GRUNDTVIG COFE 2010-1-ES1-GRU06-20750 Conciliation for Equality in the XXI century Portuguese case - Good practices Greece, 2012

Good practices in Portugal

Espao t Association for Support for social and community Integration

Company Name: Espao t Association for Support for social and community Integration Industry: Cultural and Recreational Association - Integration of people with problems through art Date of foundation: 1994 Legal status: Non-profit association Entity size: Small

www.castiis.pt

Good practices in Portugal

Espao t Association for Support for social and community Integration

www.castiis.pt

Good practices in Portugal

Espao t Association for Support for social and community Integration
Brief presentation of the interviewee: Partner: CASTIIS Country: PORTUGAL Name of the company: Espao t Associao para o Apoio Integrao Social e Comunitria Contact name: Jorge Oliveira Website: www.espacot.pt Ownership Private X Public

Sector Others: Non Profit Organization

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Good practices in Portugal Espao t Association for Support for social and community Integration 1. What is your business project? Espao t started in 1994 as an institution to support primarily underprivileged and marginalized social minorities but that could also be visited by normal people with other integration problems. Thats why it is called T, from todos which means All in English. In this space, Art takes the main role in the social integration process of the people that we recognize as bio-psico-social individuals and not just mental or physical challenged people. In this institution I am a cultural producer, producing sociocultural events (exhibits, theatre and dance festivals, meetings, publication of books and magazines, etc) that promote de work developed by our members and/or showcase Espao t philosophy to society.

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Good practices in Portugal Espao t Association for Support for social and community Integration

2. Why did you choose this activity? For two main reasons: because I like healthcare and being useful to people (I almost went to nursing school and I started my graduate studies in social education) and because here I get to work with Art which is by big passion.

3. What aspect of conciliation between work and family life would you highlight of your company? Espao t promotes, from some years now, a policy of conciliation between work and family life that has been recognized by winning several equality and quality awards.

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Good practices in Portugal Espao t Association for Support for social and community Integration 4. Do you consider that such measures promote your business?

Absolutely. This policy adopted by Espao t is positive for employees, for the institution and the society in general. The public recognition is also important and that why we were awarded first prizes and honorable mentions in the Equality and Quality Award promoted by the Portuguese government through the Commission for Equality and Employment in Business.

5. How is the public health of your company? Public health in this institution is always taken in consideration. We provide annual check-ups to all the employees, we promote vaccination campaigns and we create health, hygiene and safety conditions crucial for the well-being and health of all employees and members.

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Good practices in Portugal Espao t Association for Support for social and community Integration

6. How does your company solve the measures of conciliation?

There are a lot of measures implemented in this area: Espao t defined as normal working hours for our employees to be of 7 hours a day, 35 hours a week, being therefor below the maximum limits defined by C.C.T. All works have the right and obligation to observe work breaks, without time limit (within good practices and trust limits) to be taken in the middle on morning and/or afternoon. Espao t also allows is employees to work part time, no break/continuous work, and outwork.

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Good practices in Portugal Espao t Association for Support for social and community Integration

6. How does your company solve the measures of conciliation? (cont.)

We also promote the possibility to attend external training, meetings and other activities, during working hours, as long as the good functioning of the institution is not affected by the long absences. We also allow parents to keep their children with them, during working hours, if justified by unexpected family issues and we also encourage other family members to visits the institution. We promote events within the institution that are open to all workers that reward motivation and commitment like My Christmas tree is better than yours competition. The prizes and not in money but in perks (like one extra vacation day in case your department wins) which helps to create a personal relation.

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Good practices in Portugal Espao t Association for Support for social and community Integration 7. Could you tell me if you thought about implementing some measures of conciliation in the future? Espao t intends to continue their policy of conciliation between family and work and, in case it is necessary, both the Equality Advisor and the Equality and Quality Commission, will make suggestions on how to improve this policies.

8. Could you indicate the improvements involving its measures in the business project? The improvements in the institution directly related with this measure are plenty: higher and better engagement of the employees resulting in increased productivity; social harmony; improvement of quality of life, namely in health, which also is reflected in the productivity. We can also say that we see an higher responsibility in people because they feel privileged and therefore try to perform even better.
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Good practices in Portugal Espao t Association for Support for social and community Integration

9. Do you think it is appropriate to promote these measures among the companies in your country? Yes. Espao t already promotes with other companies, trough funded projects, the implementation of this measures and also talks about them in lectures, meetings and seminars where we participate.

Why? Because it is up to all of us to contribute for the improvement of workers life. We think it is a sine qua non condition for the development of a fairer and more cohesive society.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COLLABORATION

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Alberto Malta Madalena Malta Isa Lopes Joana Neiva

madalenamalta@castiis.pt cat@castiis.pt

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