The Glatten-based company took 19th place in the category "Companies with 501 to 2,000 employees". A total of 100 companies were honored; 740 companies of all industries, sizes and federal states took part in the current benchmarking. Daniel Just, Head of Human Resources at Schmalz, accepted the award in Berlin on Thursday, March 15, 2018. "Our aim is not only to offer our employees modern workplaces, but also an open corporate culture and innovative employer benefits. In this respect, we are delighted with our excellent ranking in a high-caliber field of participants." The competition is one of the most prestigious employer awards in Germany. Companies of all sizes and from different sectors are analyzed. The assessment was based on a detailed and anonymous survey of employees on key workplace issues such as trust in managers, identification with the company, career development opportunities, health promotion and work-life balance. In a comprehensive cultural audit, the auditors also assessed Schmalz's HR and management work.

"We are very proud that we have now received this valuable award for the fifth time," says Dr. Kurt Schmalz, Managing Partner, and continues with regard to the Schmalz employees: "They are the basis of our success, so my thanks for the award go to each and every one of them." Schmalz continuously invests in the attractiveness of its workplaces.

A new building is currently being constructed with modern space and first-class facilities for efficient collaboration in international project teams. Also under construction is the "Schmalz Wertstromfabrik", an expansion of the production and logistics area at the Glatten site by 11,500 square meters - and one of the largest investments in the company's history.

The organizer of "Germany's Best Employers" is the Great Place to Work Institute in Cologne. Partners of the competition, which has been held annually since 2002, are Handelsblatt, Personalmagazin, Demographie Netzwerk e.V. and the Ludwig Erhard Preis e.V. initiative. "The award stands for a workplace culture that is characterized to a high degree by trust, pride and team spirit," says Frank Hauser, Managing Director at the Great Place to Work Institute. Schmalz had already received the award in 2004, 2009, 2012 and 2015. The company currently employs around 1,300 people in 18 companies worldwide. kp