DATRON AG is one of the 100 best SME employers
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Wolfgang Clement to present the high-tech specialist with the “Top Job” accolade in recognition of its outstanding HR management
Mühltal – DATRON AG is one of the 100 best employers among Germany's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) according to the results of the latest Top Job survey, a nationwide, corporate-benchmarking competition encompassing all sectors of the economy. The judges in the seventh round of this renowned business initiative were impressed by the company's personalised and successful approach to human resources management. Wolfgang Clement, Germany's former economics minister and mentor of the Top Job initiative, will be presenting DATRON with the prestigious Top Job seal of approval this Friday evening at a ceremony in Duisburg-Nord Industrial Landscape Park.
In making the award, he will be recognising the company's achievements in the categories of Leadership & Vision, Motivation & Dynamism, Culture & Communication, Staff Development & Prospects, Family Awareness & Demography and Internal Entrepreneurship.
DATRON AG, which generated sales of €17.3 million in 2007, has flat hierarchies and innovative decision-making processes and has adopted a participatory approach to people management. The company develops, manufactures and sells CNC milling machines and high-performance dispensing machines for modern sealants and adhesives throughout the world. The 100-strong workforce particularly appreciate DATRON's efforts to balance work and family life. Jobsharing, homeworking, part-time, flexi-time and parental leave – nothing is off-limits. Special efforts are made to maintain contacts between the company and employees on parental leave, and to prepare them for reintegration into the workplace well in advance of their return. The extent of this commitment to each individual is demonstrated by the creation of a position within the company specifically to monitor compliance with the provisions of the German General Equal Treatment Act. The people at the company also create a feeling of togetherness that extends far beyond the workplace. They enjoy doing things together in their leisure time, too, regardless of age and position. There are regular race meets and swimming galas as well as ski events, the annual summer party and the regular end-of-week wind-down on a Friday afternoon at the company's own bar.
To earn the award, the company had to undergo a thorough two-stage process devised by the Institute for Leadership and Human Resource Management at the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland. Led by institute director, Professor Heike Bruch, the experts review the management tools used by HR departments of the participating companies and carry out a detailed online staff survey. “Time and time again, the results of our investigations have shown that a strategic approach to HR management is directly reflected in the company's bottom line,” says Professor Bruch. “ Put simply: Good employers are commercially successful. This correlation will become even stronger in future. Companies that actively seek to make themselves more attractive as an employer will become significantly more competitive.” This makes chairman of the board of management Dr Arne Brüsch all the more proud of his company's success: “Top Job is only open to companies for whom HR management is a high priority. To be recognised as one of the best 100 SME employers within such a competitive environment will really motivate our staff and make us even more attractive to highly qualified employees in future.” More than 212 companies entered the Top Job competition this year.
All 100 Top Job companies are featured in the book “TOP JOB – Germany's 100 best SME employers” published by Bruch and Clement, and on the website www.topjob.de. The project is organised by compamedia GmbH, Überlingen, Germany. Interested companies can apply immediately at www.topjob.de. The closing date for entries is 30 April 2009.
