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

Recertification for the "berufundfamilie" audit through 2023
Additional developments in the area of family-friendliness and work-life balance enhance the attractiveness of BUWOG as an employer
Certificate creates awareness and acceptance for a family-friendly employment and living environment

BUWOG is pleased to have been recertified as a "family-friendly employer" through 2023. The "berufundfamilie" certificate is an award from the Republic of Austria and is granted by Familie und Beruf GmbH. It ensures that selected companies receive support from the government for the design of family-friendly working conditions. "A balanced interplay of work, family and personal needs is a genuine enrichment in life. The audit allows us as an employer to continuously develop in close cooperation with the works council and to meet the specific needs of the employees," says BUWOG Managing Director Kevin Töpfer, expressing his satisfaction.

The multiple burden of daily responsibilities at work and in the family is an enormous challenge for many working people, not only in these recent weeks of lockdown, but under normal circumstances. Kevin Töpfer: "We find it is our responsibility to provide the best possible support, which also means ensuring good communication in the home office and in responding flexibly and uncomplicatedly to the needs and concerns of employees," who in these extraordinary times are benefitting from numerous family-friendly measures that have been implemented in recent years.

Family-friendly jobs

BUWOG has taken a major step in developing family friendliness and work-life balance with the customer and administrative centre on Vienna's Rathausstraße. The new location has a modern parent-child office with two workstations and a play corner for children of various ages. BUWOG also handles childcare on school-free days, if required, and has long offered flexible home-office arrangements, which are stipulated in a company agreement on teleworking. Mobile working is also facilitated by the new conference rooms with modern equipment and video conferencing facilities, thus participation in meetings and collaboration is also possible from home without any complications. Intensive assistance for employees on maternity leave includes a support package that extends from personal preparation for maternity leave to returning to work. Through the ongoing participation in the "berufundfamilie" audit, other important measures are planned through 2023. For example, there are plans to develop meeting policy further, and the ratio of in-office and home-office work will be further elaborated in the interest of greater flexibilisation of working hours post-Corona. In the future, greater attention will be brought to managers concerning the issue of reconciling family and work, and the e-learning services for further training will also be expanded.