Responsibility for employees
What is the basis for the success of a company? We believe success is based on the employees. This is why Kärcher stands for a company policy focused on people and open communication. We want to create as good a working environment as possible – be it through flexible working hours, numerous opportunities for further development, subsidised childcare, integration support after illness, or company sports.
“It is the people in our company that make success possible.”
Family values are close to our heart. That is why we take on responsibility for the health of our employees and advocate their further development.
Alfred Kärcher described the special relationship with his employees with the following words: “It is the people in our company that make success possible.” His attitude is still the guiding principle and basis of a corporate policy in which the reconciliation of career and family, the health of employees and their professional development and training play a central role.
We treat our employees in an appreciative and caring way. Thanks to its strong commitment, Kärcher has been able to become the global market and technological leader in cleaning technology.
Insight: Our work and projects for employees
Recycle paper, not ideas
The role of the sustainability manager was created to ensure that the Kärcher sites across the world are equally committed to advocating sustainability. Three managers explain the significance of their work and which unique regional challenges they are coping with.
Every opinion counts – employees sharpen sustainability goals
If an issue affects everyone, everyone should also be able to weigh in. At the "Sustainability Breakfast 2020+", employees in Brazil, China and Germany contributed significantly to the definition of strategy up to 2025.
Employee survey 2019
Almost 11,000 employees worldwide took part in the Kärcher employee survey in 2019. The response rate of 87% shows the strong identification of our employees with the company and their interest in further developing Kärcher. The employee survey gives them the opportunity for this.
Overview: Our commitment to employees
Improving global collaboration
The employee survey shows us what we currently do well and the areas that require more work. Our employees right across the world are happy to work for Kärcher and identify very strongly with the company. We want to make further improvements when it comes to collaboration between different departments and countries, for example. The measures introduced include the first Employee World Meeting, which we held at the beginning of 2018 and was a great success. At this meeting, participants developed possibilities for improving international cooperation at Kärcher.
A touch of the Silicon Valley: The Innovation Lab
In the Kärcher Innovation Lab, employees from various fields are collaborating on different innovations. The teams are not only developing new products and services, but are also working on the entire business model at the same time. The aim is to launch a real, successful start-up, which is not just about opening up successful new business areas but also promoting an entrepreneurial mindset in Kärcher's culture. Employees from all departments can apply for the Innovation Challenges.
Complete health management
The health of our employees was defined in our 2020 sustainability strategy as a value which must be permanently embedded in our corporate culture. To promote good health among our employees, we have therefore developed various measures which will be implemented gradually and evaluated on a regular basis. For example, we have workstations regularly inspected and optimised to ensure that they are as ergonomic as possible. At all Kärcher sites, we additionally run health campaigns that are specially tailored to the employees there, ranging from active lunch breaks to flu vaccines.
A programme for success
Employees in 60 countries and 100 companies – each individual should have the same opportunities to develop in line with their role, be assessed according to the same system and be offered further training measures that suit them. This is why we have developed a globally standardised programme for the professional development of our employees – combined in an international platform.
Compatibility of career and family
In December 2013, we were certified as a family-friendly company with the "audit berufundfamilie" certificate. The certificate is a mark of companies who are particularly committed to further developing family-friendly measures at the workplace. In addition to options including part-time models and flexible working hours, in Germany we subsidise childcare and organise holiday programmes for our employees' children.
Career and studies can be combined
Employees who are pursuing a higher qualification alongside their job, such as an engineering, foreperson or academic degree, can be funded by a Kärcher grant while they study their Bachelor's or Master's degree. This measure initiated by HR development took second place in the 2014 Human Resources Excellence Awards, which are presented by the Human Resources Manager specialist journal.
