My job title is “Head of Total Rewards Germany”. Together with my team, I am responsible for the benefit programs at Fresenius in Germany. This covers all the benefits that employees receive in addition to their salary, including company pension schemes or the so-called “Langzeitkonto” (a long-term annual leave account), as well as our share options or share programs. Our latest initiative is called Flex Benefits. We want to offer a range of flexible benefits that meet the different needs of our employees.

The “Langzeitkonto” allows employees to save money or time while they are actively working. They then have the opportunity to use this time as a sabbatical or to retire early – they are paid a salary from their long-term annual leave account to cover this period when they are not working. It is a great way to gain more long-term flexibility for plans outside of work.

We want to use the Flex Benefits to fill the gaps in our previous offering so that we can better meet the various requirements of our employees. People’s wishes can vary massively depending on the stage of life they are in and their situations. So we have created a wide range of flexible options meaning everyone can find something to suit them – from the cycle scheme, to the Deutschlandticket rail pass, to health and wellbeing options; something that is particularly close to our hearts as a healthcare group.

I don’t really have standard working days – my team and I tend to work in phases and on set projects.  Our share program, Fresenius Share, took up a lot of our time during the first half of the year – from identifying beneficiaries and preparing communication in the first quarter, to the subscription that began in April, to registering the shares in June. Other tasks tend to demand our attention each month – like on-going pension calculations – and we receive applications for the cycle to work scheme or for Flex Benefits each day.

We are in constant conversation – with employees, HR business partners and with the works council. We listen, take feedback on board and constantly look to improve our program. Collaborating with other areas of the Group (e.g. Legal, Data Protection, Tax etc.) is key when it comes to designing new models and this process is also really enriching. At the same time, we look to compare ourselves with other companies so that we can remain competitive as an employer. Flexibility is becoming more and more important. It is interesting to see how people’s requirements change depending on their stage of life and how different trends develop – the “Langzeitkonto” or long-term account is a good example here. In the beginning, it was predominantly used by older employees who were looking to take early retirement; whereas now it is also popular among our younger colleagues, so they can take a break from work and enjoy a better work-life balance.

We are a dedicated team of five and we are responsible for the Fresenius companies located in Germany. I am personally responsible for the design, development and strategic monitoring of our benefits. The different types of benefits are split amongst two colleagues and then we have a clerk and a student who help with the admin side. We work closely together and regularly discuss the various projects and tasks. Our work is very varied: on the one hand, you need a keen eye for detail as we work with lots of figures and have to deal with legal requirements. On the other hand, we all love the contact with our colleagues when they come to us with their concerns.

I studied Business Administration with a specialism in HR. I then went on to work at a consultancy with a focus on company pension schemes, so I was working in the employee benefits sphere from the start. After a few years working at the consultancy, I decided that I wanted to gain practical experience in a company. So, some 20 years ago, I moved to Fresenius. I began in pensions and profit sharing. It was here that I found the right working environment to develop long-term and sustainable programs and to actively shape the benefits scheme.

Because there are such great benefits, of course! But in all seriousness, Fresenius is a company that is constantly developing and changing. There is an enormous range of topics and activities so it never gets boring. It brings me great joy to provide good working conditions for my colleagues who work in the business segments, i.e., the people who are close to the patients. I like being part of a really dedicated team – lots of my colleagues have been here for a long time and they are really enthusiastic about their work.