Skoda Auto was honored as the "Employer of the Decade" on Tuesday night at the 20th-anniversary celebration of the Czech "Employer of the Year" award. This is the second time since 2012 that the automaker has won the honor. In addition, Skoda has won the national category "Employer with more than 5,000 employees" five times in the past ten years, making it the "Employer of the Year" in the Czech Republic. Taking responsibility for its employees is of utmost importance to Skoda Auto, reflected in the company's consistently high rankings in various employer rating surveys. Numerous events geared toward encouraging a healthy way of life are examples of this.
Skoda Auto Board Member for People & Culture Maren Gräf emphasized, "We would like to thank you very much for this award, and we greatly appreciate it. I hope that, in the future, we continue to be widely regarded as the gold standard for employers, so I take great pride in receiving this recognition. This won't be simple, especially considering the automotive industry is undergoing its most significant revolution ever. Several areas of our thinking will need to be revised if we are to navigate this transition successfully. Possessing competent team members is crucial. To meet the demands of new-car production in the age of electric mobility and with software as a critical feature of future vehicles, we are developing several programs for upskilling our employees. Over the past year, my colleagues and I at 42 Prague have been working to establish a coding school. We are also advocating for New Work and providing alternative work arrangements like telecommuting and job sharing. More women are being promoted to leadership roles, and we're expanding our international reach. As a team, we are exceptionally inspired by this recognition to take on and accomplish even greater things in the future. More women are being promoted to leadership roles, and we're expanding our international reach. This recognition inspires us to take on even more significant challenges as a team and see them through to fruition. More women are being promoted to leadership roles, and we're expanding our international reach. As a team, we are exceptionally inspired by this recognition to take on and accomplish even greater things in the future."
"The 'Employer of the Decade' award is the natural culmination of the journey since the start of cooperation between Skoda Auto and the Volkswagen Group," says Jaroslav Povk, Chairman of the KOVO trade union. The collective agreement, social facilities, canteens, the employee offers, and secondary, vocational, and university schools in Mladá Boleslav, Kvasiny, and Vrchlab speak for themselves. All one needs to do is look at the things Skoda Auto does for its suppliers' families and kids, its employees' communities, and the causes it supports, like "Bike for Life," to see that the company cares deeply about its employees and the communities in which they live and work. Care for the elderly and the company's staff supports other fund-raising efforts. In sum, we will remain actively engaged in and committed to these projects, further validating our selection as "Employer of the Decade."
It's been 20 years since the first "Employer of the Year" award was given out, marking a special milestone this year. This event showcases successful businesses of all sizes and sectors across the Czech Republic and promotes HRM improvement efforts there. The results have high professional credibility because they have been based on the internationally recognized Saratoga method, developed by PricewaterhouseCoopers and used for the last ten years. The companies are compared to one another within their industry as a first step, and the total score from this comparison is factored into the final score for each company.
The Czech automaker has dominated this competition over the past decade, taking first place in the category for the most prominent companies with more than 5,000 employees five times in the last ten years. Skoda Auto came in second place this year, earning the honorific "Employer of the Decade." This honor is given in light of the recent accomplishments and reflects the generally generous treatment of employees.
At Skoda Auto, the well-being of its staff is a top priority. The business has always prioritized its employees' health and happiness. In addition, the carmaker spends a lot of money on education at all levels, from preschools and elementary schools to high schools and technical colleges to universities and employee training programs. Skoda Auto has its university experts in fast-growing fields like IT, IoT, and global business who are nurtured and prepared for careers in the company.
The car manufacturer's ambitious plans as part of its NEXT LEVEL – Skoda STRATEGY 2030 also open up new opportunities for employees. The firm's long-term goal is to turn the Czech Republic into an electromobility hub in partnership with the Volkswagen Group and local authorities.
