Leave Bank: innovative solidarity

Solidarity, sense of responsibility and spirit of belonging: many and varied reasons have already encouraged over 11,800 people in our Group to donate their leave days to colleagues who cannot work remotely due to the nature of their job. 

This hugely successful initiative has seen the number of participants increase each day, achieving the target donation of 21,800 days well ahead of schedule.

The innovative project was set up thanks to an agreement signed with the trade union organisations at the beginning of April and can also represent a reference model for other companies, not only those in the energy sector. Thanks to the Leave Bank, in fact, numerous Enel employees have donated one or more days of their own leave to those colleagues who are unable to do their jobs remotely and who have therefore had to reduce their activities as a result of the Covid-19 emergency.

This initiative, which enables employees to express their solidarity towards their colleagues, is open to all employees – office workers, managers, executives and operatives – and will help to cover the paid leave that will have to to be made up for, after the crisis.

“We have set a precedent with this agreement: we are an example to many other companies who are following in our footsteps,” declared Lea Tarchioni, Head of People & Organisation Italy. Indeed, the agreement uses extraordinary and innovative contractual measures to make the current organisation sustainable during the healthcare emergency, and thus may break new ground in the energy sector and beyond. Allowing flexibility in making up for missed time proved a useful tool, as did engaging both people and the company itself in this act of solidarity: Enel donated one day for each employee in Italy.

A company is first and foremost made up of its people: the Covid-19 emergency has been an opportunity to remember that. 

Watch the double interviews with our stories about solidarity at work