(from right) Family Minister Susanne Raab presents the state quality mark as a certified family-friendly employer to Sabine Böhm-Besim and Sonja Steinmetz.

berufundfamilie audit – recertification until 2026
Further developments in the area of family friendliness and work-life balance strengthen BUWOG as an employer brand
The state quality mark generates awareness and acceptance for a family-friendly employment and living environment

BUWOG can once again celebrate its recertification as a “family-friendly employer”. The berufundfamilie certificate is an award from the Republic of Austria and is issued by Familie und Beruf GmbH – the audit for recertification takes place every three years. The compatibility of family and career is a significant social challenge not only in this country, but throughout Europe, not only for families themselves, but also for politics and business. For this reason, Familie und Beruf GmbH supports, connects and accompanies selected companies in the organisation of family-friendly employment conditions. An open and family-friendly corporate culture is a top priority for BUWOG. “A balanced interplay between work, family and personal needs is a genuine enrichment in life. As part of the audit, we can continue to develop as an employer in close cooperation with the works council and jointly define, evaluate and plan further family-friendly measures,” says BUWOG Managing Director Kevin Töpfer.

BUWOG’s aim is to provide the best possible support for the major challenges that many working people face due to the multiple burdens of everyday working life and numerous family commitments. Kevin Töpfer: “We find it our responsibility to help as much as we can and wherever we can. First and foremost, we ask what the wishes, needs and concerns of our employees are and then try to implement them in the best possible and most convenient way. A large number of family-friendly measures have already been put into practice this way in recent years.”

Moving into the future as a family-friendly employer

BUWOG has taken a significant step forward in the area of family friendliness and work-life balance with the expansion of flexible working hours. In addition to the flexible home office regulations that have been in place for several years and are set out in a company agreement on teleworking, the option of mobile working, which allows employees to work from any location in another European country for up to 20 days a year, has recently offered even greater flexibility.

The parent-child offices in the Customer and Administrative Centre in Vienna’s Rathausstrasse have also been expanded. Each floor now has a modern meeting room with a play corner for children of various ages, which can be used as a parent-child office at any time if needed.

One problem that all working parents face every summer is finding childcare for school-age children during the summer months. Here BUWOG provides support as well: Every year, an internal company survey is carried out to determine the needs of school-age children during the holidays. Based on this, one week of free holiday care is offered during the parents' working hours. Holiday apartments are also available to all employees all year round, which can be used for a very small fee.

In order to emphasise the importance of reconciling career and family life at all levels of the company, the measures that have been put in place are pointed out during onboarding, for example. Managers are also sensitised to the topic in greater detail in the form of workshops.