Volkswagen HR Board Member Dr. Neumann: Professional competence as the basis of performance and success

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Volkswagen Group human resources concept presented at HR Management Congress in Berlin

Successful HR work strengthens employees’ motivation, improves their performance and ensures that success is distributed fairly. This is what Dr. Horst Neumann, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft responsible for human resources, said at the HR Management Congress in Berlin today. He explained the concept for HR work at Volkswagen to an audience of about 1500 HR managers.

“We want to make a good team into a top team with high competence and motivation levels that delivers high performance, enjoys its work and is successful on the way to the top,” said Neumann. “For Volkswagen, this means engineering skill and design, specialists, good management performance and good codetermination.”

Neumann said that the specialist competence of employees was the basis for performance and success. “That’s why we put the vocation first and go beyond dual vocational training. In our vocational groups, we organize initial and advanced training over an employee’s entire working life. Within the groups, experienced employees transfer their knowledge and skills to junior personnel.”

Neumann mentioned other components of HR work at Volkswagen: The company fosters the health and fitness of its team and improves commitment through participation and codetermination. HR management is committed to a close relationship with employees. Together with employees’ superiors and the Works Council, HR managers foster and develop employees. They see themselves as coaches and team builders. “This approach is the opposite of outsourcing HR work,” said Neumann.

“A fair remuneration system also provides motivation,” said Neumann. “At Volkswagen, remuneration consists of a good basic salary, a personal performance component and a success participation.” In addition, the Human Resources Board Member named interesting work, secure employment and a good working climate through leadership and cooperation among the factors that made an employer attractive. Other factors included personal development possibilities and a good product and company image.