Case study: Almaza Cool@Work programme
“Corporate Social Responsibility is a major priority for Heineken as a global multinational, and is therefore a priority for us in the region.”
Raya Anid Head of Human Resources, Brasserie Almaza, Lebanon
Cool@Work –
responsible consumption of alcohol in Lebanon
Raya Anid, Head of Human Resources at Brasserie Almaza in Lebanon, explains her rationale for supporting and implementing the Cool@Work programme at Heineken’s Lebanese operating company. “Our staff are proud to promote the message of responsible alcohol consumption, and for us it is important to lead by example.”
First launched in 2006, the Heineken Cool@Work programme forms part of the company’s Alcohol Policy and is intended for managers worldwide to help them deal with staff who can potentially experience drinking problems. Central to the campaign is the Cool@Work booklet, which offers specific advice and support for managers in the regions.
“For our local implementation of Cool@Work, we distributed the booklet in both English and Arabic,” says Anid. “We put up posters around the brewery and its offices, which are still hanging on our walls today. We also conducted in-depth workshops for all line managers, and had a qualified medical practitioner come in and speak to staff about the risks of alcohol abuse.”
Nearly two years after the programme was first launched in Lebanon, Almaza is getting ready to conduct a ‘refresher course’. At the same time, all new employees recruited at the brewery are required to take part in a Cool@Work orientation programme.