4.3. A Case Study of Socially Responsible Practices in the City of Pardubice
Socially responsible activity of the City of Pardubice is, in particular, ensured by Pardubice City Hall. This is made up of the mayor’s office, the secretary’s office and 10 departments. This specifically concerns the economic department, the department of information technology, the department of property and investment, the department of administrative agendas, the department of education, culture and sport, the department of transport, the environmental department, the department of social affairs, the department of the chief architect and the department of development and strategy.
Other organizations established by the City of Pardubice also participate in ensuring socially responsible activities. This concerns 36 nursery schools, 16 primary schools, 2 primary art schools, 2 youth centres, 2 rehabilitation centres, several cultural organizations (e.g., the Chamber Philharmonic, the East Bohemian Theatre and the Tourist Information Centre), several social service organizations (in particular 2 retirement homes, 1 day care centre and nursing service) and last but not least for example, the Foundation for the Development of the City of Pardubice.
Socially responsible activities are then also ensured by other organizations in which the City of Pardubice holds business shares. This for example concerns Pardubice Public Transport Company (100% share), Pardubice City Services (100% share), Dynamo Pardubice Ice Hockey Club (74% share), East Bohemian Airport (66% share), the Horse Racing Association (52% share), the Water and Sewerage Company (43% share) or FREE ZONE Pardubice (30% share).
The City of Pardubice can be ranked among cities which actively perform and support socially responsible activities. Primary attention is paid to economic responsibility activities. In this field, attention is in particular paid to ensuring transparency and openness in the context of the application of the principles of good governance. An interactive city budget or investment map of the city is thus made available in a user-friendly manner on the city’s website. The results of economic management by the city and joint-stock companies with capital participation by the city are also published here. It is possible to watch meetings of the city assembly both live and recorded. Installation of a Senior Citizen’s Council and Children’s and Student Parliament which act as advisory bodies to Pardubice City Council also contribute towards fulfilment of transparency. Openness of information is ensured via several communication channels. This in particular concerns the website of City Hall, social networks (Facebook and Twitter), RSS channels, electronic notice boards, but also meetings with citizens. Other information channels include the monthly “City Hall Bulletin” or the Czech-English magazine “This is Pardubice” which are distributed free of charge to all households in the city. City Hall also operates an information call centre, City Helpdesk.
Special attention in the field of economic responsibility is paid to the quality, wide availability and innovative nature of public services provided. Among other things, City Hall tries to increase the convenience of services offered, for example with the option of on-line reservation of appointments at the individual offices of City Hall, with an offer of WiFi or free drinking water from dispensers in City Hall buildings. As regards specified socially responsible activities which make up the offer of public services by Pardubice City Hall, this in particular concerns activities from the fields of social services, healthcare and prevention of socially pathological phenomena, culture, sport and development of the city.
Among the specific socially responsible activities in the field of social services, we can for example include the grant program offering financial support in the social and healthcare field, financial support for the Senior Citizens’ Centre and Senior Citizens’ Club, provision of discount transport within the territory of the city for senior citizens and disabled people in the form of the so-called “senior taxi”, operation of a free helpline for senior citizens, support for free legal advice for senior citizens and disabled people, patronage of an emergency service for senior citizens and disabled people or an offer of free interpreting for those with hearing problems during communication with officials. Other activities which fall within this area are for example support for volunteering by senior citizens in nursery and primary schools, support for a city with wheelchair access or a project to ensure affordable housing for citizens in need.
As regards specific socially responsible activities in the field of healthcare and prevention of socially pathological phenomena, we can in particular list financial aid for Pardubice Hospital for purchase of equipment, the grant programs “Prevention of criminality and increase in safety” and “Fire prevention”, support for the program for vision screening and diagnostics for leg disorders among the children of Pardubice, checks on radon in educational institutions in the city or operation of defibrillators on City Hall premises.
As regards specific socially responsible activities in the field of culture, sport and development of the city, this for example concerns the grant program implemented in support of tourism, the program for support of culture, the program for support of sports and the program for support of leisure and educational activities, as well as operation of a business incubator and industrial zone or implementation of a project for starter housing. The City of Pardubice is the co-organizer or financial supporter of several other events, e.g., the Grand Festival of Laughter (a theatre festival), Pardubice Musical Spring, Pardubice Air Show, Czech Open (international festival of chess and games), Pardubice Junior Cup (Czech junior tennis championships), the Golden Helmet (speedway races) or the Great Pardubice Steeplechase (the oldest and most demanding steeplechase in continental Europe).
All of the aforementioned activities are among other things focused on strengthening of relations with stakeholders, in particular the citizens of the city, but also visitors to the city, non-profit organizations which operate in the city or companies which operate in the city or which could operate in the city in the future.
In the field of environmental responsibility, in view of the nature of activity of the entity under evaluation, the range of possible activities is limited. Primary attention in this field is focused on waste management and education of the public. A functional system of waste disposal is ensured using the dense network of containers and eight waste collection sites. The number of containers for separated waste (plastic, paper and glass) is increased on an ongoing basis. Separate collection is also ensured of textiles, biological waste, used vegetable oil from households or small-scale electrical waste. Among other things, a preventative grant program is implemented in the field of environmental education of the public.
As regards the field of ethical responsibility, a Code of Ethics has been installed and is applied in the organization for employees of Pardubice City Hall. Employees are familiarized with this code of ethics via an internal software application.
In the field of social responsibility focused on employees, Pardubice City Hall performs a wide range of activities. Attention is paid to ensuring occupational health and safety, this being both in the form of training when starting work, as well as in the form of regular training courses. Employees also, for example, undergo training in provision of first aid including practical preparation.
Care for a high-quality working environment is also ensured. Employees have at their disposal rooms for implementation of individual work and teamwork. Rooms are simple and airy, emphasis is placed on natural lighting. Regular fluid intake is also ensured for employees with free deliveries of bottled water.
Special attention is paid to the education and development of employees. A broad offer of training courses has been created, be these language courses or courses with computers, as well as management training courses. A training portal is available on which employees can choose from an offer of e-learning courses. Apart from initial training, new employees are also assigned a mentor who helps them to adapt to their new job more quickly and easily.
Attention is also paid to application of measures eliminating any form of discrimination at work. The basic requirement is that employees respect the Anti-discrimination Act. Above the framework of this, the authority also provides its employees—disabled people, pregnant women or parents caring for young children part-time work or flexible working hours. Flexible working hours within the framework of variable blocks of working hours is also offered to all other employees. Work from home is also used in some cases with regard to ensuring work-life balance.
Pardubice City Hall also implements effective measures to counter mobbing and harassment. These are enshrined both in a code of ethics and also in the work regulations. Attention is in particular paid to prevention of the given phenomena, for example with implementation of training in the relevant communication skills.
Every employee is entitled to join a trade union organization. Among other things, the authority expresses its accommodating attitude towards trade union organizations by allowing them to use the employer’s equipment and premises.
While recruiting new employees, the authority attempts to inform the general public in a suitable manner, this usually being via the electronic notice board and website, or via adverts in the press. Transparency of selection procedures implemented in a suitable manner in view of the position being filled is ensured. The appropriate attention is paid to communication both with the selected candidate and also unsuccessful candidates who are informed immediately by telephone or e-mail. Materials provided for the selection procedure are returned to unsuccessful candidates at the cost of the authority. In the event of termination of employment, employees are provided professional help while drawing up the request for termination of employment.
Employees are involved in the decision-making process. Each of them has the opportunity to communicate and discuss their ideas, suggestions or problems at regular meetings or during one-on-one meetings with their superiors. The opinions and evaluation of employees are also identified within the framework of regular anonymous surveys. Emphasis on accommodating and open communication leads to provision of a healthy organizational culture.
Within the framework of care for employees, the authority provides its employees a wide range of employee benefits. This for example includes five weeks of holiday, three sick days, subsidized meals, a contribution towards pension savings, a comprehensive health program within the framework of the cafeteria system, a retirement bonus, option of recreation at the employer’s cottage or a discount mobile phone tariff including family members.
Philanthropic responsibility activities by Pardubice City Hall are in particular performed via the following three foundations. The Foundation for Development of the City of Pardubice is intended for support of the economic, social, cultural and sporting development of the city and protection and creation of the environment in the city. The Jan Perner Endowment Fund is focused on support for the development of safe and reliable transport, establishment of high-quality transport and logistics systems and their connection to the European transport infrastructure. The aim of the “Helping Pardubice Hospital” Endowment Fund is to develop the quality and availability of acute in-patient care in Pardubice Hospital and to provide funding for development of modern treatments and equipment. Partnership with non-profit organizations is also developed to a great extent.