Gunskirchen, November 26, 2020 – The expert jury of the network “Company Health Promotion” awarded Rotax the 2020 BGF-Prize with two titles: The Upper-Austrian Best Practice company not only is in its own federal state but also throughout Austria the healthiest large company.

A fitness center, workshops on stress management or burnout prevention, outdoor training, physical education and a company restaurant with healthy meals: an extract from the numerous activities that the company offers to promote a healthy lifestyle of its employees shows what excels Rotax as the healthiest large company of Austria. Only in Upper Austria, Rotax prevailed over more than 330 companies with a total of around 150,000 employees. Just a few weeks later in November, Rotax was also awarded the national BGF prize.

“Especially in our 100^th anniversary year we are particularly proud to have been named the healthiest large company in Austria. The well-being of our employees has always been our top priority. We are all the more pleased that our measures have now also been awarded by BGF“, said Wolfgang Rapberger, GM BRP-Rotax / Representative of the Management Board.

Focus on health and safety at Rotax

BGF only honors companies that implement corporate sustainable measures for health and safety. This is the same at Rotax: With the introduction of the Rotax Quality Production System (RQPS) in 2000, safety topics moved into the spotlight. Health topics as well became increasingly important in the following years.

The starting point for comprehensive measures was the project “DOO it! GSUND”, which was developed by Rotax in cooperation with the fund “Healthy Austria”. Among other things, the fitness center „DOO it! PLUS“ resulted, which since then has been used intensively by employees and their families.

Flexible and family-friendly working models

Many projects followed that could decrease health-damaging influences: Life-phase-oriented work models further improve working conditions at Rotax. In addition to sabbaticals, educational or paternity leave, numerous flexible part-time models are offered to employees with children or relatives in need of care. Part-time retirement and the consideration for the workplace design of team members over 50 years are two more aspects that are implemented at Rotax.

Target group-specific programs present the right opportunity for every team member: they reach from comprehensive leadership programs to numerous offers for apprentices, such as outdoor training or physical education. With workshops on topics such as stress management, non-smoking or burnout prevention as well as running events or mountain bike trophies, the Upper Austrian company orients itself towards high, internationally recognized quality standards for health promotion.

Healthy at work

The topic of ergonomics also plays an important role at Rotax: Whether in the office or production area, ergonomic workplace design and workshops should support the entire Rotax team in the best possible way.

Rotax provides daily and healthy lunch in its company restaurant, which has already received the award for “Healthy Cusisine” from the Upper Austrian government. The employees are offered a varied and balanced menu with regional and predominantly organic food.

COVID-19-measures of the Best Practice company

“At a time when health and safety has never been so much of a focus, we have, of course, created, in addition to all of our existing health and safety services, a wide range of preventive measures for COVID-19”, adds Rapberger. “A 5-step-plan, COVID-19 contact management and a dedicated hotline should protect the health of our 1,500 employees.”

The 5-step-plan includes self-assessment tools, infrared thermal imaging stations at entrances, comprehensive hygiene and safety measures, a two-meter distance control and mandatory wearing of personal protective equipment (including face masks). Furthermore, the Rotax crisis team is constantly monitoring the current situation of COVID-19. Employees and their managers can report suspicious cases at any time via a specially set up internal COVID-19 hotline or their own e-mail inbox. Therefore, necessary measures can immediately be coordinated and documented and communication with authorities can be carried out in the best possible way.