Griesson - de Beukelaer (GdB) is one of the most attractive employers in Germany: This is the result of the large-scale employer study published annually by the news magazine FOCUS in cooperation with the professional network Xing. The 2014 study awards 9th place to the family business with locations in Polch (Rhineland-Palatinate), Kempen (North Rhine-Westphalia), Kahla (Thuringia), Ravensburg (Baden-Württemberg) and Wurzen (Saxony) from among over 800 companies. Particularly noteworthy: With 8,330 points, GdB is the undisputed frontrunner in the "Food, Beverage and Tobacco" category and will consequently operate as the "Top National Employer 2014" in this sector. In comparison with the previous year, GdB climbed nearly 90 places in the overall ranking. The more highly ranked companies include groups such as Audi, Airbus and BMW who occupy the top three spots. "We are very proud of this award", said press spokesperson Peter Gries at yesterday's award ceremony in Berlin. "We invest a great deal in order to provide our employees with an attractive working environment. We consider the prize as an incentive for continued efforts."
GdB has already been launching extensive measures for years at all five of its locations in order to ensure stable long-term personnel planning. These include activities relating to recruitment (from trainees to executives), further training and retirement, as well as good career opportunities, flexible working time models and professional health management. The high level of satisfaction among the 2,000 employees (including 92 trainees) is demonstrated by the low degree of employee turnover as well as by the latest employee survey conducted regularly by GdB, which verifies the company's continued high satisfaction index. "We are very keen to develop good employees on an individual basis and provide them with the best possible support, including outside the company", says Matthias Denstorff, personnel and judiciary manager. "They return this appreciation to us in the form of their great commitment" states Andreas Land, Chairman of the Management Board: "The reliability and continuity that distinguish us as a family company give our employees security. Furthermore, there is also a very high degree of identification with our excellent brands such as Prinzen Rolle. This overall package makes us an attractive employer."
As a modern employer GdB explores new avenues to counteract the shortage of skilled labour and find qualified young professionals. Trainees themselves promote the baked goods manufacturer as an employer in schools, contribute to the creation of information flyers and advertisements and present their work in various YouTube videos. GdB also has a presence on social networks, including a page on the employer rating site kununu and careers pages on Xing and Facebook, on which the company answers questions concerning work and training at one of the leading companies in the European sweet and savoury baked goods market.
About the study
Once a year, FOCUS and Xing honour Germany's best employers. In so doing, over 2,000 companies employing at least 500 employees are rated. Using an online survey and the Xing and kununu networks statisticians determined the experiences of employees at these companies. The in-depth survey of 800 selected companies concerned aspects such as satisfaction with the image of the company, the management style of bosses, perspectives within the company and remuneration. The question as to whether an employee would recommend his/her company to friends was also decisive. A maximum number of 10,000 points could be awarded with the company at the top of the overall ranking achieving a total of 8,655 points. In contrast with many other rankings, the FOCUS list is based on the judgement of employees from all levels of hierarchy and all age groups and is not limited to individual groups.