We are proud of our flexible personnel policy
The foundation for our cooperation within the company is a positive view of human nature, which is influenced by trust. We believe that employees are fundamentally self-motivated. They enjoy the effort of putting their skills to use and are happy to take on responsibilities. Read more at "A foundation of trust".
We see it as our job to create the conditions in which employees can grow and learn in their own way. Personalized working hours and leave, part-time positions (about 46 % of all permanent employees work part-time, 15 % of management), childcare in the VAUDE Kinderhaus and trust-based working hours (approx.150 employees and the trend is rising) are only a few offers that help our employees live their lives as they wish while staying healthy and productive.
Full-time employees at VAUDE work 40 hours a week. Anything less than this is classified as part-time work and paid in proportion to a full-time salary.
We have already been offering the option of working from home or another location for several years. Since the end of 2017, a company agreement on telecommuting has been in force, which grants this option to every employee, provided that the type of work task does not necessarily require a physical presence at the office and provided that the employee ensures the availability of adequate equipment in their home office (e.g. Internet).
The frequency and regularity of home office (or mobile work) days and the regulations that are necessary to ensure smooth working operations in the office and with others are clearly identified in the employment agreement and are determined on a case-by-case and needs basis within the employee’s team and by the manager. The aim is to unite the highest possible flexibility for the employee with the lowest possible additional effort (e.g. coordinative) for the team and others that the employee works with.
Following the introduction of our employment agreement, the number of employees participating in telecommuting increased in 2018 (from an estimated 114 to 137). The frequency of use varies: A few employees work regularly several times a week at a flexible work location; the most pronounced frequency of use is biweekly. In an evaluation survey of the "Mobile Work" employment agreement, a great deal of positive feedback was given on the opportunities it affords. Among other things, employees appreciate the impact of mobile and home office work on the compatibility of family obligations such as childcare and job requirements, as well as on time and money savings that come from reducing commuting.
Overtime and its avoidance are also an issue at VAUDE. In order to prevent the accumulation of overtime, we take the approach that it is not the mere presence of our employees in the workplace that counts, but their achievement of goals. At VAUDE, overtime is documented in “flexitime” accounts and compensated with time off. However, because the majority of employees work with trust-based hours, we are unable to collect accurate company-wide data.
Our employee survey "VAUDE Employee Barometer" in cooperation with the IFBG (Institut für Betriebliche Gesundheitsberatung) and the Techniker Krankenkasse however, showed positive results: Overall, our employees feel that the quantitative requirements at work (including the need to work overtime) are lower than the comparative assessment, which is cited as representative of the German working population.
VAUDE provides the premises for the childcare center and takes on a significant proportion of the investment, adding up to approximately 50,000 euros per year - see "Creating added value through commitment". The remaining costs are covered by the city of Tettnang.
Up to 31 children are cared for in mixed age groups with after school programs and a crèche. About half are VAUDE employees' children; the other half includes children from the surrounding area.
The childcare center has become so popular that we can no longer fully meet the demand.
Read more about the VAUDE Kinderhaus
The birth rate at VAUDE has increased significantly since the opening of the childcare center and has been far above the German average for years.
In 2018 we again had an above-average birth rate. With 17 newborn “VAUDE kids” (only those whose parents have also applied for parental leave) and a birth rate of 31.7*, we are also on a path of sustainable growth in this area.
Birthrate Germany status: 2017: 9.5*
Birthrate VAUDE 2018: 31.7*
Source
* Calculation of birthrates:
2018: =17 births/ 536 employees x 1000
2017: 18 births/ 542 employees x 1000
2004: 5 births/ 263 employees x 1000
Fifteen employees (seven female and eight male) returned to work after parental leave in 2018. Of these, 14 (around 93 %) were able to re-enter jobs that corresponded to their previous profile or, in many cases, were adapted to the changing needs of families in terms of general parameters. Only in one case was it not possible to work out a solution that would have added appropriate value from a company point of view and at the same time could have been implemented for the affected employee or her family. This case resulted in a termination of the employment relationship on the part of the employee.
To ensure that the employees who take parental leave return promptly to work in a way that meets their personal needs, we support dialog during and after the parental leave period. In order to stay informed about new developments and current topics at VAUDE, employees on parental leave can use our intranet throughout their leave. Teams can also contribute to maintaining contact and personal relationships, for example, by integrating colleagues on parental leave during team days and celebrations.
We are convinced that we are on the right track and we are proud of it! We put a lot of energy into our goal of providing good solutions for employees and VAUDE at all times. We are aware that this is a major company challenge. We currently have just as many positions to cover due to parental leave as those due to job turnover. A solution and achievement oriented approach is of great importance for this issue.
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