Together with their managers, Audi staff can individually decide which days they’ll work remotely and when they’ll come into the workplace, so long as that is suitable with their duties. The guidelines don’t specify any inflexible necessities. This offers staff even better freedom to discover a work mannequin that fits their very own life and to work in a self-determined and versatile method.
The new “Hybrid Working” company agreement is a additional improvement of the “Mobile Working” company agreement that has been in place since 2016 and with which the 4 rings have since gathered extraordinarily optimistic expertise. “We already had a high degree of flexibility, and now Audi employees can combine the best of both worlds – remote working and the office”, says Xavier Ros, Board Member for HR and Organization. “For us, the new company agreement is a constant step on our means in direction of a hybrid working world. At the identical time, it’s an expression of a company tradition characterised by particular person accountability and belief, which we’ll proceed to constantly drive ahead in the future.”
Chairman of the General Works Council Peter Mosch (Ingolstadt) and his deputy Rainer Schirmer (Neckarsulm) emphasize: “Hybrid working is the new normal of the Audi working world and heralds a new period at the 4 rings, from which all Audi staff will profit in the future. Of course, we’re additionally considering of workers who can’t do business from home due to their duties. Together with the company, we’re presently working on new room ideas and extra versatile working fashions to enhance working circumstances in the vegetation.”
More responsibility for teams strengthens motivation and sense of belonging
Together with the University of St. Gallen, Audi scientifically investigated the positive effects of making work models more flexible. For the study, the company and researchers surveyed more than 1,500 employees from over a hundred departments. The main result is that teams that had worked out joint agreements developed a clearer understanding of hybrid cooperation. Mutual trust and commitment are significantly more pronounced in these teams. “The sense of belonging and authenticity improve, and we have been additionally in a position to measure a optimistic impact on range of perspective and equal alternatives,” says project manager Carina Behrends from Diversity Management at Audi.
At the same time, working together in the office remains an important part of the corporate culture. Personal contact strengthens the sense of belonging and allows innovative ideas to emerge through joint exchange. Audi is improving the technical and spatial conditions for collaboration in hybrid teams at its Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm sites. New working environments including modern creative spaces, meeting rooms, project corners, lounges or meeting areas for communication, networking and collaboration will gradually be created over the coming years. The company agreement gives greater importance to desk sharing, in which Audi employees can participate voluntarily. Instead of personal workstations, the participating employees share the space flexibly. They can use a digital tool to conveniently book the room or desk they require.
Equipment packages for IT and ergonomic office equipment
Audi is supporting employees on their way to hybrid collaboration with generous equipment packages. Audi employees who participate in desk sharing and who can work on the move are entitled to an “IT package deal” or a “Furniture package deal”. These employees also receive a voucher for 500 euros or, temporarily limited until 30.06.2023, for 750 euros, which they can use to purchase ergonomic office equipment for mobile working.
The “Hybrid Working” company agreement is a fundamental component of the “higher regular” concept, which gives Audi employees maximum flexibility. The culture of trust and personal responsibility practiced at Audi, is also the basis for modern working models such as job sharing, part-time solutions and sabbaticals, which are increasingly being promoted.
More flexibility also in production
“higher regular” will also bring noticeable progress to Audi employees who cannot work in hybrid mode, for example, employees in Production who are bound to a specific cycle. The company and the works council are currently working on more flexible work models in shifts, new room concepts to make time spent on-site more pleasant, more varied offers in catering and easier access to the digital world of Audi in these areas.
Please note:
Prior to Bits & Pretzels in Munich, the event “On the Road to New Work” will take place on September 25 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. In the Design Offices Munich Highlight Towers, Audi experts will discuss the opportunities and challenges of the changes in our working world with New Work role models like Laura Lewandowski. If you are interested in this event, please contact [email protected].
