Good practice: Social services

For all questions that arise in life: At Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, employees can make use of social services during working hours and also talk confidentially about the topic of work-life balance. Regina Neumann-Busies, Head of Social Services, explains the service.

Company social work (BSA) is a voluntary, in-house service that companies can offer their employees free of charge. Certified in-house or external specialists are available to advise employees during working hours. The topics that employees can turn to the social services with are varied: from pregnancy and parental leave to mental health problems and the desire for a career change.

Henkel AG & Co. KGaA has its own internal area for social services. The employees working there welcome colleagues in a confidential atmosphere and offer advice and help on professional and private issues. As a point of contact for all questions that arise in life, those seeking advice are given a hearing, information material and personal recommendations for action. Expectant parents, for example, are informed about the childcare options available in the in-house daycare centers as well as the challenges that children pose to the partnership.

The main purpose of social services is to prevent insecurity, stress and excessive demands. And not without reason. After all, people are increasingly suffering from mental health problems that lead to absenteeism and a reduced quality of work. Preventing this is the aim of corporate social work.

For employees, a trained person who is bound to confidentiality and yet is familiar with the circumstances within the company is a neutral point of contact for exchange, a change of perspective or intensive advice. At Henkel, all employees are happy to take advantage of this advisory service - whether they are managers or warehouse employees.