Responsible Leadership: PwC Czech Republic published its first annual report on Corporate Responsibility

3 August, 2009 - More than 1000 volunteering hours, almost CZK 1.6 million donated in cash, services and gifts, over 20 community beneficiaries. These are some of the highlights of the first annual Corporate Responsibility (CR) report of PricewaterhouseCoopers in the Czech Republic (PwC) for the financial year 2009.

Last year will be remembered as the time of one of the most serious global financial crises ever. Around 600 employees of PricewaterhouseCoopers in the Czech Republic as well as its business partners and stakeholders will also remember financial year 2009 as a time when PwC consolidated and expanded its social responsibility programme.

“Corporate Responsibility needs to be part of everything we do as a business – from observing ethical principals over the selection of suppliers, considering environmental impact of our activities to dealing fairly with employees,” said Stephen Booth, Country Managing Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers Czech Republic.

“I believe this report demonstrates our commitment to the communities in which we live and work, to the environment we impact, to our employees, and to the marketplace in which we operate and that also is an inspiring reading for anyone who has taken responsibility to heart," Stephen added.

We approach Corporate Responsibility from four perspectives that represent key areas of our impact:

Community

We focused on supporting education & inclusion, especially in relation to abandoned and socially disadvantaged children, the mentally & physically challenged, elderly people, and immigrants. These areas of focus were selected with respect to our corporate values as well as the preferences of our employees.

Through our traditional annual Christmas charity, we contributed CZK 444,000 to four non-profit organisations and their projects: Fond ohrožených dětí (Fund for children in need), Máme otevřeno?, o.s., Asistence, o.s. and META, o.s. We also organised several charity collections.

PwC became a partner of two fundraising events – Prague Club Night to support the Sue Ryder Home and Beneficial Wine Auction organised by the Via Foundation and South Moravian Community Foundation.

As a company based on knowledge and expertise, we make an effort to share these skills with NGOs to help them achieve the capabilities they need to operate efficiently and meet their goals. We supported and/or took part in several educational programmes for NGOs and provide pro bono expert services to several community partners. We also cooperated with Neziskovky.cz, Donors Forum, Via Foundation and Máme otevřeno?, o.s.

Environment

We try to integrate an environmental strategy into our everyday operations, focusing especially on reducing our consumption of paper, plastic, energy and fuel.

In the fall of 2008 and summer 2009, our employees spent one day doing volunteer work across the country. PwC volunteers helped to improve the environment in CHKO Kokořínsko, CHKO Křivoklátsko, CHKO Pálava, CHKO Jeseníky, CHKO Moravský kras and Ostrava ZOO.

We also base our purchasing not only on financial criteria, but also with respect for the environment and society.

Workplace

We hold an annual employee survey, the results of which are used as input for our Human Capital policy. Among the key areas of last year’s results was the need to increase flexibility in the workplace. We addressed this issue by implementing several new flexible working arrangements and by implementing an on-line system of flexible benefits.

Last year we formed a working group that supports diversity in the workplace (ensuring equal opportunities). During the first year, the group designed the diversity strategy and focused on communicating this topic among the employees. We also established a forum of working mothers that supports networking and sharing best practice among working mothers.

Marketplace

Responsibility to the marketplace is not only about the quality of our services and the satisfaction of our clients; it also means playing an active role in the marketplace to cultivate the acceptance of good corporate responsibility as well as ethical and transparent business practices among our important stakeholders.

Our success depends on our ability to uphold an ethical culture. PwC has therefore recorded its values and principles in a Code of Conduct. Moreover, we have strict procedures in place to ensure that we only work for companies whose activities are legal and do not contradict our ethical principles.

As a knowledge supplier, we also have an impact that is not directly linked to serving our clients. We seek to express our opinions and exert influence via different avenues, varying from the media to face-to-face meetings with government policymakers; we contribute to the public debate through various thought leadership reports and analysis and also via active membership in a number of professional and business organisations. 

Czech business and the economy require highly competent and motivated human capital – PwC Business Academy is a new part of our business offers to help develop that capital by providing knowledge, leadership, and training (www.pwc.cz/academy).

END

Notes to Editor:

1. Financial year 2009 covers the period from 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009.
   
   
2. At PricewaterhouseCoopers, we understand Corporate Responsibility as the way we integrate social, environmental, and economic concerns into our values, culture, decision-making, and operations in an accountable and transparent manner and thereby establish better practices within the firm, create wealth, and improve society.
   

3. PricewaterhouseCoopers (www.pwc.com) provides industry-focused assurance, tax and advisory services to build public trust and enhance value for its clients and their stakeholders. More than 155,000 people in 153 countries across our network share their thinking, experience and solutions to develop fresh perspectives and practical advice.
   
   “PricewaterhouseCoopers” refers to the network of member firms of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited, each of which is a separate and independent legal entity.
   
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