Datalab and social responsibility
Datalab acutely respects the basic principles of social responsibility:
- Fair and equal treatment of employees
- Conducting business ethically and honestly
- Respect of fundamental human rights
- Responsible treatment of the environment
- Fair conduct towards the local community and wider society
Employees, users, and partners
Our employees are our key assets.
Datalab is trying to create a friendly work environment for its employees and to reduce stress, which is often unavoidable in the IT sector. A 40-hour work week is usually the exception in this industry, but not for Datalab. We don’t want to overwhelm our employees with an excessive workload or overtime, because they directly affect the quality of the work done. We know that only a rested mind can be creative. We encourage our employees to think for themselves and accept responsibility as well as to actively participate in the management of the company.
We believe in sharing our profits and in internal ownership. We in Datalab ensure that personnel on all levels of the company is highly trained. Our employees are motivated and devoted, knowledgeable, proactive, creative, and professional. We provide additional training to ensure that everyone not only has access to the newest technologies, but the knowledge to wield it, too.
We believe in open communication and knowledge sharing.
We’ve learned that spreading knowledge is much more beneficial than hiding and limiting it. Our data structures are public and accessing them is free. We have a similar attitude towards our users and partners. We own our mistakes and make sure to take immediate steps to remedy them. Hiding them does not make sense, because we know that developing software without bugs is impossible. We expect the same from everyone we work with, because it’s the only way to reduce project costs and achieving set goals. We believe that good cooperation is the key to survival and success, seeing how individual companies aren’t guaranteed success in today’s climate. That’s why we build close relationships with our partners and customers.
Social relations (sponsorships, donations, corporate volunteering)
Datalab Sponsorship and donations
How to get a donation?
Some of our past donations:
- In December 2019, we financially supported the non-profit media outlet focusing on investigative reporting Pod črto (‘The Bottom Line’).
- In November 2019, we financially supported the European Center for Peace and Development. The recipient has pledged to use the financial and material funds to publish a publication on World Food Day 2019 – Food, Diet, Health: A Healthy Diet for a World without Starvation.
- We supported the project ‘Ulla’s Fairytale World’, which focuses on the importance of respect and consistent care for animals, especially pets that, for some reason or another, are handicapped. It is also trying to stress the importance of how parents and other important adults in a child’s life should be positive role models in terms of behavior towards animals. Ulla the dog, whose disability didn’t affect her passion for life, indirectly teaches children about overcoming their own psycho-physical obstacles, having a positive outlook on the world, and tolerance towards diversity.
- In the fall of 2019, we financially supported Ulla’s visits to kindergartens, libraries, and hospitals to assist children facing various health-related issues.
- In 2019, we supported the First Lego League Slovenia project. FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL) is an international interdisciplinary research program, motivating young people to research, learn, experiment, and cooperate with one another. Using robotics and the legendary Lego building blocks, they are acquainted with technology and science in a fun and effective way. Through play and socializing, they develop a more logical and technical way of thinking. It also promotes the use of technology for practical and humane applications. A special emphasis is put on creativity (out-of-the-box thinking), originality, and team work.
- In September 2019, we financially supported the pan-Slovene campaign ‘For Kris’ organized by the Palčica Pomagalčica organization in Koper. The funds will be used to purchase a revolutionary drug that would help the 19-month-old Kris who suffers from spinal muscular atrophy, a rare genetic disorder.
- In June 2019, we supported the Ljubljana Sailing Club in executing a sailing course and camp in Piran. The summer camp gave 66 children aged 6 to 15 the opportunity to spend time sailing, enjoy the sea, sun, win, emotions, lunches, and last but not least a daily ice cream cone.
- In January 2019, we gave further financial support to the promising racing driver, Mark Škulj, mmember of the AMD Šlander club and the AMZS club, competing in the kart racing category Senior over 14 years.
- In November 2018, we further helped Liljana Škantar, who suffers from tetraplegia, to make her living conditions more accessible and to improve the working conditions of everyone assisting in her care.
- In October 2018, we financially supported the Marinko Galić football school, which used the funds to purchase new uniforms.
- In June 2018, we helped the Malči Melič Youth Care Center send their wards on a care-free sailing vacation along the Slovenian coast.
- In May 2018, we financially supported the Deaf-Blind Association of Slovenia, DLAN. They used the funds to support their operation and to improve programs aimed at ensuring the social security of people with deaf-blindness.
- In May 2018, we participated in the ‘Water forever’ event, organized by the Kayaking association of Slovenia and the Kayak/Canoe club Ljubljana. The funds were used for the House of the Sun association, which partly finances the programs for CUDV Dornava.
- In October 2017, we again helped Liljana Škantar, who suffers from tetraplegia, to make her living conditions more accessible and to improve the working conditions of everyone assisting in her care.
- In June 2017, we financially supported a promising young racing driver, Mark Škulj, who competes in the Junior karting league for 12-14 year olds. He is the current national youth champion and member of the clubs AMD Moste and AMZS. Mark will use the donation to cover his racing expenses. This year, he will begin competing at the youth world championship spanning Belgium, France, and Finland.
- In 2017, we financially supported the First Lego League Slovenia which is an international interdisciplinary research program, motivating young people to research, learn, experiment, and cooperate with one another. Using robotics and the legendary Lego building blocks, they are acquainted with technology and science in a fun and effective way. Through play and socializing, they develop a more logical and technical way of thinking. It also promotes the use of technology for practical and humane applications. A special emphasis is put on creativity (out-of-the-box thinking), originality, and team work.
- In 2016, Datalab made a EUR 7,500 donation to the Malči Melič Youth Care Center to support summer vacations for children who live in the Center and have not had a safe and nurturing environment growing up. This made it possible for them to enjoy a summer vacation at the seaside or in the mountains in July and August as part of the ‘Embrace the sea and mountains’ project.
- In May 2016, Datalab financially supported Liljana Škantar, who suffers from tetraplegia, to make her living conditions more accessible and to improve the working conditions of everyone assisting in her care.
- In June 2016, we helped Mr. Boris Hebar to purchase a new, lighter and more mobile wheelchair.
- In 2015, Datalab made a donation in the amount of 7,400 EUR to the Malči Melič Youth Care Center for a summer vacation for children who live in the Center and have not had a safe and nurturing environment growing up. Our employees were happy to donate part of that amount voluntarily. This donation made it possible for them to enjoy a summer vacation at the seaside or in the mountains during the holidays.
- In April 2014, we donated computers, servers, computer cases and hard drives to the Slovenian Sustainability Society Duh Časa as part of a humanitarian project.
- In March 2014, we helped Mr. Boris Hebar purchase a basketball wheelchair, so that he can successfully continue his favorite sport, which provides a lot of inspiration in his life.
- 2014 saw us supporting the student event University Programming Marathon again, where teams compete against each other, solving programming problems. The winning team also gets to compete the Central Europe Reginal Contest ACM ICPC.
- In December 2013, Datalab was among a number of other companies that supported the 21. Managerial Concert in the Gallus Hall of the Culture and Congress Center Cankarjev dom.
- In October 2013, the 15. Congress of Accounting Service Providers took place in the Wellness Park Laško Congress Center, where Datalab was a Platinum Sponsor of the event.
- In May 2013, we enabled visitors to see the project/exhibition GOTO 1982 – Development of the Slovene Computer Culture free of charge and to participate in the associated program. Because the exhibition proved to be a huge success, it moved to the Technical Museum of Slovenia in Bistra, where it was on display from the end of June 2013.
- At the end of May 2013, Banja Luka hosted the Mini Accounting Olympiad 2013, where Datalab was the general sponsor.
- In June 2012, Datalab tehnologije, together with its business partners and many PANTHEON users, collected 7,677 EUR in three months during the fundraising event called “Embrace of the Ocean”, which helped send all sixty wards of the Malči Melič Youth Care Center to the seaside for an unforgettable vacation.
- In April 2012, we supported an expedition of young mountaineers from the association FreeApproved. They spent a month in Alaska to ascend unclimbed and unnamed peaks, climb new routes, conduct first measurements of a glacier and to film a documentary called Aurora Polaris, which was subsequently shown in the Culture and Congress Center Cankarjev dom in November 2012.
- In November 2011, we donated two computers to the kindergarten Tržič’s unit in Križe, so that the children there can get to know computer basics.
- In May 2011, we donated funds to the Diving Association M3 Novo mesto, who organized the cleanup of the river Krka “EKO – SUB Krka 2011”, in order to support efforts to preserve the environment, which is one of our missions.
- February 2010 saw us supporting the Primary School Helena Puhar in Kranj by donating ten computers with LCD screens and all other necessary equipment to support the children’s learning process.
- In the summer of 2009, we donated a personal computer to the Work and Care Center Tonka Hočevar. The Center, which primarily cares for people with special needs, couldn’t afford a computer due to difficult financial circumstances. We sincerely hope that – with the help of our donation – they’ll be able to continue their noble work unimpeded.
- We were a bronze-level sponsor for the field trip to the USA organized by the Association of Students of Informatics.
- In the fiscal year 2008, Datalab donated fifteen Neovo F-419 computer screens to the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University in Maribor.
- Division of Paediatrics of the University Medical Centre Ljubljana
- Ljubljana Zoo
- Slovenian Breast Cancer Association Europa Donna
- Center for the Visually Impaired and Blind
- Students of the Faculty of Computer and Information Science – Field trip to the USA in 2006
- PATENTI.SI – Supporting the fight against EU directives on software patents
- Institute of Oncology in Ljubljana
- Slovenian Association KLJUČ – Center against Human Trafficking
- Sports Association Kojoti in Ljubljana
Organizations and Working Bodies
More
Andrej Mertelj, executive director of Datalab, is head of the ICT group with the Competitiveness Council of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia. The council consists of 7 vertical sections (ICT, health, materials, transport & environment, pharmacy, etc.) and 3 horizontal sections (business and financial environment, educational system, etc.). This way we were offered a chance to affect the direction of Slovenian government and help IT industry get the place it deservers as a fundamental part of modern society.KODA.SI is the association of software developers at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Datalab is a founding member and Mr. Mertelj is its chairman.
PATENTI.SI is an umbrella organization which in 2005 fought against the EU directive on software patents that could endanger software development throughout the EU. Datalab is a founding member of PATENTI.SI. We also provided for most of the financial and organizational requirements.
Foundation for Free Information Infrastructure is a European association dedicated to the fight against limiting inventiveness and domination of large corporations in software development. Andrej Mertelj is a member of the General Assembly.
Datalab is member of the Slovenian Institute for Standardization where it contributes in the framework of Technical Committee of Electrical Engineering, IT and Telecommunications ( SIST/TC ITC). The National Coordination Committee for Euro Changeover at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the Ministry of Economy prepared Slovenian companies for the introduction of the Euro. Representatives of Datalab led the working group for information systems at KODA.SI., and also prepared documentation and coordinated open issues. A Datalab representative held five workshops throughout Slovenia.
The e-business standardization body, first at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and later with GS1, aims to standardize and popularize e-business among companies and government institutions.
Need more information?
Call us or write an e-mail. We’ll be happy to answer all your questions
