Foto: Arbeit und Leben Sachsen-Anhalt gGmbH
On August 15, 2024, the Saxony-Anhalt Staff and Works Council Conference took place at the Kulturhaus Leuna under the motto "Co-determination in Digitalization." The conference brought together numerous representatives from companies, trade unions, and politics to discuss current topics such as digitalization, co-determination, and forward-looking human resources strategies. A special focus was placed on creating family-friendly working conditions, which was the subject of a workshop led by Kerstin Mogdans, coordinator of the Welcome Center Saxony-Anhalt and employee of the state initiative "Fachkraft im Fokus" (Focus on Skilled Workers).
Focus on family-friendly work design
The workshop "Family-friendly work design" addressed one of the most pressing issues in the modern world of work: How can the compatibility of family and career be improved? It became clear that family-friendly measures must take into account not only the needs of employees, but also the corporate culture and strategic orientation of companies.
tailored to the different stages of employees' lives. Among other things, this involved flexible working hours, childcare, support with caregiving responsibilities, voluntary work, personal development, and consideration of individual problems. She also emphasized that generations, values, and lifestyles have a decisive influence on the world of work and can pose a particular challenge for managers, which can only be overcome through open-minded and trusting communication. A central aspect of the workshop was the joint exchange on the question of how family-friendly measures can be adapted to the respective corporate culture. Difficult questions such as "Who actually belongs to the family and what is work-life balance all about?" were also openly discussed. "Family-friendliness in a company also means, among other things, work organization that is appropriate for families and life stages," Mogdans emphasized.
Training agencies as partners for works councils
The conference also discussed the services offered by continuing education agencies in Saxony-Anhalt, which provide valuable support to works councils in developing continuing education concepts. Lutz Rätz, project manager of the state initiative Fachkraft im Fokus (Focus on Skilled Workers), presented the opportunities for promoting continuing education in his contribution. In particular, he discussed how continuing education measures can be used to secure skilled workers and prepare companies for the challenges of digitalization.
Do you have any questions about family-friendly work arrangements?
Our regional advisors from the state initiative Fachkraft im Fokus are happy to help. If you would like to learn more about developing and implementing family-friendly measures in your company, please contact us!
Kerstin Mogdans
Phone: +49 391 400669 16
Mobile: +49 152 53791663
