At Partenamut, corporate culture is not just a matter of values displayed on a wall: it is lived on a daily basis, supported by the teams and embodied in each initiative. But what really makes this committed mutual society unique? How does it promote an environment where people are at the centre of priorities?

To find out more, we met Alexandra Giroux, Culture & Internal Communication Manager at Partenamut. In this exchange, she reveals the backstage of a company that places collaboration, innovation and well-being at the heart of its DNA.

Culture and values at Partenamut

What are Partenamut's core values and why?

At Partenamut, our values are the foundation of everything we do, the energy that drives us to innovate, to act and to transform every interaction into a meaningful experience.

• We are jointly and severally liable.

We are a major player in social protection. As such, we want to implement the collective and founding promise to take care of each other, regardless of age, gender or social status, through a solidarity mechanism that is at the heart of the mutualist project.

• We simplify with empathy.

We work daily to simplify and cultivate the health of our members by making constant efforts to reduce the mental load caused by the administrative management of health. This allows our members to focus on what matters most: restoring their health and adopting healthy behaviours.

• We innovate with passion.

Partenamut aims to play a pioneering role in the healthcare sector. This is why we encourage and value the spirit of innovation, remaining open to the world around us, capitalizing on internal collective intelligence and external partnerships to anticipate the needs of our members and society.

• We are a free mutuality.

What makes us different in the Belgian mutual insurance world is our independence. Our choices, as a human and solidarily responsible organization, are guided by the sole desire to preserve the health of our members, our collaborators and the planet, free from any ideological, religious or economic influence. We are a Free Mutuality, of course, but a mutual insurance company committed to health.

Also, our choices, as a human organization and as a public health organization, are rooted in the fight for the preservation of the planet and sustainable development. They are carried out in complete independence from interests other than the interest in the health of our clients (political, financial or economic).

Our internal organization is a reflection of what we offer our members. We enable everyone to be who they are and to give the best of themselves in a work environment that promotes a collaborative and agile dynamic, made of mutual trust, autonomy, trust and accountability. The development of everyone's skills as well as the opportunity to benefit from career paths within the organization are also part of our priorities. We believe that work-life balance is a powerful lever for performance.

The culture of feedback, of customers and employees, is at the heart of our continuous improvement approach to provide ever more quality. We dare to experiment, even if it means making mistakes, to make a difference and surpass ourselves.

How do you foster an empathetic and challenging mindset in your employees? Do you have any rituals or internal events that reinforce adherence to these values?

At Partenamut, we believe that empathy and ambition go hand in hand. A stimulating work environment is a place where you feel listened to, supported and at the same time challenged to go further. This is how we move forward together: by building a company that doesn't just do well, but always strives to do better. 💙

We have indeed put in place rituals and initiatives that bring our values to life in the daily lives of our teams and give them the space to grow, learn and impact the world around them:

• Empathy as a foundation

  • Regular feedback moments: via our company barometer and frequent surveys, each employee can express their expectations and feelings to change our practices.

  • Team recognition rituals : At the end of a project, we take the time to celebrate what has been accomplished and thank those who have made a difference.

  • A culture committee bringing together representatives from several departments, to ensure that our values are more than words and are translated into concrete actions in our collective experience.

• Participatory innovation

  • The "My Partenamut" community, a space where some of our members test our new tools in preview, give feedback and co-build with us the services of tomorrow, as close as possible to their needs.

  • Unifying events such as our staff party, afterworks, and CSR challenges, where collective commitment and conviviality are combined with the ambition to have a positive impact on society.

  • Tailor-made talent support: internal training, personalized development paths and opportunities to reinvent oneself in the organization.

How do you measure the impact of your company culture on employee engagement and satisfaction?

We have set up several indicators to assess the vitality of our culture and its impact on our employees:

• The company barometer: We regularly take the pulse of the organisation. This barometer is not limited to a simple satisfaction survey, it analyzes employee engagement, their adherence to values and their feelings about their work environment.

• Feedback from newcomers : Four months after their arrival, we ask them what they really perceive of our culture. Their fresh eyes are a valuable indicator to verify the authenticity of our employer promise.

• Career path tracking : Internal development is a key marker of a culture that stimulates and develops talent. We closely monitor the internal mobility rate, training satisfaction and retention rate to ensure that our employees find a place to flourish and progress here.

• The OCAI and Humind measures : Managing a culture means ensuring that it does not remain a declaration of intent. We use these tools to measure their real influence on behavior, communication, strategic decisions and the way each employee lives their daily life at Partenamut.

Some key indicators:

• More than 95% of respondents feel respected by their direct supervisor and understand how their work contributes to goals;

• 83% believe they have enough training opportunities;

• 75% find that Partenamut develops the potential of employees well (+18 points with the Belgian standard);

• 80% believe that the vision of leadership is clear (+17 points compared to the Belgian norm)

How do these values allow you to offer excellent service to your members?

We believe in a virtuous circle: a fulfilled employee naturally offers a better service to our members.

One member told us during a customer survey: "You have to take good care of your employees so that they take care of us so well." 😊

Our members do not simply come looking for a service, they are looking for a relationship of trust, attentive listening and adapted solutions. It is this promise that we carry every day, through a culture that places people at the center of the organization as well as the quality of the service provided.

To achieve this, our approach is based on several levers:

• Continuous training, guaranteeing quality support and enhanced expertise.

• Digitalization designed for people, facilitating access to care and allowing the establishment of a resolutely human relationship of trust.

• Autonomy of the teams, giving them the freedom to innovate and provide solutions adapted to the specific needs of the members.

Concrete illustrations of everyday life

Can you share with us any internal initiatives that illustrate the application of your values on a daily basis (e.g. in terms of well-being at work, innovation or societal commitment)?

Of course! Here's what we've put in place:

• A transparent strategy including:

• Regular information sessions to involve each employee in Partenamut's orientations. Once a year, a Q&A session without a safety net allows you to exchange directly with the management.

• Clear and synthetic materials (strategy notes, interactive presentations) using visual storytelling for fluid and engaging communication.

• Prevention of burnout, via an awareness program to detect weak signals and act in prevention.

• A work environment that promotes growth and balance

• Personalized HR support thanks to Career Advisors and HRBP (HR Business Partners), with aligned training courses and career support based on the aspirations and talents of each individual. In 2024, 48 employees benefited from an internal change of function.

• Flexibility in working time and location, including up to 60% teleworking, to enable a better work-life balance and thus better collective performance.

• Workspaces designed for collaboration, promoting exchange, innovation and creativity.

Partenamut is involved in CSR initiatives, particularly on raising awareness of climate change. Can you tell us more about these actions and their impact?

We have made social responsibility a strong commitment, with measurable and impactful actions:

• Planet'Up : An ambitious program to reduce our carbon footprint by 40% by 2030, with initiatives such as sustainable mobility, waste reduction and energy optimization of our infrastructure.

• The CSR Challenge : During the 2024 Staff Day, each team mobilized around a concrete ecological challenge to combine collective commitment and positive impact.

• Active environmental awareness, including an annual half-day of training for our employees and prevention campaigns on the link between health and the environment for our members.

How are your employees involved in these steps?

Thanks to the CSR workshops and challenges, each Partenamut employee and his or her team can be actively involved in reducing the company's ecological footprint. These initiatives have made it possible to move from intention to action, by promoting a culture of collective commitment and cohesion within teams around key themes. Here are some examples of challenges that colleagues could choose:

• Reduced paper consumption and printing

• Energy and digital sobriety

• Soft mobility and responsible travel

• Responsible food and waste reduction

• Waste management and recycling

• Internal Ambassador Networks

As you can see, at Partenamut, corporate culture is created on a daily basis, in small gestures as well as in big ideas. A culture that makes you want to come to work in the morning, to grow together, to dare, to surpass yourself... but always by remaining oneself.

Want to join the adventure?

To (re)give meaning to your work, to live and share this beautiful experience of an enriching and motivating professional life on a daily basis? At the moment, Partenamut is recruiting new talent! Discover their employer profile and explore their impactful job offers on Meet My Job! 🚀