Employee welfare
Our aim is for our employees to thrive at work and in their leisure time, so they want to work for us for a long time. Social conditions are an important aspect of the work involving sustainability, so for us it was obvious that the welfare of our employees should form part of our commitment to sustainability.
Living in Svalbard involves a steep learning curve
Svalbard is an isolated archipelago in the High Arctic and our nearest neighbour is the North Pole. For most people, moving here is a big adjustment and some find it challenging to find their place in the local community. We live and work in a small community and initially many may have little or no network outside work. Consequently, the workplace becomes almost like a big family. This means that as an employer, in relation to employers on the Norwegian mainland, we have a unique responsibility for our employees. To put it into perspective: If our employees wish to travel outside the Longyearbyen settlement, they must carry and use a firearm in case they encounter polar bears, snowmobiles are the preferred means of transportation for much of the year and travelling in certain nature here can be risky. Living in Svalbard and having an active leisure time involves a steep learning curve.
The Svalbard Adventures Academy – for increased competence and wellbeing
Svalbard Adventures aims to be a safe and good workplace, and employee welfare in Svalbard is key to retaining knowledgeable and competent employees over time. Consequently, we have established the Svalbard Adventures Academy, a scheme to offer training for new employees in areas such as shooting and safety and provide an insight into everyday life in Svalbard.
The academy will lead to more of our employees being able to better communicate the distinctive character, history and nature of Svalbard to our guests. Equally importantly, it will be an important social provision that will enable new employees to quickly be able to take advantage of the opportunities that Svalbard’s nature and outdoor life offer. This in turn will be able to increase the wellbeing and continuity of the workforce.
In the longer term, we wish to offer/sell the Svalbard Adventures Academy to other companies or organisations in Longyearbyen with the same needs. After all, not all companies in Longyearbyen have enough employees to justify establishing their own academy.
The Svalbard Adventures Academy offers:
Training programme for new employees:
Welcome to Svalbard
When someone has signed an employment contract with Svalbard Adventures, the new employee will receive a video containing all necessary information before they move to Svalbard.
First day of work
On their first day of work, new employees must watch videos that provide necessary information for you as a new employee of Svalbard Adventures.
Buddy scheme for new employees
All new employees will get a buddy. This is designed to ensure that the new employee becomes familiar with the company, makes contacts internally, receives the necessary training and gets sufficient useful information about the work culture, living situation, safety courses and life in Longyearbyen.
Familiarisation tours
It’s important that all employees are familiar with the products we offer. Consequently, all our employees are given the opportunity to take part in the activities we offer guests, eat dinner at our restaurants and stay overnight at our hotels to familiarise themselves with the products. Employees will be given the opportunity to participate in familiarisation tours each year while they are employed here.
Courses:
Polar bear safety and safety course in the use of firearms
- 2 course days
- The course is approved by the Governor of Svalbard.
- You don’t need prior knowledge or your own weapon.
- Participants receive a diploma after completing the course.
Safe travel in the wintertime
- 1 course day
- Introductory course covering navigation, means of communication, first aid, avalanches, safety on glaciers, travelling on sea ice, as well as equipment
- Participants receive a diploma after completing the course.
Avalanche course
- 1 course day
- General training about how to read the weather forecast, read terrain, take a snow profile, use an avalanche probe and avalanche transceiver and safe travel in avalanche terrain
- Participants receive a diploma after completing the course.
Hosting course – Svalbard history
- 1 course day
- Compulsory for all employees
- The course gives you knowledge about the history, products and cultural monuments of Svalbard and Longyearbyen. By being good hosts, we will give our guests a memorable experience based on knowledge and competence.
- Participants receive a diploma after completing the course.
Other benefits:
Discounts
All employees receive staff discounts. These cover all our activities, restaurants and accommodation and apply to the employee and his/her closest family.
Social gatherings
Svalbard Adventures arranges a joint annual social gathering for all employees. In addition, each department arranges social meeting places and activities, either for the department or together with other organisations.
Our work with social sustainability for employee welfare:
Measures we have already implemented:
- We offer all employees access to the Svalbard Adventures Academy.
- We offer all employees familiarisation tours of our activities, accommodation and dining.
- Good staff discounts
- We are working consciously towards achieving a 50/50 male/female ratio among staff.
- Annual social gathering for all employees
Measures we are working on:
- Arrange social meeting places and activities, just for our staff or together with other organisations
- Provide insight and training that all employees (regardless of department) can benefit from, also in their leisure time – including through training and free use of equipment for outdoor recreation
- Implement regular surveys to measure employee satisfaction
- Develop the Svalbard Adventures Academy by adding more courses
- Develop a competence strategy and map wishes and needs for safety training and professional development