Direct speech

Flun Gumerov, general director of the Krasnoselsky Jewelryprom jewelry factory, president of the Russian international jewelry chain Almaz-Holding:

— We have 2.5 thousand employees, and, like any businessman, my task is to provide them with comfortable working conditions. After all, only a person who works in comfortable conditions can create and bring income to the company. This is the law of business: profitable, convenient, safe. Therefore, we very strictly monitor compliance with all safety standards at work. To unite the team, we hold corporate parties every New Year. In addition, our employees travel to world jewelry exhibitions: in Hong Kong and Basel. Top managers go on excursions to foreign jewelry enterprises. For example, recently my colleagues brought back many interesting ideas after a trip to the Kiev plant. This is both encouragement and caring, but at the same time, of course, improves the skills of employees.

Nadezhda Kreneva, Deputy General Director for Personnel Management of Moscow United Electric Grid Company (MOESK):

— When we talk about creating decent working conditions for such a responsible profession as the energy industry, in addition to competitive wages and a package of social programs, we pay special attention to the health and safety of our employees. The staff of MOESK exceeds 15 thousand people. The company has a voluntary medical insurance program (provides medical, therapeutic, health-improving and preventive care in an expanded volume compared to state guarantees). Each employee undergoes medical examinations, psychophysiological support is organized, which is carried out by full-time psychologists.

In accordance with the collective agreement, employees are provided with financial assistance for vacations, marriage registration, the birth of a child, joining the army, and burying relatives; compensation is paid for the maintenance of disabled children and children in preschool institutions; vouchers are provided for children to health camps and sanatorium-resort treatment for employees; non-state pension provision is provided. Special attention is paid to attracting and supporting young promising personnel. MOESK's youth policy includes specialized adaptation, mentoring and training programs. Since this year, MOESK has been operating a social support program for young workers - graduates of educational institutions with electrical power specialties. In 2013, a program for implementing housing policy was approved: it allows you to receive compensation payments for renting housing, mortgage interest, as well as targeted subsidies for improving housing conditions. Staff motivation, focus on achieving better results, team unity, and the formation and development of a corporate culture are also important to us. To this end, MOESK implements programs of cultural, sports and recreational work; employees participate in sports competitions, tournaments, creative competitions, and various events.

Yaroslav Zhdan, General Director of the ChelPipe Group:

— An important component of the social package for ChelPipe Group employees is the voluntary health insurance program (VHI), which is implemented on the basis of its own modern clinics and dispensaries. In 2013, the ChTPZ group allocated about 115 million rubles to the VMS (pipe and oilfield service divisions). Every year ChelPipe insures employees of gas rescue services and members of voluntary gas rescue teams; the insured amount in 2013 amounted to 12.305 million rubles; 5.3 million rubles were invested in the current year for activities to certify workplaces of pipe division enterprises. And the production facilities of factories, which, according to legal norms, are classified as dangerous, were insured in 2013 for the amount of 660 million rubles. Employees also use the opportunities of a non-state pension fund: as part of the corporate program, the company makes a contribution to the account that is at least equal to the employee’s contribution. Own recreation centers, children's camps, cultural centers and sports complexes, insurance and free flu vaccination - all these items, of course, require costs and attention. But even in a difficult market and global negative trends, the ChelPipe Group maintains the amount of funding for its social obligations, and tries to increase it at the first opportunity. We understand well: big business is a kind of social support of the state.

Mikhail Kokorich, CEO of Dauria Aerospace, ex-owner of Tekhnosila:

— Our salary is on average twice as high as in the industry - this is the main manifestation of concern for the life, health and well-being of people. On average in the industry, employees receive 40 thousand rubles, and at our enterprise the average salary is 100 thousand rubles. The second manifestation of care is that we pay all salaries on time and without delays. Thirdly, we mainly hire young and energetic people who can decide for themselves where to spend the money they receive - on insurance or on the gym. Fourthly, all our engineers and employees go to international conferences, work in our foreign offices and improve their professional level. Fifth, we don’t get away with cheap gifts when buying apples and candy for the New Year: they’re not children. At the company, we believe that it is better to give money to people, and spending it differently is from the evil one. In addition, we do not have HR specialists; instead of cleaners, we have an agreement with a cleaning company, and the money saved again goes to the employees. And in general, I believe that if you pay people a decent salary, then they themselves will be able to figure out what to buy with the money they receive. And for people it is much more valuable.

Arkady Gurevich, President of the Russian Union of Flour and Cereal Enterprises, General Director of OJSC Rosmuka:

— We try to participate as much as possible, provide medical insurance, etc. But, in general, everything here depends on the people. Who respects whom and how and whether they respect their employees at all. For the employees themselves, of course, it is important that they are taken care of. As the saying goes, a kind word is nice to a cat. Everyone likes to be taken care of, especially when it comes to health insurance. Everyone knows how disgusting our public health care is. In insurance medicine, everything is, of course, better. But nevertheless, I think there is no need to introduce any government restrictions, there is no need to force anyone. Why should the government plug all the holes? Let it better understand more serious problems, for example, improve medicine. Let them listen to Professor Roshal, he will tell them how to do it. And the company itself will only benefit from insuring its employees. In general, everyone will benefit from people being healthy. Healthy people are cheerful and productive, they bring joy, which means their productivity increases.

Anna Katkova, HR Director at Danfoss:

— Our company supports European standards, and first of all we care about the health of our employees. An expanded VHI program is provided for them, assistance is provided up to 50 km from the Moscow Ring Road in 14 clinics to choose from, planned and emergency hospitalization. A paramedic is present in the office every day, and you can be examined by a doctor weekly. Employees have access to different types of insurance: accident insurance, insurance when traveling abroad, including vacation.

Employees improve their health through sports activities. We have our own football and volleyball teams; anyone can dance with a professional coach. Every winter, a collective trip of employees for skiing is organized.

The company provides free lunches. Days of national cuisines are organized quarterly. The office is equipped with comfortable furniture, including ergonomic office desks with electric drive.

We also consider it important to further develop specialists and improve their professional skills. For this purpose, various training programs have been developed for employees, including personal coaching and business games. In 2013, 86 trainings were organized, 333 employees were trained.

Do you take care of your employees?