Press Releases

Budapest, November 16, 2010 15:00

Magyar Telekom won the HR Oscar award in the "Best HR Team of 2010" category. The recognition of the two-hundred strong HR area of the market leader company group with more than 10 thousand employees proves that Magyar Telekom  is a responsible employer committed to providing equal opportunities. The award was received by the company's human resources management director Mihály Ratatics, accompanied by a Telekom trainee, at today's HR Oscar awards gala.

The HR Oscar award was established in 2009 by the Hungarian Association of Personnel Consultants (SZTMSZ) with the aim of turning it into a tradition. The Association which rallies businesses operating successfully in the labor market, desires to present good examples in order to enhance the prestige of the HR profession and share practical skills, well-tested solutions with professionals who work in the area of human resources.

Somorjai Éva, Magyar Telekom's Chief Human Resources Officer said about the HR Oscar award: "We are proud of this recognition, because it proves we are on the right track with our HR team in order to turn Telekom into an accommodating, lovable, liveable and attractive workplace, which our employees are satisfied with and is attractive in the labor market too. Therefore we follow the principle of equal opportunities in our operations and we teach our employees to do so as well. We believe that we walk the talk in this regard for other companies also by proving that only by thinking responsibly can we serve sustainable development."

To maintain discrimination-free and equal opportunities workplace has been an outstanding goal in the company's HR strategy. In addition to following the principle of "equal wage for equal work", the company provides a system of fringe benefits for its employees with a value unique in Hungary. By accepting a Diversity Policy and a Social Charter, Magyar Telekom declared its commitment to respecting the basic social and diversity principles, which have been integrated in both the company's business and internal operations. The company was among the first among competitive market players to launch an equal opportunities project two years ago, with the employee representative organizations as partners.

The company is committed to ensuring equal opportunities both for its staff and in selecting new employees, irrespective of age, gender, ethnic origin, religion and political conviction as well as sexual identity. In the framework of diversity management it endeavors to establish work-family balance.
With its young mothers and family support programs, also unique in Hungary, Magyar Telekom aims to help young parents return to their workplace and reduce the families' burdens in finding placement for their children too. In addition the company promotes atypical employement ie. partial teleworking, part-time employment and flexible working hours.

Magyar Telekom also employs colleagues with disabilities for whom, among others, it ensures 3-day rehabilitation leave, and it indicates in its job advertisements which positions are suitable for disabled persons. The company also endeavors to sensitize its staff through attitude formation programs. The equal opportunity documentary film series "Szabad az Á" ('Trespassing Free') was started 4 years ago, and employees were introduced last summer to the world of blind and vision impaired people through the interactive program "Have you tried it in the dark?" Magyar Telekom selected the program in the framework of the Civil Auction non-profit initiative which Magyar Telekom was the first to join among competitive market players.

Magyar Telekom's efforts as a responsible employer have already been honored several times.
In recognition of its professional, comprehensive and outstandingly active engagement in the area of corporate social responsibility, Magyar Telekom won in March 2010 the Aranyhíd (Golden Bridge) award for the HR team of the year. Following the Family-friendly Workplace award in 2008, the company won Hungary's Best Employer award last year on the basis of feedback provided by its employees, and it also won Central and Eastern Europe's Best Employer award last summer. Magyar Telekom also holds the Healthy Workplace 2009 award of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hungary (AmCham).