SWG honours long-serving members
Stadtwerke Gießen is celebrating the long-service anniversaries of seven employees.
During a small ceremony, Stadtwerke Gießen (SWG) recently honoured seven employees marking their anniversaries. Six colleagues have been with SWG for 25 years, whilst one employee has even been working at the Lahnstraße site for 40 years. Such impressively long periods of service are not unusual at SWG. “It speaks volumes for the company that so many staff members have remained loyal to it over the decades,” says Andreas Hergaß, a member of SWG’s executive board. His fellow board member, Matthias Funk, has a theory as to why staff remain with SWG for such an unusually long time: “It seems we offer people jobs that make them happy.”
Meaningful work as part of a team
Across all staff members, the average length of service at SWG is just under 18 years – which is well above the German average. But why do so many spend such a long time of their working lives at SWG? “Most people are probably like me. They find it fulfilling to carry out work that is meaningful through and through,” suggests Andreas Hergaß. Indeed, providing the region with a reliable supply of energy and water, ensuring public transport runs smoothly and operating swimming pools are all of great social importance. “Here, every single person can contribute to the success of the whole organisation and see the impact of their own work,” adds Matthias Funk.
Another key factor in the satisfaction of long-serving staff at SWG is the teamwork that has been practised for many years. “Of course, we need highly specialised experts. But on their own, they can’t achieve much. When it comes to the tasks we carry out day in, day out, success depends entirely on effective collaboration – increasingly across different departments as well,” explains Andreas Hergaß. This spirit of collaboration is particularly evident in large-scale projects such as PowerLahn, the innovative combined heat and power plant that SWG is set to commission in the coming days. “Such a large-scale, technically complex project can only be successfully managed if everyone involved works hand in hand and supports one another,” says HR Manager Isabel Manssor, describing the approach.
The fact that SWG invests in its staff is also likely to contribute to employees feeling well looked after: through regular training and professional development, those in charge at SWG ensure that all staff members are up to date with the latest technical developments and can continue to develop personally. Age plays no role in this.
A well-rounded package
Flexible working time arrangements, attractive employee benefits, a modern working environment and a culture of mutual appreciation and respect are further aspects that earn SWG brownie points as an employer. “In my opinion, this well-rounded package is the main reason why so many people have been working with us for decades – and are celebrating their 25th or 40th anniversaries,” sums up Sven Erik Schmidt, deputy chair of the SWG works council. These long-serving employees in particular are experienced specialists. They form the backbone of the company and consequently play a central role in its success – now and in the future. “Their expertise, commitment and loyalty make them role models for all new recruits who are joining the team to tackle future challenges,” explains Andreas Hergaß.
The following employees were honoured
40th anniversary: Marcus Weege
25th anniversary: Birgit Kaminsky, Susanne Kampermann-Mattes, Edip Al, Kamil Bingöl, Thorsten Dippel and Reiner Felsing