This company even offers sleep workshops

Kuhn Rikon not only makes high-quality cooking pots and pans. The operation in Zurich’s Tösstal also ensures that the 190 employees in Switzerland are doing well. Because Kuhn Rikon has been awarded the “Friendly Work Space” label by Health Promotion Switzerland since 2009. As the first company in the canton of Zurich. The SME has just undergone a re-assessment, as Chief Financial Officer Michael Karrer explains. This is then celebrated with the entire workforce. Incidentally, it is rare for the CFO of a company to personally advocate for the implementation of WHM.

The quality criteria that are a prerequisite for the label are checked every three years. This includes systematically implemented health management (BGM). This also means that label companies have to constantly develop further. But the investment is paying off, says the chief financial officer. It is important to know that you can achieve a lot even with a modest budget.

“When I see how workplace health management is lived and internalized by the employees, it’s definitely worth it.” Satisfaction becomes clear in employee surveys: “On a scale of 1 to 5, we were 4.5 in May 2022,” says Karrer.

Social commitment has a long tradition

The fact that Kuhn Rikon has been using the “Friendly Work Space” label for 13 years has something to do with the history of the family company and its social commitment, says Karrer. In the 1960s, Henri and Jacques Kuhn helped refugee Tibetans, employed them in the company and founded the Tibet Institute in Rikon.

The company still lives up to its social responsibility today: as a company that takes numerous measures to ensure the well-being of its employees. CEO Tobias Gerfin says: “The ‘Friendly Work Space’ label is a sign of our appreciation of our employees.”

Wide range for employees

This appreciation is also expressed in the numerous WHM offers. This ranges from the pool card, thanks to which employees can go swimming for free, to bike tours or hikes, to health days. “The medical checks were fully booked,” says Michael Karrer. Vital parameters and eye pressure were measured, but lectures on nutrition, courses in ergonomics and exercises for production employees were also offered.

A health circle, consisting of seven employees from all areas, takes up the most important WHM topics four times a year. “These are also trusted people who receive feedback from colleagues,” says Karrer. But the corporate culture is also based on open dealings and open communication. «That’s an advantage: I know all the employees and when I walk through the company I can see how the people are doing. In this way, you can already solve certain problems in a conversation.”

Inclusion in all WHM measures also applies to employees in training. In addition, Kuhn uses Rikon Apprentice, a service for vocational students to promote the mental health of learners. For young people, the transition from school to work is often particularly challenging.

This is Friendly Work Space

The “Friendly Work Space” label sets the Swiss quality standard for systematically implemented company health management (BGM), which is supported by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco) and the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG). The label is issued by the Health Promotion Switzerland Foundation, which is supported by the cantons and insurers and has a statutory mandate.

«Systematically implemented company health management is also financially worthwhile for a company due to the preventive effect and measures to quickly reintegrate employees. WHM and especially the label ‘Friendly Work Space’ also have an attractive effect on job seekers, which is an advantage for companies when it comes to recruitment. With Apprentice, Health Promotion Switzerland offers an offer for vocational training to promote the mental health of learners,” says Thomas Brändli, Project Manager Communication BGM.

The “Friendly Work Space” label sets the Swiss quality standard for systematically implemented company health management (BGM), which is supported by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco) and the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG). The label is issued by the Health Promotion Switzerland Foundation, which is supported by the cantons and insurers and has a statutory mandate.

«Systematically implemented company health management is also financially worthwhile for a company due to the preventive effect and measures to quickly reintegrate employees. WHM and especially the label ‘Friendly Work Space’ also have an attractive effect on job seekers, which is an advantage for companies when it comes to recruitment. With Apprentice, Health Promotion Switzerland offers an offer for vocational training to promote the mental health of learners,” says Thomas Brändli, Project Manager Communication BGM.

How do you reach the employees?

“Kuhn Rikon does quite a lot,” says Karrer, “there is a fitness center of its own. A relaxation room is currently being built, and there will soon be two workshops on the subject of sleeping.” A survey was also carried out on the subject of sleep in order to pick up on the needs. Accordingly, there is a special course for production employees who work in shifts and a workshop for those with normal working hours.

“The challenge with all WHM measures is to reach the employees,” explains Karrer. Employees in the office, production, logistics and the staff in the shops have different requirements. Accordingly, the participation rates are not always the same. The yoga and Pilates classes would have worked less well. For other measures such as “Bike to Work” or hiking, the same employees would always take part.

With the pandemic and the associated establishment of home office, online offers on health topics are now being planned, says Karrer. Also to better integrate employees who work externally. While working from home was previously clearly regulated, it is now a question of agreement with the supervisor. In some cases it is difficult to get people back into the office, explains the chief financial officer, explaining one effect of the pandemic.

Mental health in focus

On the other hand, the company also saw a rise in mental illnesses in the pandemic. Mental fitness is therefore still the focus, as Karrer says: “Mental stress is the biggest issue at the moment.” Nevertheless, the survey in spring 2022 showed that employee satisfaction had increased massively compared to the 2019 survey. “They worked more, but they also have more responsibility and can have a say.”

The shortage of skilled workers could increase the work pressure. “It hits us very hard,” says Michael Karrer, describing the situation at Kuhn Rikon. Above all, production specialists and personnel with technical skills are in demand. If employees change because they earn more in urban centers, “we have to shape the environment in such a way that we remain competitive”. For Karrer, one means of doing this is the “Friendly Work Space” label. Although not everyone is familiar with the label in Switzerland alone, it is very useful when you explain it to applicants. Then people get excited.”