Diversity

Mixed teams: Swiss Post's trump card

Swiss Post has recognized the demographic challenges of the coming years and is focusing on mixed teams. To ensure that older employees remain productive for longer and to attract younger employees, Swiss Post is taking a wide range of measures.

The world of work in Switzerland is faced with declining birth rates and increasing life expectancy. For companies, this can lead to problems such as a disproportionate number of retirements, and the consequent loss of know-how.

Solving problems in mixed-age teams

To address these challenges, Swiss Post invests in young employees, while at the same time building on the knowledge of older ones. “In our experience, we have found that complex tasks and problems are better solved when teams are composed of younger and older employees”, says Sabine Rial-Ramseier, specialist in diversity management. To attract more young people, Swiss Post relies on vocational training, which is why PostMail has increased the number of apprentices from 150 to 180 per year. Swiss Post also offers trainee positions for school-leavers, paving their way into the working world. Swiss Post now also offers advanced training in “Leadership in the generation mix” and is a member of Demographie Forum Schweiz, an association of Swiss companies dedicated to sustainable generation management, as well as the Silberfuchs network, which focuses on the situation of more mature people in the labour market.

Home care calls for flexibility

Internal surveys show that about 30 percent of employees assume caring responsibilities for family members. This care takes up a lot of time and is often difficult or impossible to plan. The same applies to childcare: “This requires a great deal of flexibility, both for employees and for the employer,” according to Sabine Rial-Ramseier. Swiss Post's working time models are suited to those with caring responsibilities, ranging from annual working hours to part-time work, job sharing and teleworking. In 2013, 49 percent of employees at Swiss Post worked part-time, including more and more people in management roles. Those in need of support can approach the company's Social Service department. Work and care advisors provide support in the form of discussions, suggestions to relieve stress and other tips.

Networks for exchange

For young parents, carers of the elderly, and employees with a migrant background or from French-speaking Switzerland and Ticino, Swiss Post offers internal networks for exchange and consultation. For instance, the MOVE network ensures that a healthy work-life balance is right at the top of the agenda at Swiss Post, while MOSAICO promotes linguistic and cultural diversity.

 www.silberfuchs-netz.ch (only available in German)
 www.demographieforum.ch (only available in German)

Sabina Kazimoska Regional Manager Occupational Marketing Region East

Ms Kazimoska, you came to Switzerland from Macedonia as a schoolchild. Did you find it difficult to get a start in your career?

I started as an intern with Swiss Post immediately after gaining my school-leaving certificate and am now, at the age of 27, a regional manager for occupational marketing. Swiss Post has always supported me in my professional development. I have never felt disadvantaged, either as a woman or because of my Macedonian roots. In fact, quite the opposite.

What in particular do you value about your employer?

The flexibility. I have just recently returned to work after extended maternity leave, and with a reduced workload of 70 percent. Swiss Post also supported me while I was studying for my Bachelor's degree in Business Administration.

Do you know of other examples?

In my role, I regularly meet young people, many of them with an immigrant background, who have made numerous unsuccessful applications for an apprenticeship. I try to give these young people encouragement.