CSR atComTeam
In the 80ies, when pressure was rising on the economy to operate more ecological, more and more companies discovered the advantage to deliberately take on responsibility. Since then, activities connected to CSR are considered a distinctive feature to put a company in advantage of competitors.
At ComTeam the idea of CSR was already part of the foundation. Inspired by some of the ideas of the 1968 movement, a lot of things were questioned, evaluated according to new criteria and put into practice.
CSR and what it means today is part of the thinking and acting of ComTeam. So it is not about perfect ratings or the increase of the shareholder values at all costs. In our understanding it is important to live according to values and to convey an attitude or a spirit that has importance for us and that shows our view in dealing with people and the environment.
Values, ideals, and goals of ComTeam
One of many motives for the formation of ComTeam was to bring work and family life more together. The goal for Heide and Walter Straub was to follow their professional ambitions and at the same time live a family life with children. To put this idea into practice - rather unconventional at that time - they established ComTeam.
Another part of the initial idea was - and still is – a freedom in organizing the work schedule. The basic principle here is that people working for a company do this because they like to work there and like to take responsibility for what they are doing. And actually this even brings much more motivation. So at ComTeam it is up to each of the consultants, when and how they handle their tasks. This is part of CSR lived successfully at ComTeam still today. And it means for example that parents have more freedom to conciliate work- and family life.
Social engagement
Social engagement was part of our self-concept right from the beginning. Already in the early years of the company, ComTeam supported public utility institutions or politically engaged groups by charging only a reduced price for our work. This tradition is now part of our 35 years of history. And it is a way we live social responsibility.
This implies also another facet: Some of our ComTeam consultants and some of our cooperation partners volunteer their time in social activities such as a Food Bank, a Children’s House and an institution in Austria which supports unemployed people in helping them to come back into a successful work-life.
Trainee program
To provide an insight into our work and the possibility to learn with us is also still a tradition. In such a year, the trainee’s learning and practice are in the foreground without having to commit oneself fully to the company. This is a classical win-win situation.
As a trainee one has the chance to experience live what is going on, on and also behind the stage, learn the techniques to work with groups and get an idea of the philosophy, the thinking, the values and attitudes of the way we work with people. And this is actually also our gain, because some of it will influence the acting of this competent person in their future professional career.
Energy and ecology
Last but not least: we invested a lot in 2008 in our houses, the guest rooms, the seminar rooms and the office. And besides the aspect of “facelift”, the focus was on efficient usage of energy.
The renovation of our guest rooms was consequently realized according to ecological criteria and this meant the focus was as well on choosing ecological material for the renovation and on having the comfort of our guests in mind.
„We should live and organize our economy in a way that we don’t saw off the branch we are sitting on.“
