actively promotes these ideals to the youth of today. This is why a youth co-op has been set up at our head office every summer since 2003 and it s the only program of its kind in the Quebec City area. This year, a total of 13 participants, aged 13 to 15, took part in the program allowing them to put their creativity and imagination to good use. This program receives the enthusiastic support of SSQ employees every summer. Giving back to the community We haven t forgotten our modest beginnings in a disadvantaged neighbourhood. SSQ started out many years ago with a mission to make health care services affordable and accessible to everyone in the community. Today, we want to share the financial growth and success we have achieved in carrying out this mission. We are proud to contribute to strengthening the economic, cultural and social life of communities through financial sponsorships and donations, and through the involvement of our management team in volunteer community work. / 3

4 4 / The SSQ Foundation In 2009, SSQ enterprises injected another $50,000 into the SSQ Foundation, whose capitalization has now reached over $1 million, after a 13-year investment period. Attaining this level of capitalization has allowed the SSQ Foundation to begin its charitable activities, which are initially focusing on providing assistance to youth. In 2008, the SSQ Foundation became a proud partner of the Réseau québécois des CFER, pledging financial support of $25,000 per year over a three-year period. CFERs are school enterprises that offer high school drop-outs aged 15 to 18 an alternative educational option. Students receive schooling, both inside and outside the classroom, as well as in student-run enterprises where they gain valuable work skills. The SSQ Foundation is also committed to providing $10,000 per year over three years to the Centre Le Grand Chemin. This organization offers services to young people aged 12 to 17 who have become addicted to drugs, alcohol, prescription drugs or gambling. In addition, the SSQ Foundation has picked up where SSQ Financial Group left off by continuing to provide financial support to the Fonds d emprunt économique communautaire, an organization that grants access to credit to individuals who are unable to get financing through traditional financial networks. SSQ has pledged financial support of $15,000 per year over a three-year period. Donation Program While pursuing the capitalization of the SSQ Foundation, SSQ donated over $295,000 to community service organizations in These contributions can be broken down as follows: Other 14% Youth & Education 10% Philanthropy 47% Health 18% Arts & Culture 11% Through its Donation Program, in 2009 SSQ lent charitable support to over 100 organizations, including the following: United Way of Canada (Centraide) The generosity of both our active and retired employees ensured that our goal to raise $142,000 for the United Way in 2009 was met and even surpassed. Individual donations by employees and retirees combined with SSQ s corporate donation came to a total of $153,350. As in the past, SSQ employees gave generously, which is reflected in a 14% increase in total contributions over last year. Fondation du Centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec (CHUQ) Once again this year, the CHUQ hospital foundation also benefited from the financial support of SSQ. With a $100,000 financial commitment over a five-year period, SSQ is making a significant contribution to this foundation s development fund, which enables the CHUQ to keep pace with the most advanced technological innovations. The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario SSQ continued its five-year partnership with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario in 2009 for a very special project aimed at setting up an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) program in public buildings across Toronto. The program gives designated responders the authorization, training, equipment and instructions needed

5 to administer the AED efficiently and safely in the event that an individual goes into cardiac arrest inside or close to the buildings. This is just another example of our genuine concern for people s health! Educaid In 2009, we continued to respect our financial commit ment to donate $30,000 a year over a five-year period to Educaid. The mission of this educational assistance fund is to provide youth from underprivileged backgrounds with the financial support they need to complete high school and go on to post-secondary education. 211 line The 211 line was created in 2008 by insurance companies in the Quebec City area to help local community organizations by providing information to callers and directing them to appropriate community support services. The central help line rapidly became popular and has more than proven its utility by handling an average of 13,000 calls per month. Other contributions SSQ continues to lend support to community-based organizations involved in the health sector including the Pignon Bleu, a community-based resource centre; the Centre communautaire Entre-Nous located in Gatineau s Aylmer neigh bour hood; L Arche and Portage. In addition, the Enfant- Jésus Saint-Sacrement hospital foundation once again benefited from our support, with $25,000 going toward improving the quality of health care services, research and teaching. SSQ is a strong believer in the importance of promoting the arts and culture and encourages promising young musical talent by providing financial support to the Sillery provincial music competition, as well as the Saguenay Lac- Saint-Jean music camp. SSQ is proud to promote perseverance and the pursuit of excellence through financial support to several sports teams. One example is our association with the Carabins football team of the University of Montreal and with the Rouge et Or volleyball team of the Université Laval. Sponsorships and partnerships SSQ is a responsible corporate citizen and as such is concerned with the welfare of all citizens. One of the ways we show our commitment to the community is through partnerships. In addition to our donation program, we are also proud to support community organizations through our sponsorship program. Each year, we accept over 250 new sponsorship requests. Following are just a few of the organizations SSQ sponsored in The SSQ Quebec City Marathon Since 2006, SSQ Financial Group has been the title sponsor of the SSQ Quebec City Marathon and presenter of the Marathon s related 5K events. In addition to contributing to the development of the local tourist industry, the Marathon and other related 5K events promote physical fitness and healthy living, while each year helping a health organization to carry out its mission. Close to 500 participants from SSQ took part in one of the marathon events this year. The employees, partners and management of SSQ worked together to raise over $50,000 this year for the SOCODEVI Foundation. The money was used to purchase an ambulance for a mutual health care centre in the Sikasso region of Mali. La TOHU For the 7th year in a row, SSQ Financial Group is proud to once again be the principal partner of La TOHU, a renowned circus arts centre. La TOHU s unique corporate mission combines the promotion of circus arts, environmental protection and community development. While aiming to make the city of Montreal an international capital for circus arts, La TOHU is also actively participating in the rehabilitation of one of the biggest landfill sites in urban North America and contributing to the revitalization of the surrounding neighbourhood. SOCODEVI SOCODEVI is a co-operative organization that promotes international development. For the past 24 years, it has received the loyal support of SSQ Financial Group one of its founding members. In addition to our financial support, we also contribute the special skills / 5

6 6 / and expertise of our employees to help advance the projects SOCODEVI undertakes. In recent years, a number of SSQ employees have taken part in field missions to help set up a mutual health care centre in the Sikasso region of Mali. Our commitment to SOCODEVI is just another way we are taking an active role in promoting cooperation and mutualism around the world. Concrete action for the environment and sustainable development The Cité Verte After more than six years of hard work, this building project initiated by SSQ Real Estate was acknowledged by the Govern ment of Québec, Hydro-Québec and the City of Québec as being innovative both in terms of its eco-energetic and environmentally-mindful components. Evaluated at over $300 million, this sustainable real estate project is expected to have a considerable impact. For example, energy consumption will be reduced by 30%, in comparison to traditional buildings. Drinking water consumption will be reduced by 50%, representing a potential savings of some 131 million litres of water per year. The project also integrates innovative solutions to a number of environmental issues including sustainable architecture, waste management, stormwater and wastewater management and transportation. FSC Certification SSQ s copy centre recently earned certification from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), a world-renowned non-profit organization that develops respon sible forest resource management practices. This recognition means that we can now proudly include the FSC logo on all of the documents we print, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to eco-responsible practices. Recycling Environmental protection is a principle we believe in strongly at SSQ. We mandate the recycling of our office paper to Recyclage Vanier and entrust our used computer material to companies that specialize in this field. Our printing centre uses environmentally-friendly methods prescribing the use of non-toxic and non-polluting materials. In addition, the paper we use in our printers and photocopiers and the 2.5 million envelopes we use every year meet the standards of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). SSQ employees participate enthusiastically in the recovery of refundable bottles and the recycling of plastics, glass and old batteries by using the recycling bins provided by SSQ. Reusable coffee mugs No more disposable polystyrene cups at SSQ and fair trade coffee is here to stay! Yes, our employees are doing their part to go green by using handy reusable SSQ coffee mugs. Every new employee is presented with a coffee mug to raise

7 environmental awareness. In addition, fair trade coffee is available in most coffee machines at SSQ for the same price as regular coffee. Encouraging public transportation We have an agreement with the local public bus transportation network allowing our employees to obtain reduced rates for monthly bus passes. Ticket discounts are also available to employees in Montreal and Toronto. Ecological food baskets SSQ s Mutual Life Promotion Committee and HealthWise Committee joined forces to enable employees in Quebec City to receive organically grown fruit and vegetables from a local food producer. The green produce is delivered directly to the workplace over a 14-week period during the growing season. Through this initiative SSQ is encouraging healthy eating and supporting local sustainable agriculture at the same time. Socially responsible investing True to our values, SSQ adopted a policy governing socially responsible investment clearly stating that we invest only in socially responsible companies that do not practise unethical behaviour such as discrimination, exploitation of child labour, human rights abuses or noncompliance with environmental standards. Moreover, SSQ Financial Group is the first insurer to become a signatory of the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). Pierre Genest / Chairman of the Board René Hamel / Chief Executive Officer / 7

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