11/14/2024 - Awards
Projektron scores well in Handelsblatt study 2024: SWI rates best employers
Projektron was recognized in the Handelsblatt study “Best Employers 2024” and took second place in the category of companies with 100 to 500 employees. Particularly noteworthy are our outstanding achievements in the areas of family friendliness, remote work and fair career advancement. For us, this award is not only an affirmation of success, but also a strong commitment to a diverse and equal opportunity corporate culture.
Commitment to diversity and equal opportunities
Sandra Gerhardt, Head of Human Resources at Projektron, emphasizes: “It is important for us to create offers for every phase of life and to adapt to individual needs. A diverse team comes about almost by itself.” Projektron lives this philosophy in all aspects of its corporate culture. In contrast to many other companies, where the proportion of women in the IT industry is significantly lower, Projektron employs almost as many women as men. This diversity not only promotes a balanced work environment, but also drives business success.
Flexible working models as the key to success
An important factor in Projektron's success is the flexibility offered to employees. Around 70 percent of the 130 employees work part-time, including many men and two-thirds of the managers. These part-time models and the option of flexible working from a home office make Projektron an attractive employer for a wide range of life stages. Gerhardt adds: “Part-time models are also attractive for many young professionals. This gives employees the opportunity to pursue other projects alongside their main job.”
However, the promotion of diversity and equal opportunities at Projektron goes beyond working time models. In regular employee appraisals, it is determined whether the current working model fits the employee's life situation and whether there are any further training wishes. Age diversity is also actively promoted, as younger employees benefit from the wealth of experience of older developers and, conversely, new impetus is provided on current topics such as artificial intelligence.
Measures for a discrimination-free culture
As part of the Handelsblatt study, criteria for fair career advancement were examined. Projektron was able to convince in areas such as equal pay, diversity management and the promotion of women in management positions. “We want to create a workplace free of discrimination,” said Gerhardt.
For years, Projektron has been committed to a diverse and inclusive corporate culture that actively promotes equal opportunities. In May 2018, for example, Projektron GmbH supported the campaign “Equality wins – cultural change in companies” launched by the then Senator for Equality, Dilek Kolat. As part of the campaign, Projektron presented various initiatives as a best practice company that promote an employee-oriented corporate culture and equality. These included, in particular, part-time models, independent work, and the promotion of a healthy work-life balance and family-friendly human resources management models.
Projektron has received multiple awards for its outstanding human resources work, including the TOTAL E-QUALITY Award for equal opportunities, which was presented for the fourth time in 2021 with the Diversity rating, as well as the special prize for diversity. Further awards such as the nine-time Great Place to Work award, the BestPersAward and the honor as a family-friendly company underscore the company's commitment in this area.
Diversity as an economic advantage
But it is not only the ethical and social aspects of diversity that make Projektron a leading employer – the company also benefits economically. Collaboration in diverse teams is more agile and creative, which has a direct impact on employee satisfaction and the low turnover rate. A high proportion (40 percent) of new hires at Projektron come from recommendations of its own employees. “These recommendations and the low fluctuation are a real competitive advantage in times of a shortage of skilled workers,” explains Gerhardt.
The issue of a shortage of skilled workers affects the entire IT industry. According to a study by the industry association Bitkom, around 150,000 positions were vacant in 2023, and by 2040 there could be as many as 600,000. Projektron is countering this shortage by actively recruiting talent – particularly through practical projects at universities, in order to establish contact with female IT talent at an early stage.
Value-oriented corporate culture as a success factor
Being named “Best Employer 2024” in the Handelsblatt ranking and the associated confirmation of our excellent work culture is an incentive for us to continue to focus on a strong, diverse and inclusive corporate culture. This award not only underscores our achievements in the areas of equal opportunity and diversity, but also our value orientation. Projektron remains an employer that not only makes a difference in the IT industry, but also sets an example for a sustainable, inclusive working environment.
Projektron took second place in the Handelsblatt study “Best Employers 2024” in the category of companies with 100 to 500 employees, impressing with its family-friendly policies, remote work and fair career development. (Screenshot https://www.handelsblatt.com/karriere/karriere-diese-unternehmen-sind-vorreiter-in-sachen-vielfalt/100076047.html, last accessed November 19, 2024).
