Approaches and Measures
Work-life Balance
For employees with small children, the issue of childcare is an important point when considering whether to work for a particular company. International employees, in particular, who relocate to the region to take up a job, generally do not have private childcare networks, and are therefore completely dependent on professional childcare. Larger companies are able to offer their employees with children childcare options in-house, which is very attractive.
For smaller and medium-sized companies, this is usually out of the question. There are, however, other options. Some childcare centres offer quotas to companies for childcare for their employees’ children. In other cases, companies join forces to organise communal childcare. Information on further options can be found under International Childcare Services and International and Bilingual Schools.
Another measure to improve work-life balance is flexible working hours. Depending on where the international skilled worker is from, they may expect to have flexitime or they may not be aware of it. In order to retain your international specialist long-term, it may help if you make appropriate provisions. Of course, these options should be available to all employees of the company.
Further suggestions for long-term retention of skilled workers in Germany and abroad can be found on the website Competence Centre for Securing Skilled Workers (KOFA) from the German Economic Institute.
Cultural and Religious Distinctions
When employees of different cultures or religions work at a company, new questions may quickly arise. Of particular interest is how holidays and public holidays are managed, and if there is a company canteen, what food is on offer.
Both matters can usually be dealt with without too much effort. In this way companies can benefit from the needs of different employees over holiday periods - for example, when employees are willing to work over Christmas.
Helpful contacts
The IQ Network Hesse advises people with a vocational, university or school qualification from abroad. They assist those who would like to work in Germany in the job in which they have training, and advise them on having their qualifications recognised and also on possible further qualifications. Furthermore, refugees can obtain legal advice on their rights on the job market (Beratungsstelle Faire Integration - Advisory Center Fair Integration). In addition, the regional network also advises and trains employment agencies, job centers, municipalities and companies in the area of intercultural competence development. All of the services are free of charge.
IQ provide advice on having qualifications recognized as well as on further qualifications throughout Hessen. You can find your local service on our website under the link below. The coordinating office of the IQ Network Hesse is located in Offenbach.
District / Cities: District Offenbach
Herrnstraße 53
63065 Offenbach am Main
Phone: +49 (0)69 272240
E-Mail: iq-hessen@involas.com
Website: https://www.hessen.netzwerk-iq.de/en/iq-network-hesse-our-services.html
We speak: German, English
Costs: Free of charge
The RKW Kompetenzzentrum is a non-proft, impartial organisation that provides stimulus and advice for small and medium-sized businesses throughout Germany. Our services are geared towards people who would like to further develop their established business, as well as those who have the ideas and drive to set up their own business. Our goal is to support and increase competitiveness and digitalisation within the mid-tier sector.
District / Cities: District Main-Taunus
Düsseldorfer Straße 40 A
65760 Eschborn
Phone: +49 (0)6196 495-3222
E-Mail: bechert@rkw.de
Website: https://www.rkw-kompetenzzentrum.de/
We speak: German