Responsibility

Employees

At STIHL, corporate responsibility to our employees means that our workforce can count on us. Worldwide, around 17,000 people work for STIHL. Sustainable and successful business operations are only possible through the joint efforts of the company's employees, management and owners. Social welfare and fair, cooperative teamwork have high priority at STIHL.

A social approach

STIHL has a tradition of granting voluntary social benefits that go far beyond what is agreed upon through collective bargaining. The basic principles of social welfare were already laid down by the company's founder, Andreas Stihl. The support fund that was established in 1939 was developed over the years into a modern company pension system. And for more than 40 years, there has also been a voluntary profit-sharing bonus. In addition, employees can acquire profit-participation rights, upon which interest is paid in relation to the company's earnings; in the past 20 years, this interest was usually at the maximum level of ten percent. When acquiring the profit-participation rights, the employees pay only one third of the price; the other two thirds are paid by the company.

Job security

Continuity in thoughts and actions is an important basis of our success. Ever since the company was founded, STIHL has always taken a long-term approach while maintaining flexibility and adaptability. This allows us to create secure jobs. In 2009, ANDREAS STIHL AG & Co. KG agreed with the General Employee Council on the continuation and further development of the company's own employment and site-guarantee agreement until December 31, 2021.

Loyalty and solidarity

Fair cooperation in a spirit of partnership with support from colleagues and open communication is a key element of our corporate culture. As a medium-sized family-owned business, we are particularly proud of the fact that our employees stay at STIHL for significantly longer than the industry average. One expression of this loyalty and solidarity is the tradition that employees' anniversaries at the company are honored by the Executive Board and the owning family and that the anniversaries are celebrated with the employees' families, colleagues and managers.

Family and career

It is not always easy to combine the needs of family and career. In order to meet the requirements of mothers and fathers at STIHL and to help them achieve a better balance between the working world and private life, we have implemented numerous measures. Together with the employees concerned, we arrange flexible working-time models that create scope for looking after children or other members of the family. Meanwhile, more than 120 models of working time exist which are tailored to operating and private needs. Through our family service, we also help employees to find suitable care facilities for their children or older family members. For example, places at a local childcare center are reserved for STIHL children.

Safety at work

Ensuring the safety of employees at work is a key task for STIHL. For this purpose, we have supplemented the statutory safety regulations with our own internal guidelines. STIHL employees and apprentices are trained in workshops and courses to avoid accidents at work at an early stage. STIHL's training department has developed the concept of an additional qualification as a "junior safety partner" together with the Wood and Metal Employers' Insurance Association. This concept has the objective of sensitizing and activating our workforce already as apprentices for issues such as occupational safety and protective equipment.

Health care

Protecting and promoting our employees' health is an important part of our social obligations. STIHL's health service offers professional medical care at work. The service's program includes medical examinations as well as the ergonomic design of workplaces, the provision of advice on health matters and the organization of Nordic walking and yoga courses. In addition, all sport enthusiasts can participate in a wide range of groups and courses in STIHL's company sport activities.