At Collette Vacations, being creative in the workplace has been a core value since it was founded 90 years ago. But now – in a sign of the times – Collette is turning “green.”
“For morale boosters, we still have our usual summer picnics and ice skating and holiday parties. But now we have something called the Green Teams,” said Hillary McCurley, director of recruitment.
The Green Teams act as an environmental initiative for employees to help better the workplace in the Pawtucket office. There are six groups an employee can choose from, ranging from sustainability and water efficiency to indoor environmental quality. These Green Teams started in Rhode Island but are spreading to Collette’s other offices.
“I’ve been here eight years, and even though it’s new, I can see changes in people’s outlook,” said McCurley. “People are becoming receptive to the idea of it. They want to join committees.”
What does better air quality or more socially conscious cleaning products have to do with selling, say, a trip to St. Petersburg, Russia?
“Collette expects us to be creative. We’re trying to sell vacation packages and so creativity is mandatory. Having a better work environment makes us creative, because we’re always thinking about new ways to improve, not only a trip for a client but more energy-efficient light bulbs in the lunchroom,” she said.
Wendi Lewis, a business analyst for Collette, thinks that having the company get serious about the environment can only help.
“We’re a big company, and seeing us become aware of things like global warming makes me proud,” Lewis said. “We take an environmental stand. This whole idea of ‘green’ goes way beyond simply recycling soda cans in the break room.”
Besides Lewis’ job as a business analyst, she is a member of the Indoor Environmental Quality Team. This group, made up of about seven people, discusses ways to improve things such as air quality.
“Becoming LeEd Certified is something we are striving to do. The LeEd certification is rigorous. These six teams will help us get there. It begins with air filters and cleaning products, but can move quickly to replacing boilers and heaters in the basement. Some of it we can do now, other [changes] will have to wait.”
Lewis finds benefits beyond the workplace from the environmental awareness.
“Other people are as excited about it as I am. People ask questions about improving not only business life but home life as well,” she said.
Collette looks to be a responsible citizen outside the office as well. The company has a program for employees in which it will pay workers up to four hours per month for volunteer time. That could be for a food bank or the Boys & Girls Club – any nonprofit that may need help.
“On Fridays – Collette’s dress-down day – if I give a dollar to a charity group, then Collette will match that dollar,” said Hillary McCurley. “It’s just another way of making this a better place to work.” •
