Monday 2023-03-20

HELLA CEO Michel Favre addressed the results of the global employee survey 2022 with clear words at the staff meeting on 19 March 2023 and showed which measures the company will derive from them. In many areas, the results were positive and good for HELLA, even in comparison with the rest of the industry. One result, however, had moved the management very much: A large majority of respondents in Lippstadt agree that HELLA does too little for its employees. "I have already said it on the occasion of the FORVIA Day and I can only repeat it now: It shouldn't be like this," clarified Michel Favre.
​The management board therefore quickly agreed that something had to change. Therefore, Michel Favre brought a whole package of measures to the staff meeting.

​Lippstadt location concept: Direction decision made for Plant 1

​He began with the topic that is particularly close to the hearts of many employees: the future design of the Lippstadt site, the HELLA headquarters. "Our buildings, our facility, our infrastructure here in Lippstadt do not reflect what we want to represent as a company," says Favre. However, this cannot be changed with a simple coat of new wallpaper. "Because the Lippstadt location will continue to play a central role in the future. Together we want to walk the path of growth as FORVIA. To do so, we want to offer you the best possible working conditions," Michel Favre continues. Therefore, a completely new location is to be created, a Lippstadt Campus, most probably on the site of Plant 1. "At the Lippstadt Campus, we want to bring all development departments and administrative functions together in one place: Lighting, Electronics, Lifecycle Solutions and the Corporate Functions. We will create new buildings for this - with sustainable and modern workplaces," informs Favre.

​The new building will be realised on the site to the west of the railway tracks. There is a lot to be said for Plant 1: "The location is extremely attractive. City, university, the local recreation area “Grüner Winkel”, railway station, B55 - all in the immediate vicinity. We also already have the HELLA Globe and our Light Channel here. HELLA would thus remain in the heart of Lippstadt," explains Favre.

​The new building will take time; Favre mentions a period of about 10 years until completion. But the exact plans are to be worked out by the end of the year. "As soon as we have agreed on a concept with the city, we will work out the exact details together with architects and then, of course, present them to you," Favre announces.

​Plant 2 becomes production site

​"We want to define Plant 2 as a pure production site in the long term," informs Favre. "The tooling technology will also remain in Plant 2. Because one thing is clear: We continue to hold on to Plant 2. There is no question about that. Plant 2 is also a central part of our Lippstadt DNA. All of you who work there have invaluable knowledge and great experience." There are many advantages for Plant 2 in the redesign of the Lippstadt Campus, Favre emphasises. This would make it possible to plan production areas and logistics routes much better, eliminate cumbersome internal cost allocations and place the responsibility and authority of Plant 2 in one hand. "We will therefore invest in the lighting production at Plant 2. In the premises, in the infrastructure, in automation; even promptly," Favre announced. When asked, Favre also signalled that they are currently working on further orders for the plant.

​We CARE project with initial measures worth 3.5 million euros

​It was also important to the management board to initiate immediate measures to quickly improve the situation. The We CARE project was therefore set up. In many discussions, the question was explored as to why the majority says: HELLA is not doing enough for its employees. "It is in the nature of things that there are different opinions on the cause. But there was also a lot of overlap in the answers. We now want to address these points that were mentioned by many," said Favre. "To this end, we have put together a package of initial immediate measures with a total investment of around 3.5 million euros." The following measures will be implemented in the near future:

• ​Renovation of the toilets in the production area of Plant 2 (buildings C09, C10 and B06) & installation of cooling units in the break rooms in the production area of Plant 2 ​
• Once a month free breakfast for production employees ​
• 4 new charging poles, each with two charging points for electric vehicles, to relieve the need for charging ​
• Investment in height-adjustable desks, proper office chairs and monitors, as needed ​
• Investment in newer smartphone models with dual SIM function so that employees can also use smartphones privately ​Introducing the Hybrid Work Wizard, a new functionality in Microsoft Teams that promotes personal networking in the company and simplifies the organisation of hybrid working ​
• Subsidising the Deutschland Ticket to promote sustainable mobility ​
• Expansion of the fitness offer through cooperation with Wellpass, a service provider that allows access to over 6,500 sports partners in Germany with just one ticket ​
• Many more

​and even further still in planning.

The measures will start soon; further information will follow. "Personally, I am convinced that with these immediate measures we can effectively address various pain points and offer you further attractive offers as an employer," said Favre. "But one thing is very clear to me: That will not be everything. We are in the process of planning further measures. In the process, we will also be dealing with more profound aspects.” These include the topics of appreciation and workload. In this context, Favre thanked the staff for their extraordinary commitment. "You are achieving a lot and our current economic development proves in black and white how successful we are together as a team."

​​Putting employees at the centre of action

​"From now on, we want to put you, our employees, even more at the centre of everything we do. With this we are laying the foundation to be able to continue to be successful in the future," Michel Favre emphasised at the end.​