Bridgestone Costa Rica respects the work-life balance of each of its employees, which helps them perform better in all daily activities and seeks to ensure the comprehensive well-being of each of its team members. Thus, Bridgestone Costa Rica strives to ensure that its work-life balance initiatives benefit both the employees and their families.
The company offers a range of services, including psychology, nutrition, physiotherapy, and general medical care, and social work services for both its employees and their family members. To ensure the physical their well-being, the company offers them access to a gym, which is managed by the Bridgestone Employee Solidarity Association (ASEFIRE).
Bridgestone Costa Rica earned the Great Place to Work certificate for the 4th year in a row. Being ranked as a Great Place to Work is a reflection of the commitment and trust between the organization and its employees.
a) Open House
This activity was created to open the doors of the workplace to the employees’ relatives to give them a better idea of how the company where they work operates. In 2017, the Belén Plant welcomed 60 families on weekends between August and October and allowed them to see the day-to-day activities, learn about the plant’s manufacturing processes, and especially ensure that they were able to spend time together as a family.
b) Family Bridgestone
Bridgestone Latin America North believes that it is essential to incorporate its employees’ family members into the organization’s culture and spaces. In 2017, it relaunched cultural initiatives that connect families with the workplace through the Family Bridgestone concept. This program is based on four actions: Parents School, Kids at Bridgestone, Health, and Diversity.
This program seeks to strengthen family-work ties to create spaces that promote the employees’ life balance and teamwork, as well as their inclusion and commitment to the organization.
The Parents School program consists of teaching three or four workshops per year, as it seeks to reach more than 2,000 parents in the region. The talks are aimed at employees and their families and their purpose is to provide support and guidance to help parents teach and instill values in their children.
Benefits
Bridgestone Costa Rica seeks to create an atmosphere of stability so that each staff members can make specific plans, have the means required to deal with their needs, and enjoy a good quality of life. This increases the bonds of trust between them and the organization, guaranteeing peace of mind for all and creating a sense of internal cohesion.
The amount that the company allocates to benefits includes contributions to the IVM system for disability, old age, and death, illness and maternity leaves; the National Institute of Learning (INA), the Joint Welfare Institute (IMAS), family allowances, the labor capitalization fund, a compulsory supplementary retirement plan, and Banco Popular.
The staff can also enroll in the Bridgestone Employee Solidarity Association upon joining the company. As an additional benefit, and in order to retain talent, after having worked at the company for five years, they receive an extra week of vacation. For those who have been at the company for 10 years, they are given an extra two weeks of vacation.
Recognitions
Recognizing the talent and efforts made by individuals is essential to reinforcing their ties to the company. Bridgestone Costa Rica understands this as a key factor in motivating its team members and promoting desirable actions and behavior throughout the organization.
Each year, the following awards are given:
• Seniority Recognition (BSCR).
• Bridgestone President Awards (BS-LAN).
• Bridgestone Americas Awards (BSAM).
• Bridgestone Group Awards (BSJ).
Bridgestone Group launches an annual invitation to nominate a project, idea or activity that has produced a positive impact on one of the following categories:
• Achievements.
• Mobility.
• People.
• Environment.
• Management Fundamentals.
This award recognizes the employees that contribute to the business with their initiatives and go the extra mile in their daily work activities as they reflect the Bridgestone Essence.
a) Bridgestone President’s Award
This recognition is given to employees selected for their performance or for making significant contributions to the business; In addition to the recognition itself, it is accompanied an incentive of 300 USD. In 2017 this award was granted to 21 collaborators who completed six projects.
b) Employee Seniority Recognitions
Each year, the company holds a special ceremony to honor team members who have reached a certain level of seniority within the organization. The activity consists in a dinner attended by approximately 100 people, where the recognitions are awarded.
Retirement Program
Bridgestone Costa Rica cares about assisting staff members with a seamless and simple transition when they retire. Therefore, the company maintained the “New Journey” retirement preparation program in 2017. Its main objective is to accompany them throughout this process by guiding them with talks ranging from life projects to family relations, stress, and the importance of financial planning through the corresponding legal retirement procedures. Twelve retirement sessions were offered in 2017.