Making your job fun.
It goes without saying that we adhere to all the statutory regulations such as maternity protection (Mutterschutz), parental allowance (Elterngeld), child-raising allowance (Erziehungsgeld), parental leave (Elternzeit) and family caregiver leave (Pflegezeit).
The Otto Group follows the flexitime model. This allows for flexibility in your work and family life. In addition you have the option to work part-time, take a sabbatical or work from your home office.
We want parents to always be at their best – even in unexpected situations. This is why, as part of the initiative “Parents at their best”, we have set up a children's room with a large play area and cosy corner, including two fully equipped work stations for parents who'd like to keep an eye on their kids. In addition, the Otto Group supports you with the task of finding and choosing suitable child care facilities, daycare parents or holiday care.
In order to make it easier for you to return to work after maternity or parental leave (Elternzeit), we offer you an allowance to cover childcare costs. This allowance is generally paid until children start attending school.
You want to find suitable care for your children? The AWO (Workers' Welfare Association) provides independent advisory and placement service for all employees of the Otto Group, in order for you to find the kind of care that is right for your child. And of course for you.
We warmly welcome all new arrivals: Newborns receive a voucher worth 250 euros as a welcome gift. The only condition is that one of the parents has been employed with the Otto Group for an uninterrupted period of at least one year.
You would like to care for a family member? The Otto Group gladly supports you in it. Together with our colleagues from the social counselling service you will find a solution for your individual situation.
You want to get in shape both professionally and physically? Then count on our support. You have the choice between 31 different in-house sports activities, or you join our own Fitness Lounge, which we operate in cooperation with Techniker Krankenkasse (Techniker Health Insurer). On 600 sqm you find an extensive range of equipment and an innovative selection of courses including Tai Chi and yoga, expert support and advice – and of course many nice colleagues.
Whatever the problems – physical, mental, acute or general - our in-house medical service offers employees the help they need. In addition we support your health with preventative check-ups (i.e. cancer screening) or extra services (i.e. driver safety training.)
We promote your health not only on the sports field or in the Fitness Lounge, but also right at your desk. Otto Group's professional advice on ergonomic questions makes sure that your health isn't compromised.
Think that professional training does not go along with training to be a professional athlete? We think that it is a perfect match! The Otto Group offers specifically tailored vocational training programmes or positions to athletes, in order to support their second professional career path. The athletes themselves appreciate this, and so does the Chamber of Commerce, having awarded us the title as a “Partner enterprise of high-performance sports”.
Many thanks to Jürgen Bock from Corporate Culture Development for the great talk he held for our interns on May 2012. He tackled the question “How to move from being a bystander to becoming the director of my life”?, explaining the tricks that help you find the right philosophy in life. “Work makes you happy or sick” is one of his mottos. It is important to discover one's strengths and interests and then to follow that path independently and ambitiously. After all, when the job is fun, you never have to work a single day in your life.
Every two months, our employees – from interns all the way to senior management – are invited not only to satisfy their hunger but also to quench their thirst for knowledge. Between 12.30 and 13.30 there are three items on the programme: An expert gives a 20-minute talk on a current topic, which then becomes the subject of a lively discussion for the participants over the following 20 minutes, while they enjoy a stand-up snack buffet. The final 20 minutes are devoted to a plenary discussion. Well, enjoy your meal – and doing good work!
It's become a cherished tradition that the members of the Executive Board invite all employees to a Christmas market on the corporate premises. The market brought joy to all of us – and to operators of the “Arche” in Hamburg, a charitable organisation for disadvantaged children and youth, to which all the proceeds were donated. With just 1 euro per item you could do good and buy tasty punch, doughnuts, roasted almonds, sausages and much more.
New year, new event. On January 12th, 2012, our HR colleagues introduced the “Breakfast Club” for all employees at the corporate headquarters. Under the auspices of Andreas Frenkler and Dr. Thomas Schnieders, speakers from different departments let the listeners in on useful background information, gave insights on the situation at OTTO, informed on e-commerce plans and innovations and, when all was said and done, were available for questions. The first “Breakfast Club” tackled the question: “E-commerce – what are our clients' expectations?” The presentation was an immediate success and made us look forward to the topics of the coming weeks and months.
