CHI Software Corporate Social Responsibility Report 2023-2024

Polina Sukhostavets Content Writer

At CHI Software, we’ve always dreamed big. From our humble beginnings as a digital studio with just ten team members, we’ve grown into a community of over 800 individuals, specializing in cutting-edge technologies like AI and IoT. Yet, our commitment to innovation and high-quality services is just the start.

Driven by a shared vision, our team is dedicated to creating a positive impact on society whenever we can. As time has passed, we find ourselves here, ready to share yet another chapter in our journey – one that highlights our charitable endeavors, community development projects, and approach to labor practices.

Read our CSR reports from previous years:

• CHI Software CSR Report 2021

• CHI Software CSR Report 2022

Charity Activities 

CHI Software is always ready to lend a helping hand to those who could use some support. Whether it’s joining forces with organizations like Superhumans or participating in events like the “Patterns of Will” running race, we’re all about making a difference where it counts.

Help for Children

• CHI Software has joined charitable initiatives to support children from large and crisis-affected families in frontline regions. Since 2022, before the start of each school year, we have been providing school bags filled with essentials, treats, and motivational notes to help children prepare for school.​
• Also, we have provided 52 monitors, 21 PCs, and 8 laptops to children from low-income families and children with disabilities. We believe every child deserves the opportunity to learn and grow, regardless of their circumstances.
• We want to protect the rights of children and help them in every possible way. That is why, on the occasion of the International Children’s Day, CHI Software supported two charity events. More than a hundred children of the village of Savyntsi, Izyum District, Kharkiv Oblast, received branded bags with sets for creative activities.

Partnership with Superhumans

CHI Education Office proudly partners with Superhumans, a Ukrainian center for prosthetics, rehabilitation, and psychological support for war-affected individuals. The center receives support from notable figures such as Olena Zelenska, the First Lady of Ukraine, and collaborates with esteemed partners including Howard G. Buffett Foundation and Virgin Group.

CHI Software helps war veterans to rebuild their careers through assistance in resume building, LinkedIn profile creation, and career consultations. ​They can also attend CHI Software engineering and other courses free of charge. ​

Charity Running Race

The CHI team covered 70 kilometers in total at the charity running race “Patterns of Will”. Over 1,000 participants from Ukraine and beyond joined the event, symbolizing the spiritual unity of the Ukrainian running community. The marathon also had a charitable purpose, with part of the funds raised going to charity.​

Education Initiatives

At CHI IT Academy, we’re all about tech education and creating chances for those who want to dive into the IT world. We’ve got a cool community, lots of success stories, and a real focus on working together and coming up with new ideas. It’s a place where anyone can learn, grow, and maybe even change the tech scene.

CHI IT Academy

CHI IT Academy is an independent education platform offering 25 courses for people starting their careers in IT. For our clients, CHI IT Academy is a source of a new enthusiastic, result-oriented working force.​ As of 2024, we have 500+ graduates, 50 of whom became our employees. The organization has also initiated the following community development activities:

• A series of webinars for a donation, covering different types of software development and careers advice (example); 
• A charity Python course for children of military personnel and IDPs.

Partnerships with Ukrainian Higher Education Institutions

Our academy has teamed up with a range of Ukrainian universities to enhance the quality of education by sharing the latest industry innovations and insights straight from our experienced team.

Here’s the rundown of our partner institutions:

• Kharkiv National University of Radio Electronics
• National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic”
• Ukrainian State University of Science and Technologies
• Kharkiv National University of Urban Economy
• Ivan Franko National University of Lviv
• Lviv Polytechnic National University

In each unique partnership, we tailor our efforts to best serve the university’s needs. This takes shape in various ways, such as:

• Participating in the open house events as partners and speakers;
• Contributing insights to university publications (example);
• Hosting webinars on software development and quality assurance (webinar example);
• Conducting workshops (workshop example)
• Offering feedback on educational programs;
• Developing and teaching courses like “Android Development Basics”, etc.

Internal Corporate Education

At CHI Software, we invest in our employees’ growth through tech talks, webinars, certifications, and tailored training courses. Our global internship programs and mentorship opportunities help interns develop valuable skills. Through initiatives like the Staffing Lab and CTO Lab, we prepare our engineers for senior roles and certifications, ensuring continuous professional development.

• Employee education: Professional employee education involves tech talks, webinars, in-house internships, developer certifications, and advanced training courses. 
• Global internship programs operate like real-world projects, with interns specializing in project management, frontend, backend, and quality assurance. Mentors from each department support interns in reaching their learning and career objectives. 
• Staffing Lab and Squads Innovation. CHI Software has incorporated the Staffing Lap, an Engineering Development Program covering different growth paths and areas, such as the Project Management Office, Chief Technology Office (CTO Lab), and the R&D Center.

In the CTO Lab program, we mix theory, hands-on skills, and interactions with experts to give our engineers real-world experience for moving up to Senior roles like Solutions Architect and Team Lead. We ensure our developers keep growing and stay on top of Amazon and Microsoft competencies through certifications. 

• Solution Architect Education. We offer a unique educational program for developers aimed at enhancing their technical expertise and fostering career advancement opportunities.
• Free English classes and speaking club with a native speaker. Our classes cater to various proficiency levels, with small groups of around 10 participants for dynamic interaction, meeting twice a week. 

Additionally, team members can join our informal speaking clubs, offering flexible schedules and lively discussions on diverse topics like business strategies, technology trends, and cultural celebrations. These sessions provide a relaxed environment for employees to boost fluency, expand vocabulary, and practice English in a practical, real-world context.

Labor Practices 

By prioritizing the professional growth of our employees, we enhance their efficiency, motivation for career advancement, and overall job satisfaction.

• Our company fosters a convenient and flexible work environment, with an 8-hour workday from Monday to Friday. Employees can choose between hybrid, fully remote, or in-office work setups across our multiple European offices.

• We conduct performance reviews every 6 months to monitor progress and identify learning opportunities. 
• Open communication channels include all-hands meetings with the CEO, one-on-one sessions with HR Managers, and mental health support covering therapy costs for all team members.

• Mental health support program. Our company places a strong emphasis on the mental well-being of our employees,  covering the full cost of therapy consultations for all team members.
• Public Speaking Program. Our developers are encouraged to speak at technical conferences, write an article, or become a lecturer at our education office. Thus, Rolan Akhmedov became a lecturer at Ivan Franko National University of Lviv and Olha Kanishcheva (see the video below) held a workshop at the National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic”.

CHI Software takes care of the team with the following perks:

• Comprehensive health insurance coverage;
• 20 business days of vacation time with five emergency days off and paid sick leave;
• Two extra days off for significant life events like engagements, weddings, births, or bereavements;
• Equipment and furniture provided for the employee’s comfort.

Human Rights 

At CHI Software, we’re all about promoting a fair and inclusive workplace culture. We stand against discrimination based on race, color, religion, age, gender, or any other personal attributes. Our decisions on hiring, compensation, promotion, and more are made without bias.

• We’re dedicated to breaking gender barriers in the IT industry and increasing female representation in technical roles. Currently, our team comprises 30% women and 70% men. Our recruitment strategy focuses on achieving gender balance, with women predominantly holding C-level positions, while the world is struggling with the male blueprint.
• We embrace diversity by welcoming employees of various ages and nationalities, with staff hailing from 37 countries and spanning ages 18 to 50. Salaries are determined individually based on factors like role, experience, skills, and English proficiency, with regular reviews every six months to ensure fair compensation.

The Commitment to Civilian Life Transition​

CHI Software has joined the memorandum of cooperation with the UNBROKEN charitable foundation, Lviv City Council, and other businesses to support employment for war veterans. ​

This initiative will help Ukrainian defenders transition back into civilian life. Representatives from 18 companies, including our HR Director, attended the signing. ​

Every employee at CHI Software has equal opportunities to work, regardless of their background, identity, or circumstance.

Environmental Impacts  

Our commitment to sustainability shines through our evolving recycling initiatives:

• We’ve introduced compostable tableware in the office kitchen;
• Our office features bins for both mixed and separated waste, including glass and plastics;
• To reduce paper consumption, we’ve gone digital, storing all documents electronically.

In bustling urban centers, vehicle emissions contribute significantly to air pollution. That’s why we advocate for eco-friendly commuting options among our staff:

• Situated in major cities teeming with residents, most of our offices are conveniently located near public transportation hubs, like subways;
• Many employees opt for carpooling with coworkers from the same neighborhood to reduce emissions;
• Some team members living nearby choose to walk to work, particularly during the warmer seasons;
• Flexibility is key – employees have the option to work remotely, cutting down on travel and its environmental impact.

Consumer Issues 

Сustomer satisfaction is our top priority for us, ensuring a positive and enduring impression of our services:

• We kick off our commitment to client happiness by sending a Customer Satisfaction Survey alongside the initial invoice, seeking areas for improvement.
• Continuous feedback loops are integral to our approach, with regular requests for client opinions and close monitoring of their feedback.

To elevate the customer experience, we follow a structured approach:

• Proactively seek feedback from customers across various touchpoints.
• Gauge customer satisfaction through personal interactions, email exchanges, and survey responses.
• Foster transparency by sharing feedback with the team, allowing for swift responses and necessary adjustments.
• We are highly adaptable, offering the flexibility to rotate or substitute developers based on client preferences.

Monitoring customer retention and churn rates is key, with a focus on understanding client needs beyond just project completion.

Our dedicated Project Managers double as Customer Satisfaction Managers, ensuring transparent communication with clients and team members, overseeing developers on outstaffing projects. They provide regular progress reports and future plans to clients as per the agreement.

For streamlined communication, project details are centralized in Jira, while various messaging platforms like Skype, Microsoft Teams, Google Meets, Slack, and corporate email facilitate prompt and effective client interactions.

To ensure effective communication, all team members receive regular training on both technical and non-technical aspects, including cross-cultural communication within our diverse international team.

Conclusion

CHI Software’s core values drive us to go beyond just business. We’re deeply committed to giving back through charity activities, empowering through education initiatives, ensuring fair treatment through labor practices, standing up for human rights, being mindful of our environmental footprint, and actively engaging with consumer concerns.

We not only aim to impact the world positively but also to cultivate a culture of integrity, sustainability, and social consciousness within our organization. This journey is a testament to our belief in innovation that upholds the values defining who we are.

About the author

Polina Sukhostavets Content Writer

Polina is a curious writer who strongly believes in the power of quality content. She loves telling stories about trending innovations and making them understandable for the reader. Her favorite subjects include AI, AR, VR, IoT, design, and management.