Page 50 - RAFI_ESG_20230919_eng

50 EMPLOYER ATTRACTIVENESS

to retirement plans and offer private accident and 6.1.4 Working time models, time banks, mobile
occupational disability insurance. working
RAFI sees working time flexibility as helping to se-
6.1.2 Employee-employer relationship cure jobs over the long term. With our location-spe-
[GRI 402 ] A sense of “US” as a company is at the cific working time models that are as flexible as pos-
center of all our business activities. As a globally op- sible, we offer our employees ways to achieve work-
erating industrial company with regional ties, we at- life balance. This requires a culture of mutual trust,
tach great importance to being down-to-earth and candor, and honesty between management and em-
creating a friendly environment. We express our ap- ployees. We strive to keep the volume of overtime
preciation for our employees with a variety of cam- low and continuously adjust our recruitment process-
paigns and events. We should first mention the an- es to the current order backlog. In Berg, the weekly
nual company Christmas party, which includes a sup- working time stipulated by the RAFI collective agree-
porting program and extensive buffet. We invite ev- ment is 38 hours. Trainees and DHBW students have
eryone to celebrate the end of the year together at a working week of 35 hours. RAFI sees working
this event. Staff at the individual locations also orga- time flexibility as helping to secure jobs over the long
nize further company celebrations. What’s more, term. With our location-specific working time mod-
RAFI offers financial and organizational support for els that are as flexible as possible, we offer our em-
events that promote a feeling of community among ployees ways to achieve work-life balance. This re-
employees. The Berg location is home to 15 compa- quires a culture of mutual trust, candor, and honesty
ny sports clubs, the RAFI Big Band, and the RAFI between management and employees. We strive to
factory fire department. They offer our employees a keep the volume of overtime low and continuously
variety of opportunities to get together. These activi- adjust our recruitment processes to the current order
ties are conducive to health and encourage social backlog.
and cultural involvement that extends beyond the
working day. We have also established a program of At the German RAFI locations, we maintain a flexi-
sporting activities in Überlingen and Poland. At the ble working time model without core working hours
beginning of 2023, we launched the “EGYM-Well- as far as possible. To keep the capacity utilization of
pass.“ It gives employees at the German locations our machines as efficient as possible, various pro-
free access to a number of cooperating sports clubs duction areas work in shifts. Some 40% of employ-
and leisure centers. ees at our foreign locations benefit from flexible
working time models. Depending on the location,
6.1.3 Support for charitable and volunteer activi- overtime hours are either collected in a personal
ties flexitime bank, which each employee can use as
[GRI 413-1 ] The individual RAFI Group locations ac- they wish, or paid out. The average time credit in
tively play their part as companies embedded in their 2022 was 22.19 hours. Employees also have a com-
local communities ( see 2.3). In addition to support- pany working time bank as well as a long-term ac-
ing sports, cultural, and social institutions, our com- count. Accumulation of hours in these time banks
mitment extends to a number of other cooperative also allows for extended absences – such as to care
ventures and initiatives. Depending on the location, for family members, go on sabbaticals, take early
these activities vary in type and intensity. For exam- retirement, or participate in individual continuing
ple, RAFI Berg and Eltec focus in particular on sport- education and training opportunities. This model
ing activities, while RAFI Systec supports financially has become established above all at the German lo-
disadvantaged families in the region with material and cations.
cash donations. Together with the Kinderschutzbund Depending on the nature of their work, our employ-
child welfare organization, RAFI Systec also promotes ees have the option of mobile working. In 2019,
equal opportunity in education. Looking at the group RAFI Berg specified the regulations for this in a
as a whole, concepts for sponsoring projects are still company agreement drawn up in cooperation with
in the initial stages and will be developed indepen- the Works Council. By offering individual work ar-
dently at each location. rangements that are variable in both time and loca-
RAFI Berg is a cooperation and education partner of tion, we help employees balance the demands of
more than 10 schools and universities in the region. career and family and meet the needs of many em-
We make a crucial contribution to education and help ployees for increased flexibility. Mobile work elimi-
young people with their first career steps. We present nated a total of some 160,000 km of vehicle miles
ourselves to the public as a modern industrial compa- traveled in 2022, so this variable working model has
ny at events such as Trainee Day, Open Day, or guid- a positive impact not only on employee satisfaction
ed tours of our plant throughout the year. We also but also on the environment.
support our employees in their volunteer work by giv-
ing them paid time off for volunteer activities or train-
ing that takes place during working hours.