Concierge Service

Good Practice

Efficiency, Equality

Facilitate employees’ daily life by bringing a range of services to their workplace.

Strasbourg City Council

France

Local policy

POLICY OBJECTIVE

Improve workers’ well-being by making their daily lives easier and enabling them to better articulate their lives between the personal and professional; promote gender equality by balancing the duties
Improve employer brand and potentially encourage greater employee involvement in work and increased individual efficiency thanks to a reduced mental load
Generate bonds between co-workers

CONTEXT

The service seeks to improve work-life balance to make workers’ daily life easier and lighten the mental burden of daily tasks, which all too often continue to fall to women.

The concierge service addresses societal issues insofar as particular attention will be paid to putting to work companies from the social and solidarity economy.

POLICY DESCRIPTION

The City of Strasbourg, which pledges to promote professional equality by improving employees’ coordination of their professional and personal life, has chosen to cover the operating costs of a social company providing a concierge service. This service aims to make the lives of city employees easier, alleviate often complex daily routines, better balance professional and personal life and find those little “extras” that provide great services.

Employees need only pay the very reasonably-priced cost of the service they request. This service desk serves as an intermediary so that employees can access a range of services at their place of work, at no extra cost. Among the numerous services proposed are:

Personal at-home services: childcare, tutoring, pet-sitting and pet care, cleaning, garden maintenance, etc.
Maintenance and repair: ironing, clothing alterations, dry cleaning, shoe repair, bicycle repair, car maintenance, telephone/computer/tablet repairs, technical inspections, etc.
Circular economy: small appliance and DIY equipment rental, game and book loans/donations, dress sales, charity drives, collection drives (batteries, light bulbs), etc.
Deliveries: parcels (reception/dispatch), produce baskets, etc.
Advice: low-carbon mobility, moving assistance, etc.
Well-being: massage, hairdressing and manicures
Pop-up activities and events: DIY workshops, craft markets and group orders
Mini emergency shop: hygiene, coffee capsules, rain capes, cards and stamps, bread, etc.

KEY ASPECTS

Services backed by responsible social and environmental policy
Public-private partnership
Strong communication Tailored to user needs
Collaboration with local traders committed to virtuous approaches
Process of ongoing evaluation and highly flexible market means adjustments can be made to fit needs as closely as possible
Service providers paid for time spent on service, not number of services provided, with possibility to extend opening hours or add help desks
Users’ committee to send attendance statistics

RESULTS

Policy currently in progress.

The company has identified local service providers from the socially responsible economy sector and local traders and craftsmen who are committed to providing a quality service. 75% to 80% of services are provided by agents in the socially responsible economy sector, integration sector and sheltered work. 20% to 25% are provided by agents in the traditional economy in compliance with quality and sustainable development standards.

Policy's Website

Joana

Levy

Project Manager in charge of the Time Office

joana.levy@strasbourg.eu

Good Practice