Shaping employment: Companies demonstrate responsibility

What can companies do to counteract the shortage of qualified employees? How can employees best be fostered in order to increase motivation, quality, and competitiveness? How can companies be encouraged to take innovative steps towards the working world of tomorrow? IFOK finds solutions: In the competition entitled “Beschäftigung gestalten – Unternehmen zeigen Verantwortung” [shaping employment – companies demonstrate commitment] for the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs on the Initiative für Beschäftigung! [initiative for employment].

A fragile economic situation and very high unemployment posed enormous challenges for education policy players in 2003. Government and business were united in their aim of sending a signal and showing that there are exemplary companies that are actively confronting the challenges of the job market and are finding committed solutions to secure and develop employment. The competition “Beschäftigung gestalten – Unternehmen zeigen Verantwortung” was able to bring to light numerous impressive example. The close collaboration between the then Federal Ministry of Economics and Labour and the Initiative für Beschäftigung! became a permanent institution: This year, the fourth time the competition has been held, small and midsize businesses from all sectors will again submit their innovative, exemplary ideas and hope to be rewarded for their exceptional commitment by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and the Initiative für Beschäftigung!. IFOK has established the “Beschäftigung gestalten und Unternehmen zeigen Verantwortung” competition as a prestigious prize. The high-quality, structured evaluation, the high-class jury comprising representatives from politics, business, trade unions, and science, and impressive PR work have made the competition a great success for all concerned – and have encouraged many companies to take charge of their own destinies.