We have channels of both internal and external communication that generate the involvement and promote trust and long-term relationships with our stakeholders. Considering this, top management of the businesses of Grupo Carso define the annual strategic plans for social responsibility. The results of plans and programs for continuous improvement are designed, implemented and reviewed by the Central Management Committee of Work, jointly with the Corporate Human Resources area and the department of Social Responsibility. There is also the Corporate Integrity Program that has a model of management based on the Code of Ethics, approved by the Board of Directors and contains the principles of action. This management model is led by the Internal Audit area and monitored by the Ethics Committee.
During 2015, Social Responsibility actions in Condumex and Carso Infraestructura y Construcción were focused on aspects such as:
Human Capital Management
Technical training
Balance between work and family
Care of the environment
Relations with the community
Social performance
We work through the Carlos Slim Foundation. With a high sense of social responsibility, efficiency and timeliness, it develops programs in the fields of education, employment, health, nutrition, social justice, culture, and human development. It also encompasses natural disasters, economic development, protection and conservation of the environment, thus improving the quality of life of people of all ages, promoting the formation of human capital and creating opportunities that foster the integral development of individuals and their communities.
In addition to the activities of the Carlos Slim Foundation, there were investments in education, health, and infrastructure and community development through the following initiatives:
Corporate volunteerism in Condumex workplaces,
Carso Center for Historical Studies of Mexico (CEHM),
Carso training centers for the general public,
Carso Center for Research and Development (CIDEC),
Academic bonding for projects of technological innovation by Condumex and Carso Infraestructura y Construcción,
Participation in annual campaigns of prevention and control of medical conditions in collaboration with the Carlos Slim Institute of Health,
Rescue program of Sanborns buildings,
Program of hiring people with disabilities in Sanborns and Sears through the Mexican Confederation of Organizations in favor of the Person with Disabilities (CONFE), the Center of Multiple Attention (CAM), Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) and the National System for Integral Family Development (DIF),
Implementation of the Certificate of Quality and Social Responsibility (CRESE) at Sears, a set of processes that keep track of all the programs that are intended to improve the quality of life of staff and their families with a humanistic vision,
CFree courses on the platform “Training for Job” of the Carlos Slim Foundation, with access to the job including recruitment processes at Sears,
Sports and family events, workshops and courses of self-improvement through the Social Welfare program.
The primary commitment of the Social Welfare program is to continuously provide activities of human development that impact on the lives of employees and their families, covering three key aspects:
Health
Training
Culture and recreation.
During 2015, 21,751 employees of Sears, Condumex and Carso Infraestructura y Construcción as well as their families, benefited from some of the activities carried out. Another initiative implemented during the year was “Your Reading Corner”, a space adapted with a collection of books for reference and loan at home, with the purpose of promoting reading among employees of Sears and Sanborns located at Plaza Carso.
Carso training centers carry out a work of free training to the public in general, in basic and advanced courses in residential low voltage electrical installations. During 2015, 72 courses were conducted in three locations, with 1,850 graduates.
Environmental performance
The Carso Environment report is published annually and includes Carso Environmental policy, general indicators by industry and/or company projects and measurable results in volume and in economic terms on issues such as:
Energy savings
Water saving
Management of urban, hazardous waste and special handling
Reduction of carbon dioxide emissions
Care of trees and flora
Optimization of routes for fuel-saving
Last March, Sears participated for the second time in Ecofest, an event to promote sustainable culture in Mexico, attended by more than 150 thousand participants. Sears and Grupo Sanborns promoted the distinctive “Green Point” under six categories of Green technologies: Lighting, air conditioning, water saving, water heating, energy efficiency, and water purification. These products and sustainable services are offered in partnership with other companies and available to suppliers, customers and the public to encourage saving, reduce power consumption and help improve the environment.
Grupo Carso is the source of employment for more than 73 thousand people in Mexico, Latin American and some European countries. In comparison with the previous year, 1,140 new jobs were created in 2015. Members of the group have wages paid in accordance with the laws, market, performance, and the level of responsibility within the work area to which they belong. In addition, fringe benefits are provided to the compensation in accordance with the business sector and location. Some of the fringe benefits carried out in the three divisions of Grupo Carso include:
Digital Scholarship
Scholarships for children of employees and immediate family members
Annual programs of preventive health
HFlexi time for mothers and fathers, financial support for funeral expenses and work absence with pay
Self-management program on safety and health at work in Grupo Condumex
PProfessionals under Training Program in Carso Infraestructura y Construcción, and Condumex (PRODES)
Prevention campaigns on health with the collaboration of the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) and the Ministry of Health (SSA)
Personal development program through the Association for the Growth of Mexico (ASUME)
2 centers and 89 classrooms for training (Sears employees)
Training programs
During 2015, Grupo Condumex and Carso Infraestructura y Construcción carried out 8,034 technical training courses and education, skills and safety for 128 thousand participants. Through operations in the Cable sector, we began to work on the certification as a “Safe Enterprise” and focus on keeping the standards processes certified by OHSAS 18001:2007 in the Gas pipelines and Infrastructure Sector, as well as some accreditations such as the HSE RigPass program for the drilling industry, API Spec Q1 and ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code in the Sector of Equipment and Structures.
In Grupo Sanborns, 1,374 training courses were offered to employees of Sanborns, Saks Fifth Avenue and Dax stores, while in Sears, an average of 19.29 courses per employee took place, highlighting sales techniques and customer service knowledge of products and the ASUME program. Eight seminars for middle management and 69 regional showrooms were carried out. The diploma in leadership opened in three locations with four new groups by 2015, which was attended by 86 supervisors, store managers and sales support areas. Business Strategy Game Simulator, which was attended by 50 participants, included the participation of top-level and deputy managers. They started and concluded six new groups of the Managerial training school at six different locations, which included 142 employees of sales with growth potential. Coaching was provided to nine store managers.
During 2015, 19 courses of the “Training for job” platform were integrated in order to strengthen the skills and knowledge of employees. Some courses are mandatory under the talent attraction and hiring at Sears stores.
