Welcome back to work

Summer, sun, beach – and: substitute services

(matsch) – Summer, sun, beach – and: substitute services. Your colleague’s desk is empty. Your desk neighbour is on holiday. Now substitute services are needed. Everyday office life takes on new, additional priorities. This affects everyone at some point, because eventually those who stayed behind also go on holiday. Concentrated presence at the desk is then required for those who stayed behind, says WTH Managing Director Gero Thieme: ‘It’s hardly possible to use flexitime to leave work early…’

Because the colleague who would normally pick up the phone at such moments is somewhere where the lemon trees are blooming. ‘Nevertheless, day-to-day business usually continues smoothly and without problems,’ says the company boss happily. However, this requires that colleagues on holiday have prepared well for their absence. This includes, for example, informing important business partners. Thieme is convinced: ‘The good collegial and cooperative working relationships within the company mean that this happens almost seamlessly for us.’

In companies with a manageable number of employees, it’s the same everywhere, including at Stader. One employee sums it up: ‘Sometimes, when talking to my colleague’s customer, I need to know everything about window profiles, even though I usually deal with adhesives.’

It is certainly not easy to familiarise yourself with the areas of expertise of colleagues who are on holiday and then be a competent discussion partner in customer meetings. However, it is possible to prepare for this. Managing Director Thieme: ‘Our principle is that we owe each other information. Therefore, those who know something are obliged to communicate their knowledge to their colleagues. Our versatile IT architecture helps with this.’

In this way, the transfer of knowledge and insights at WTH not only takes place throughout the year, but continuously. Ultimately, everyone benefits from this, both those who go on holiday and those who have to cover for them.

Nevertheless, everyone is likely to be relieved when the holidaymakers are back at their desks soon. Gero Thieme: ‘No matter how you look at it, when employees are absent, there is also a shortage of skilled workers with the relevant knowledge and contacts – potential gaps in expertise must then be confidently filled.’ Conclusion: Holidaymakers: Welcome back to work.