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4 of Singapore's most caring companies

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes are nothing new, but big local companies are increasingly providing new offerings to customers and stakeholders.

Last week, the Singapore Kindness Movement, in partnership with MDIS, held the Kindness@Work C-level Conversation, where Manoj Sharma, founder and chief facilitator of the Singapore Service Academy, said: “A kind and healthy workplace is an important aspect of employee well-being. A humanised workplace can elevate profitability, performance, and fulfilment levels in an organisation.

“Employees will feel happier at work and are more likely to be engaged and retained.”

Here are four local companies we believe have done well in that aspect.

1. StarHub

Last August, StarHub offered a skills training programme at the Society for the Physically Disabled’s Infocomm Accessibility Centre (IAC), which was aimed at enabling those with disabilities to “find open, more gainful employment in administrative positions”.

The IAC Certificate in Office Skills (ICOS) was a six-month programme which offers modules in information and communications technology, personal effectiveness, work preparation, and soft skills such as managing workplace conflicts.

Just last week, 90 StarHub volunteers also planted 100 trees on Pulau Ubin, as part of the company’s CSR efforts.

“Planting trees is an excellent way to raise environmental awareness amongst our staff in an engaging and interactive way,” Caitlin Fua, assistant VP of corporate communications, said in press release.

2. McDonald’s

Seven McDonald’s outlets in Singapore will soon be staffed with students from the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS).

The collaboration between McDonald’s and MINDS will see 24 students participating in a two-to-four week work attachment programme, where the students will take on duties including packing condiments and utensils, cleaning the serving trays and greeting customers.

“We need work attachment opportunities to help our students acquaint themselves to the realities of open employment. In such an environment, they are given access and insight into handling employer and customer expectations; something they cannot obtain within a classroom setting,” Robin Chua, VP of MINDS, said at the launch of the event.

3. Kentucky Fried Chicken

KFC has two outlets in Singapore operated by hearing-impaired staff. Between 2003 and 2005, the three outlets were opened at Toa Payoh, Fuchun Community Club and Jurong West, and the company’s efforts have been recognised with several awards, including the Enabling Employers Awards in 2011 and 2012.

“Being inclusive helps the able-bodied staff to learn about differences and appreciate the similarities that we have with the deaf,” Michael Gian, chief executive office of KFC, told Human Resources back in 2011.

4. City Developments Limited

CDL provides all its employees with environmental, health and safety (EHS) training and awareness programmes, so as to cultivate a “Green & Safe” corporate culture.

According to the company’s 2013 Corporate Sustainability Report, CDL also boasts an EHS Management System, which is integrated into the company’s business operations.

“It provides a systematic process to manage CDL’s operational impact on the environment and to continuously improve our environmental performance,” the report said.

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