CEPI was awarded as Welfare Champion by Welfare Index PMI, a selection promoted by Generali Italia of the most virtuous small and medium-sized Italian enterprises, chosen from more than 6,500 participants in the survey. Sandra Ceccarelli, our Legal Representative and CFO, represented us at the event.
Like all of us at CEPI, Sandra deeply believes in the value of giving back, which is at the base of the 5 P’s that outline our corporate ethos. We have always believed that the people we work with should benefit from what we do. Our welfare policies have developed starting from this principle: an investment in listening and care that benefits everyone, and which we will continue to perfect in 2023 and in the years to come.
According to the Welfare Index survey, SMEs with a rich welfare program not only generate a positive impact on people and communities (promoting the employment of young people and women, promoting inclusion and diversity, encouraging training and development), but tend to see increases in productivity and turnover. We are not surprised: our daily reality confirms that when work is treated as a shared project in which employees see themselves (and from which they receive not only a salary but significant protections and benefits) translates into cohesion and identification, as well as making the company credible and create the basis for the trust necessary to overcome the most critical moments.
“COVID has been the biggest challenge CEPI has had to face, and we are convinced that one of the reasons why the system held up is the genuine internal cohesion and trust placed in us,” says Sandra. “We have not reduced any of the investments made in recruitment, training, welfare and sustainability. It has made us much more credible with employees.
In short, in addition to the clear ethical and social sense of important welfare choices, they undoubtedly become a driving force in the work of the large organism we call “company”. Sandra underlines this: “A company that values welfare is much more solid. Only companies with an effective program manage to remain strong on the market even in difficult times.” She confirms that even with respect to these issues “Italy is full of very professionalizing and innovative small and medium companies. All my experience in CEPI shows me that people, especially the younger ones, are not only interested in a salary match, but want to feel part of something bigger.”
“At the Welfare Index event I met a very dynamic and bubbly SME sector,” adds Sandra. “And I am very satisfied with the proof that companies where women are well represented tend to have a very rich welfare component. A sign of high conciliation and job satisfaction.”
In Italy, corporate welfare continues to grow with over 68% of SMEs beyond the basic level. Let’s continue like this together in 2023.
We thank the Welfare Index project and Generali Italia for the survey and this chance for discussion.
For more information about Welfare Index → www.welfareindexpmi.it