Heidenheim/Stuttgart, Germany. For its outstanding commitment to family-friendly corporate structures, Voith has received the “Family-friendly Company” certificate with distinction. The Baden-Württemberg corporate network familyNET has thereby honored the company’s commitment to its concepts and initiatives towards the compatibility of career and family. The familyNET certificate reads: “This is one of Voith corporate management’s highest priorities. Voith has been committed to establishing the right balance between working life and family for many years and has worked on continuously developing numerous programs.”

Last night, Ilonka Nussbaumer, Senior Vice President Corporate Human Resources, accepted the award in Stuttgart. “For us, as a family company, the balance between working life and family is no passing fad but has always been an important element of our HR policy. A company that offers these kinds of programs can clearly improve its attractiveness as an employer and will enhance its reputation,” said the head of Voith’s HR. “We want to create the best possible conditions for our employees in this area as well. I’m convinced that all of our tools and measures will generate more satisfaction and thereby more loyalty to the employer. And these are also the best conditions for retaining committed and creative employees.”

Voith employs more than 43,000 people worldwide and offers them an attractive working environment with individualized development opportunities. The family and career subject is an important pillar of a sustainable and long-term personnel policy. Voith already has a variety of tools and programs that help its employees better reconcile career and private life. Some examples: For years now, Voith has been systematically building diverse working hour models and programs to allow employees to design their work schedules as flexibly as possible. At several of its German locations, Voith offers day care in a number of facilities for the children of employees up to ten years of age. The Voith website “Family & Career” provides regional information about combining children and career as well as health and career that are intended to assist employees with handling their private affairs.

The “Family-friendly Company” certificate is awarded by the corporate network familyNET. The network provides consulting, support and coaching for Baden-Württemberg companies introducing new concepts to improve the balance between family and working life. It develops individualized strategies and provides active networking of Baden-Württemberg companies. familyNET is coordinated by the educational institution BBQ Berufliche Bildung gGmbH and is supported by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Financial and Economic Affairs from the European Social Fund, by the Verband der Metall- und Elektroindustrie Baden-Württemberg e. V., [Association of Metalworking and Electrical Industries], Südwestmetall and Arbeitgeberverband Chemie Baden-Württemberg e. V. [Employer's Association for the Chemicals Industry].

Voith sets standards in the markets energy, oil & gas, paper, raw materials and transport & automotive. Founded in 1867, Voith employs more than 43,000 people, generates € 5.7 billion in sales, operates in about 50 countries around the world and is today one of the largest family-owned companies in Europe.