TALK WITH CONCHA ORTIZ, DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT. SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MUTUAL Fraternidad-Muprespa
CHAT WITH| CONCHA ORTIZ
Concha Ortiz, from Santander by birth, joins At that time, the entity's headquarters was located on Paseo de Recoletos, with only 25 people in the center. They were the first steps of the mutual company as a Social Security Collaborating Entity. Since then she has performed functions that make her one of the greatest experts in the sector; For this reason, in the 90s her name was associated with the first female directors of the entity: Provincial Director of Alicante. A few years later, in 1996, she returned to Madrid to take up the position of Director of Studies, functions that she held until 2011, at which time she was entrusted with the direction and creation of the Corporate Social Responsibility Department (CSR).
Director of the Corporate Social Responsibility Department
FM: What is Corporate Social Responsibility?
CO.: Defining what CSR is is not an easy task, there are many definitions about it. There are several common factors, such as the reference to three areas of responsibility: economic, social and environmental, without forgetting the interlocutors or interest groups and the voluntary nature of these responsibilities. The integrated nature of CSR in the strategy, policies and actions of the Company is also present.
In short, it is a form of responsible management, the balance between good company management, the social and environmental concerns of the community and the expectations of interest groups, in our case: mutual members, employees, suppliers, collaborators and society in general.
Therefore, the actions do not depend only on the CSR Department, but are a strategic approach that must be part of the daily management of the entire Organization, creating long-term value.
FM: It is understood that CSR is a new approach in the world of work, how have you experienced this change?
CO.: Fortunately, recycling and challenges are an incentive for me, and I also have what I consider to be an important advantage, having experience and a global vision of the Mutual Fund, which allows you, more easily, to put theory into practice. The fact that I have been interested in CSR for several years has also helped me; Although it is a new concept, many of its guidelines have been applied for a long time, but it is necessary to integrate a responsible culture in its management model and in all its lines of action. The purpose is that CSR does not remain a mere slogan but rather a guide to conduct, maintaining and promoting ethical behavior throughout the Organization.
FM: How has CSR been structured at Fraternidad Muprespa?
CO.: At the beginning of 2011, and within the framework of the Corporate Strategic Plan, a CSR Plan was created for the years 2012-2014; a commitment to contribute to the improvement of social, economic and environmental development on a daily basis and in relationships with its interest groups.
Among the objectives set in the CSR Plan, the following stand out: the creation of committees and ethical codes, policies and action protocols, promotion of safety and health at work, readaptation and labor reintegration, development of R&D&i, permanent training, monitoring of the promotion of gender equality and work-life balance, good health practices, minimization of environmental impact and communication and information of CSR to its interest groups.
The CSR Plan is structured around three fundamental axes: good governance, social responsibility understood as the relationship with interest groups (employees, mutualists, suppliers, collaborators), and contribution to society (respect for the environment, sustainability, quality, innovation and creativity).
FM: What aspects would you highlight about innovation aimed at employees?
CO.: Fraternidad Muprespa siempre ha destacado por el compromiso social con los empleados desde hace muchos años, lo que permite tener un buen clima laboral y un mantenimiento del personal (la media de antigüedad en la entidad es de de 15 años).
The objectives set for the benefit of employees are mainly aimed at continuing to motivate and train the entire organization, expanding knowledge through ongoing training. To this end, new training rooms equipped with the most advanced technologies (touch boards, motorized video camera, image recording through the camera, etc.) have just been inaugurated, which will significantly improve the delivery of courses; There is also a new online training content platform (Moodle type) that allows the creation and management of all of the Mutua's e-learning training. It is a virtual platform appropriate to the needs of our organization: CSR courses, road safety, occupational risk prevention, etc.
FM: How did the initiative to train in CSR come about?
CO.: We have realized that all of us who form Fraternidad Muprespa practiced social responsibility but we were not aware, we did not associate it with CSR actions. These courses will allow the employee to know that they are already managing their daily lives with social responsibility criteria and will be consciously competent.
FM: What specific actions has Fraternidad Muprespa adopted to promote equality between men and women?
CO.: In 2008, an Equality Commission was created, with equal representation between the entity and the workers, whose purpose was to design and develop actions to promote gender equality. In 2010, the Equality Plan was signed and the approved measures began to be implemented.
The evaluation and balance of the implemented actions are positive. Measures such as the extension of days of paternity leave, teleworking (in the first phase for pregnant women and in the future for the rest of the staff who demand it within the framework of conciliation and whenever their functions make it possible), paid leaves so that employees can attend prenatal exams, flexibility of one hour on the entry and exit of work for those employees who are responsible for elderly people, children (under 12 years of age) or disabled people, review and updating of the Workplace Harassment Protocol; all of them with a very good acceptance.
As a result of our commitment to the equality policy in the work environment,
FM: Are social work carried out?
CO.: In this time of crisis, Mutual Insurance Companies, as Social Security Collaborating Entities, have very restricted budgets. However, last year the Special Benefits Commission (composed of representatives of the associated companies and union representatives) granted €403,000 in aid to the workers of the associated companies who suffered a work accident and who at the end of the process had significant consequences and were in needy situations. Of this amount, more than half was allocated for housing rehabilitation aid and the rest for vehicle adaptation, study aid, financial aid, etc.
FM: How do you value the promotion of corporate volunteering at Fraternidad Muprespa?
CO.: We want to advance and promote corporate volunteering activities. There are already projects that are going to be launched such as “1 euro per employee” which consists of voluntarily deducting this micro-donation from the payroll monthly to help the most disadvantaged groups.
Likewise, solidarity campaigns are being carried out among employees. We just finished the campaign “mobile phone collection” so that the Spanish Association of Mitochondrial Pathologies can continue researching in search of new drugs that can give a better quality of life to all those affected, who are mainly children. It has been a complete success; We have collected almost 800 mobile phones between the collaboration of the Mutua, employees, associated companies and patients of our healthcare centers.
FM: Regarding the environment.
CO.: Although our activity has a low environmental impact, Fraternidad Muprespa made a commitment many years ago: to promote and disseminate energy efficiency measures. This has allowed us to be the first Mutual Fund in the Sector to obtain the ISO 14001 certificate. Also, in the first half of 2011, the European ecological certificate EMAS (Eco Management and Audit Scheme) was obtained. On the other hand, a Quality and Environment Plan has also been created for the period 2011-2014.
FM: And with the mutualists, what commitments have been made?
CO.: Mainly our mission, vision and values are aimed at the prevention of work accidents and professional diseases of protected workers; through dissemination, training, rapid recovery of the patient, through rehabilitative processes with the highest technologies. Of course, all of this is carried out with very clear criteria of quality, effectiveness and efficiency, without forgetting the professional ethics of more than 1,900 workers who are part of the Mutua staff.
At Fraternidad, we have been betting on technological development for many years, which has allowed us to be a benchmark in the mutual insurance sector; developing multiple projects aimed at offering our mutual members the services they require and, if possible, anticipating their needs.
Among the recently implemented technological tools we could highlight: patient access to their medical history electronically, computerized document management in all mutual insurance procedures, intranet with all collaborative functionalities for users, digital signature and mobility technologies; to which we must add other platforms already implemented on the web such as
FM: Finally, in what way do you think a work accident insurance company can influence society?
CO.: It can influence several fields, in fact Fraternidad Muprespa is doing it. In R&D&I, studies are carried out on different pathologies; Codes of Good Preventive Practices, posters, brochures, etc. are made. which can be downloaded for free on our web portal www.Fraternidad.com
Since 1977, International Symposiums on different pathologies in traumatology have been organized. The last one was held just a few weeks ago, on October 25 and 26, in the assembly hall of our Hospital del Pº de la Habana,“Hand and wrist pathology in the world of work”, which was attended by the best specialists in these subjects and where the new techniques for the diagnosis and treatment of these patients.
In the field of information and dissemination, a multitude of conferences have been held on various subjects that are considered of general interest: legislative, preventive, social security changes, etc.
In the field of teaching collaboration, agreements have been signed for training doctors in Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, as well as with Universities and Professional Schools for the training of students in different activities. To this we must add that our healthcare personnel regularly collaborate in teaching actions or communications, all directed for the benefit of Society.
I believe that CSR covers an essential aspect in our work and business model. A new framework in which social demands and ethical aspects that are necessary for both the individual and society in its broadest sense can be satisfied.
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