Sutainable Development - EOS in Slovenija

Sustainable Development

A green world flourishes with plants as two individuals promote sustainability - one painting a heart, the other standing on a small ladder, symbolizing care and progress.
01

Intro

In a rapidly changing world, challenges present us with new business realities. For companies to align with and embrace sustainability, all stakeholders must be transformed. Thus, EOS focuses on four areas of sustainable practices: responsible debt collection, social responsibility, financial sustainability, and environmental protection. EOS builds its sustainability strategy on the foundations of corporate social responsibility, entrepreneurial engagement, and empowerment of all stakeholders. In addition to environmental protection, our focus lies on financial sustainability, responsible debt collection practices, and striking a balance between our clients' interests and debtors' financial capabilities. Financial literacy is also crucial to EOS, as we aim to reduce the likelihood of individuals falling into debt.

Managing director Janez Klančar
Janez Klančar, Managing Director EOS KSI Slovenia

Changing for the better

EOS is improving the financial situation of clients, business partners and defaulting payers and is striving to change the world in which we work for the better.

4 pillars of sustainable development

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Responsible collection:
“How can we change debt-filled lives for the better?”

EOS stands for respectful and fair treatment of consumers and for solution-driven, sustained debt relief.
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Joint progress:
“How can we change society for the better?”

We take on social responsibility within the EOS Group by promoting empowerment, diversity and inclusion, and in society through our education initiatives.
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Environmental protection:
“How can we change climate for the better?”

EOS supports the Otto Group’s climate protection strategy that pursues the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 °C. Together we work on implementing targeted measures.
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Financial sustainability
“How can we change the debt collection business for the better?”

EOS advocates strong, binding industry standards and responsibility guidelines. We apply strict criteria when we price portfolio purchases and make other investments.

The commitment of our leadership to social responsibility

At EOS KSI, we recognise the importance of social responsibility. Our operations are based on responsible debt collection and adherence to legal and ethical standards encompassing transparency, accountability, and impartiality. We are committed to social responsibility and have embraced the pledge of "Changing finances for the better," striving for a better tomorrow for all. Our sustainability strategy encompasses four pillars of responsible conduct: financial sustainability, responsible debt collection, social responsibility, and environmental conservation. Our goal is to achieve long-term business success and company development while considering the interests of all stakeholders. We commit to continuously seeking a balance between our clients' interests and debtors' financial capabilities. Furthermore, we pledge to ensure fair and respectful treatment of all stakeholders. Our employees are the foundation of our growth and development; therefore, we prioritise and commit to caring for their quality of life. As an employer, we pledge to continue providing fair compensation, lifelong learning opportunities, additional pension plans, and developing employees' skills, abilities, and personal growth. We encourage employees to take the initiative in achieving goals. We also commit to increasing attention to diversity and inclusion, fostering a team environment that includes every employee in discussions and decision-making processes.

The commitment of our leadership to respecting human rights

At EOS KSI, we know that respect for human rights is crucial for successful and socially responsible businesses. As a company, we carefully monitor potential adverse effects on all stakeholders' human rights and prevent or eliminate them. We pay special attention to the rights of our employees and are committed to providing them with a safe and healthy working environment free of discrimination and harassment. We are committed to checking potential risks in the supply chain, taking action in the event of violations, and establishing an anonymous reporting system. We are committed to transparent and honest business and long-term mutual trust with respect for the human rights of all stakeholders. We firmly oppose social risks, such as child or forced labour, and are committed to equal treatment of all employees, regardless of personal circumstances.
02

Certfiticates

Ekvilib cerfificate Socially responsible employer

On April 21, 2022, the Ekvilb Institute's Board of Auditors awarded us the Socially Responsible Employer Accession Certificate - access certificate in integrated social responsibility management, becoming an internationally recognised and established certification in sustainable business.

IRDO certificate Strategist for social responsibility and sustainable development (CSO)

In June 2023, EOS KSI obtained the Certificate Strategist for social responsibility and sustainable development (CSO).

As a company, we know the importance of strategic management in  ​​social responsibility and sustainable development, so we train our employees in this area with the help of independent external institutions. At IRDO - the Institute for the Development of Social Responsibility, EOS KSI trained its employees and thus obtained the certificate of Strategist for Social Responsibility and Sustainable Development.
Certifikat Prejme

Signatories to the Diversity Charter

In EOS KSI d.o.o. by signing the Slovenia Diversity Charter in 2020, we committed ourselves to implement the principles of diversity, equality and inclusion of all members in society. We believe diversity fosters innovation, is a source of progress and development, and leads to a more creative work environment.
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03

Socially responsible projects

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ManoMoneta

To financially empower young people as soon as possible, the ManoMoneta project was launched.

Lack of financial literacy is a global problem leading to poor financial decisions. This often results in overindebtedness.

In the fight against over-indebtedness, the non-profit organisation Finlit, which advocates for better financial literacy in everyday life, has prepared teaching materials for ManoMonet teachers. At EOS KSI, we are the Slovenian contact for Finlit, helping with education and translation of materials.

To prevent financial traps and over-indebtedness, it is necessary to educate children and young people in particular. In doing so, parents and teachers need support.

How can we help?

With ManoMoneta multimedia learning material, children learn about financial issues and how to handle money through practical examples.

With ManoMoneta, you get:

  • Learning ideas for designing lessons for children.
  • Materials in the form of textbooks and workbooks in the Slovenian language.
  • Knowledge cards for understanding critical financial terms.
  • Videos.
  • Manomoneta is available for free.
  • We also provide you with free education and assistance.
A photo shows post-its and paper notes on a board with terms like “Debt”, “Cash”, “Bank” and “ATM”. Underneath, the text reads: “In the ManoMoneta program developed by the EOS finlit foundation, schoolchildren aged 9 to 13 can learn about financial products.“

ManoMoneta is suitable for children old between 9 and 13 years.

Education with the help of ManoMoneta can be completed in up to 2 school hours per year.

We take on this vital project with full responsibility. In April, ManoMoneta was present at six elementary schools and introduced as many as 240 students to the financial topics of budgeting and consumption.

We are happy that young people are interested in financial topics and realise how important it is to acquire financial knowledge at an early age.

Good financial literacy will enable them to understand money and financial decisions in life better and help them make better financial decisions.

At EOS KSI, we know how critical financial literacy is for the future of society, so we are happy that we can contribute to the awareness and education of children with the ManoMoneta project.
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Financial school

Financial literacy is crucial for sustainable finances and long-term financial security, yet it remains relatively modest among young people. Finances play an essential role in our lives, and how we deal with them has a decisive influence on our lifestyle.  No matter how much money or assets we have, we can ensure financial security through consistent management. However, it is essential to start early enough and teach children how to handle money correctly.

The EOS is an international technology-driven receivables management expert.

Due to the nature of our work, we are acutely aware of the impact of poor financial decisions on individuals' lives. Therefore, financial literacy should be a part of general education, alongside reading, writing, and arithmetic.

We are delighted to participate in the Financial School project, as we believe it is essential to empower young people to make responsible and mature financial decisions.

Since we know that with sound financial knowledge, we make financial decisions more accessible and with less risk, we realise our mission - for a world without debts - by participating in the Financial School project of Časnik Finance.
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Make a wish come true

At EOS KSI, we have taken specific measures to establish a more responsible attitude towards the environment and society.

We no longer decided to give New Year's gifts to business partners; even the greeting cards have transitioned to e-format. The gifting of employees is more modest as well, as we aim to allocate the financial resources intended for charitable gifts.

In 2021, we joined the initiative of the Uresniči željo (Make a wish come true) association.

In 2021, we joined the initiative of the Uresniči željo (Make a wish come true) association. We directed the funds designated initially for corporate gifts and employee presents toward fulfilling the desires of individuals under the care of various associations and organ organisations carefully, selected the wishes, and purchased the gifts. With the help of our colleagues, we wrapped them nicely and personally delivered them.

  • In 2021, we brought joy to the beneficiaries of the Paraplegic Society and the Social Work Center Ljubljana.
  • In 2022, we extended gifts to the Marof Unit - Idrija Retirement Home beneficiaries.
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Minutes of sustainability

At EOS Slovenia, we know the importance of environmentally friendly and socially responsible behaviour. As sustainability is a relatively new topic that has quickly gained significance, people have yet to become accustomed to it, and specific terms and actions still need to be introduced to them. Therefore, approximately two years ago, EOS Slovenia decided to take steps towards educating and raising awareness among employees, primarily on environmental and social issues. Since we also have some environmental enthusiasts in the company, who lead by example with their behaviour and lifestyle, we came up with the idea of ​​"Minutes for Sustainability".

"Minutes for Sustainability" are essentially weekly mailings explaining a specific current environmental or social topic to employees in three to five minutes text and image.

For example, we explained:

  • What is a carbon footprint?
  • Why is it essential to reduce emissions?
  • How does polluted air affect our health, and how can we protect ourselves?
  • What is ESG?
  • What is GRI?
  • Who, how and why will have to report sustainably?
  • Why is corporate volunteering important, and how does volunteering positively affect our well-being?
  • ....
Approximately 96 messages with educational content were sent in just over two years.

We have also established a Teams channel called " Minutes for Sustainability ", where employees share their initiatives, questions and best practices. It has proven to be an excellent platform for promoting employee interaction, facilitating the exchange of ideas, and creating mutual support and inspiration for sustainable practices. It is a beautiful initiative.

By implementing the "Minutes for Sustainability" and establishing the Teams channel, we have created an effective way of educating, raising awareness and promoting dialogue between employees regarding environmental and social topics.

Regular weekly mailings, which offer employees a short overview of current sustainability topics, are extremely useful in spreading knowledge and promoting positive company behaviour changes.

With the help of "Minutes for Sustainability", we covered various topics relevant to sustainable development, such as carbon footprint, emissions, air pollution, sustainability reporting, corporate volunteering, etc. This enabled employees to gain insight into the critical aspects of sustainability and how they affect the company and individuals.

The Teams channel, "Minutes for Sustainability," is an excellent platform for encouraging employee interaction. It allows them to connect, exchange ideas, ask questions, and share best practices, fostering mutual support and inspiration for sustainable practices.

Our initiative, "Minutes for Sustainability", is an outstanding example of how a company actively contributes to raising awareness and educating employees about sustainability.

By doing so, we can promote sustainable practices within the company, increase awareness of the importance of environmental and social responsibility, and positively impact both employees and the environment.
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May - Diversity month

At EOS Slovenia, we know how vital inclusion and diversity are for society, for the enrichment of colleagues and as a competitive advantage.

Since a lot is happening in diversity and inclusion in a very short time, we at EOS feel responsible for sensitising our employees to this topic and empowering them.

So this year, we held Diversity Month in May for the third year.

Thus, in May, we prepared several educational activities for our employees on diversity and inclusion.

We want the employees to become familiar with specific topics and concepts with the project.

A central part of this program is the virtual lunches, which have become a regular feature in May. During these gatherings, employees engage in conversations about diversity and inclusion. We organise four half-hour virtual lunches weekly through the Teams platform, inviting external experts in specific fields or individuals with powerful personal stories willing to share their experiences.

It is essential that the presenters are available after the lecture, and we are delighted that our employees are highly engaged.

Here are some examples of the program from previous years:

2021 Program included the following activities:

  • On May 12, 2021, we asked employees to reflect on diversity and send us a photograph that best represents their understanding of this topic.
  • On May 19, 2021, we invited employees to share their perspectives and experiences with diversity in the workplace.
  • Within EOS Slovenia, we also presented the LGBTQ network Queer@EOS, women's network W: visible, and international network Around the Globe.
  • We also prepared articles for publication on the LinkedIn platform and press.
2022 Program included the following activities:

  • May 3, 2022: Natalija Zupan introduced the Month of Diversity.
  • May 10, 2022: Kaja Primorac spoke about gender equality.
  • May 17, 2022: Barbara Zupančič presented the topic of unconscious bias.
  • May 24, 2022: Sergeja Planko discussed generational equality.
  • May 25, 2022: Sergeja Planko trained leaders on intergenerational collaboration.
  • May 31, 2022: Internal workshop on diversity and inclusion.
The 2023 program includes the following activities:

  • May 10, 2023: Barbara Zupančič, Director of the Diversity Charter Slovenia, presented the topic of diversity and inclusion.
  • May 18, 2023: Sonja Merljak Zdovc spoke about inclusive communication.
  • May 30, 2023: Simona Topolinjak, Coordinator for Equal Opportunities at the City Municipality of Ljubljana, will present the topic of diversity related to gender and gender identity.
  • May 29, 2023: Barbara Zupančič, Director of the Diversity Charter Slovenia, will present the topic of diversity as a key to innovation.
Through these educational activities, we aim to create an aware and inclusive culture and promote diversity and innovation within our company, EOS Slovenia.
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April - Good Deeds month

As you may already know, April 14th is Good Deeds Day.

Since 2007, millions of people and thousands of organisations from 110 countries have come together annually to volunteer and #DoGood. This year, we also participated in EOS Slovenia.

EOS Slovenia organised Good Deeds Month for the first time this year to encourage our employees to make a more significant contribution to society.

Believing that the employees at EOS can do even more for their colleagues and society, we decided to dedicate the entire month of April to good deeds.

As part of corporate volunteering, we have already partnered with four organisations where we will volunteer and aid in the field. These organisations include a nursing home, an organisation that works with people experiencing homelessness, a youth organisation, and an organisation that cares for abandoned animals. During the month of good deeds, we collected voluntary contributions for all four organisations and personally handed them to them.

We are delighted to see that all the collection boxes were filled, and we will be able to distribute the items to those in need.

We also encouraged our employees to participate in various actions to do something kind for a colleague on a specific day, such as:

  • Expressing gratitude for their help
  • Praising them on the Teams channel
  • Taking them out for lunch
  • Having coffee together,
  • and more.
We also encouraged them to do something good for their neighbours, friends or just random people on the street.

By doing good for others, we also do good for ourselves, as it helps in personal growth and development. Scientifically, it has been proven that helping others brings immense happiness.

Considering this project's positive impact on our employees and society, we are delighted to repeat it next year, but with slightly different content.
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Charity

In EOS KSI, we have repeatedly proven that we can come together in adversity.
  • We organised a collection of aid for firefighters who extinguished a fire in the Karst region.
  • We gathered food and supplies for abandoned animals and donated them to Slovenian Vets For Stray Pets.
  • We successfully organised a collection of aid for people in Ukraine.
  • Collecting bottle caps is a simple way for every employee to contribute to charity. In addition to being an environmentally friendly approach to waste management, it is also an easy way to contribute to charitable causes.
  • As part of the Socially Responsible Employer certificate, we have implemented corporate volunteering.
  • We regularly participate in blood donation campaigns