Solidarity in action through volunteering

Employee volunteering activities

By the end of 2023, some 300 employees had performed a total of 477 days’ volunteer work. And this year too, a number of teams were once again out and about, ready to lend a helping hand.

Apprentices restore a mountain hiking path

It’s 8 am on a Wednesday morning. Nine CSS apprentices and their two vocational trainers are greeted by a member of the municipal council in the Entlebuch village of Romoos. Their job: getting a hiking path ready for the summer season. Using pickaxes and shovels, they clear the overgrown path, while another team trims the bordering trees and bushes. Manuel Waldisberg, Head of Vocational Training, explains: “Working physically is a valuable experience for most of the apprentices. Participation is voluntary and fosters exchange between apprentices of the different departments.”

A rewarding experience for all involved

After a hearty lunch and under improving weather conditions, the group moves on to renewing the path’s surface. They replace the old, weed-ridden soil with fresh grit, compacting it with a roller. By the end of the day, the team is pleased with their efforts: “This change of scenery has been great for us, and we’ve accomplished something meaningful,” says Manuel. “We’ll definitely be participating in another volunteering assignment soon.”

Cleaning up the neighbourhood

The Portfolio Operations & Enabling team swaps keyboards, mice and headsets for gloves, tongs and rubbish bags. Together with Trash Hero Luzern, ten employees collect litter in the vicinity of their Lucerne office. Despite the unsettled weather, spirits are high: After all, litter can be gathered and sorted in rain gear if necessary.

Several bags of rubbish collected

The effort paid off: By the end of the day, the team has gathered approximately 10.5 kilograms of waste. Among the contents are around 800 cigarette butts, dozens of bottles and cans, and even a hockey puck.

Helping out at the Brändi Foundation

The Brändi Foundation’s products are well-known and appreciated across Switzerland. The Client and Market Communications team spends an afternoon helping out at the foundation’s production site in Sursee, where people with mental health challenges work in a protected environment.

Different steps of the process

The team sorts marbles and bevelled boards for the Brändi Dog board game. Another group is busy putting orders together and packing the games. Under expert guidance from the foundation’s staff, they also help process customer orders. The foundation provides services across 14 different sectors.

Behind the scenes of a long-standing partner

“CSS has been collaborating with the Brändi Foundation for many years. It’s all the more exciting for us to use our voluntary assignments to see behind the scenes of our partner and make an active contribution,” says Caroline Emmenegger, Specialist in Client Communications. “The experience has not only given us new perspectives but also reinforced the importance of solidarity for CSS.”