Balance between work and leisure, for example through flexible working hours and remote working.

Well-being and performance are closely linked. In order to maximize both, a good balance between leisure and work is crucial. We accept the central challenge of a modern employer and create conditions and offers that enable our employees to reconcile their personal life planning with their career. With a variety of working time models, we enable our employees to adapt individually to new phases in their lives. Where possible, we offer part-time jobs and flexible working hours. In addition the options for mobile working have been expanded. For special life circumstances our employees also have the opportunity to take time off, for example for care, parental leave, early retirement, further training or sabbaticals. Within the lifetime working time account our employees can save money, vacation days or time credits to use later for the time off. In addition Uzin Utz SE supports the accumulation of the credit balance with an annual contribution. In 2023 almost 90 % (88 %) of employees participated in this program.

Company social counseling

At UZIN UTZ we take the well-being of our employees very seriously and know that everyone faces individual challenges and crises. To support our employees in difficult times, we offer professional company social counseling through cariwork. Cariwork, a service offered by Caritas Ulm-Alb-Donau, provides our employees with experienced counselors. This interdisciplinary team, consisting of pedagogues, psychologists and addiction counselors, offers help and support in a variety of life situations - from everyday worries and health restrictions to partnership conflicts or professional challenges. Advice from cariwork can be provided by telephone, digitally or in person in Ulm and aims to find solutions together with those affected and provide a new perspective on existing problems. Short-term appointments, regular further training for advisors and a comprehensive network for obtaining further information guarantee effective support for every concern. Cariwork is available to our employees as a neutral and independent point of contact to help them navigate through life's challenges. This new service, introduced in 2023, replaced our previous cooperation with the Keppler Foundation in Ulm and expands the range of advice on offer beyond care issues.

EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION AND RESPONSIBILITY

In order to develop the full potential of our employees, we create a working environment that is characterized by appreciation. The professional development of our employees is specifically promoted through annual appraisal interviews with line managers. These meetings provide important guidance for personal and professional development and enable the planning of customized training measures that are tailored to both the needs of the company and the individual skills of the employees. We are convinced that continuous, transparent feedback on performance and development opportunities is crucial for professional success.

Employee surveys

We attach great importance to a distinctive corporate culture and the satisfaction of our employees. Just like our workforce, we are in a constant process of development. Our annual employee survey is a key tool in this process. This serves as a key indicator of how our employees perceive our current performance and where there is potential for improvement. This survey provides us with valuable feedback on key topics such as working atmosphere, leadership culture and our PASSION 2025 strategy.

In the first quarter of 2023 the annual employee survey was conducted in the companies in the core and growth markets, with a group-wide response rate of 58 % (62 %). Here 88 % (89 %) of the global workforce stated that they enjoy going to work in the morning. 86 % (90 %) of employees would choose UZIN UTZ again as an employer and 85 % (88 %) would recommend it to friends and acquaintances. The health rate was calculated using the ratio of actual working days to target working days and was 95.1 % (94.4 %) in 2023.

We are pleased that the health rate has been maintained at a high level, but we also recognize that there have been declines in individual areas. For the recommendation rate in particular we have set ourselves the target of achieving a value of 90 %. In order to counteract the downward trend, a number of measures were already implemented in 2023. The cornerstone of these measures is the newly established values and culture process. Based on this, a large number of training courses and workshops were held this year. As a result, the defined core values, principles and our sense of direction were brought to life, valuable topics were developed and team spirit was strengthened.

We get together

Welcome Day

We have launched the "Welcome Day" to make it easier for our new employees to get started. In the first few months new team members face the challenge of familiarizing themselves with new areas of responsibility, processes and structures as well as an unfamiliar working environment. The Welcome Day offers them the opportunity to meet the Management Board in person, gain insights into various areas of the company, familiarize themselves with our product and brand world and take part in a workshop on the onboarding process. This event is an excellent opportunity to make new contacts and build up initial networks within the company.

Generation Plus

Our "Generation Plus", which consists of retired former employees, is very important to us. We express our appreciation for the work they have done and their many years of commitment through regular events. In 2023 we organized three get-togethers in addition to the traditional Christmas party. A special event was the annual day trip, which this year took in several stops in Ulm.