A caring workplace that nurtures a culture of giving

That smiley face emoji wearing a pair of sunglasses is a code used by employees at Royal Plaza on Scotts to draw a clear line between work and personal life.

It is part of a policy introduced recently by the hotel to make it easier for employees to inform their team that they are logging off for the day. Ranked one of the top 10 best companies to work for in Singapore for many years, the hotel has implemented measures such as no meetings on Fridays, no work-related communication after hours, as well as best practices for hybrid workplaces to prioritise employees' well-being.

Mr Patrick Fiat, General Manager of Royal Plaza on Scotts, says: "To be a company that truly cares about people, we need to start from within. An empathetic employer that prioritises employee welfare creates a compassionate company culture that encourages other acts of caring, such as giving back to society."

As a testament to this principle, both management and employees at Royal Plaza on Scotts have been actively involved in Community Chest's SHARE programme for 20 years. The programme, which encourages donors to dedicate a monthly sum to the charity fund, was set up in 1984 to help ensure that social service agencies supported by Community Chest receive a regular stream of donations to serve communities in need.

Today, more than 90 per cent of its workforce contributes a yearly average of $46,595, which is matched dollar-for-dollar by the hotel. The total amount that the hotel has raised for Community Chest since 2002, now stands at more than $900,000.

Mr Fiat himself often takes the lead in the hotel's corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. For instance, he promotes the SHARE programme among his networks, employees, industry partners, family and friends, and dresses up as Santa Claus during Christmas during a visit to MINDSville@Napiri.

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He says: "If we share the same values as an organisation, then all of our employees will feel involved, and that they are making a difference.

"It is also a great opportunity for us to create a culture that is supportive and giving as everyone is willing to lend a helping hand. It means so much to me that we're able to step up and support communities-in-need, and show them that they are not left behind, especially during this time."

Compassion at the heart of hotel operations

Royal Plaza on Scotts, which has partnered with Community Chest since 2002, also supports its other initiatives by participating in the annual Community Chest Heartstrings Walk, holding internal fund-raising events, and volunteering with social service agencies such as Lions Befrienders Service Association.

Mr Fiat shares that such efforts have been a great way for employees to bond with their loved ones and educate their children on the value of giving. The hotel has also received positive feedback from employees about the SHARE programme.

"Some have expressed that their loved ones are keen to learn more and have spurred them on to continue with their monthly donations. It made me realise the value of giving and the importance of sharing that value with the younger generations," he says.

Employees are also given opportunities to step into the shoes of the less fortunate. At one event organised by the Community Chest, they took part in activities that simulated the inconvenience persons with limited mobility have to grapple with on a daily basis. They also participated in a Dining in the Dark activity organised by the Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped.

"Through these exercises, our employees learn how they are helping the community and hopefully, this encourages them to increase their monthly contributions if they are able to do so," says Mr Fiat.

The power of sustained, collective giving

Every year, Community Chest needs to raise over $50 million to fund more than 100 social service agencies and 200 critical programmes. These programmes support over 41,000 service users, including children with special needs and youth-at-risk, adults with disabilities, persons with mental health conditions as well as families and seniors in need of assistance.

By collectively pledging a regular, even if small amount, companies and employees will enable these agencies to focus on delivering quality services to the communities that they serve.

According to Community Chest, just $15 can provide one week of befriending services for a senior to be meaningfully engaged, while $35 can provide one day of job training in a sheltered workshop for an adult with disabilities.

Currently, more than 2,000 companies and over 250,000 individuals are participating in the SHARE programme. 100 per cent of donations go directly to social service agencies and programmes supported by Community Chest.

To further amplify the impact of the donations, the Government provides dollar-matching for new donations that have exceeded contributions from the previous year through the SHARE-As-One (SAO) initiative, which was launched in 2016.

Furthermore, SAO allows companies to claim a portion of the SAO matching grant for their own CSR programmes. Through these funds, Royal Plaza on Scotts has been able to organise annual visits to Tai Pei Home during Lunar New Year and Pertapis Senior Citizens Fellowship Home during Hari Raya. The hotel was also able to prepare breakfast meals for migrant and domestic workers supported by the Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (HOME) during Ramadan.

Mr Fiat says that being part of the SHARE programme has contributed towards creating a strong culture of giving and caring among its employees. These values unite an organisation as one, boost engagement levels, maintain good teamwork and motivate everyone to give their best at work.

"I believe it is important to show love, support and compassion for those in need, especially in difficult times like now. We have so much to be grateful for - a job, our health and a roof over our heads. It warms my heart to know that our efforts have brought a positive impact to these communities in need," he says.

Companies interested in the SHARE programme can click here to find out more.