500 NEW EMPLOYEES IN AUTOMATION PRODUCTION

To quickly meet the rising demand for automation solutions, B&R is introducing a new weekend shift model in production for a duration of one year. With a 20-hour work schedule on Saturdays and Sundays, the company offers a salary equivalent to that of a full-time employee in Austria. Within just a few weeks, more than 700 people applied, and 300 of them began working in March, with another 200 set to start in April.

This measure was necessary due to the significant increase in demand for automation solutions following the COVID-19 pandemic and the global supply chain crisis. “Automation is becoming a top priority in many industries, especially when it comes to relocating production closer to target markets,” explained Jörg Theis, CEO of B&R.

“Our solutions play a crucial role in the ability of companies to maintain and expand their business operations and workforce. Aware of this urgency, we aim to meet the high demand for automation solutions from our customers as quickly as possible. To achieve that, we have significantly expanded production capacity and introduced a temporary weekend shift.”

B&R has implemented an innovative new recruitment model to meet the high demand for automation solutions as quickly as possible. 300 new employees have already started working in the temporary weekend shift. (Source: B&R)

Diverse Candidates

The candidates for the new model come from a wide range of age groups, professions, and family backgrounds. They include students and parents, individuals between jobs, and those seeking a career change. Others are self-employed people looking for additional work or seniors wanting part-time employment before retirement.

Some have completed apprenticeships, while others hold bachelor’s or master’s degrees. A significant portion of the applicants come from distant areas such as Linz, Vienna, and neighboring Bavaria—within a four-hour drive from B&R’s headquarters.

A One-Year Targeted Measure

Instead of conducting individual interviews with more than 700 applicants, B&R organized seven “Recruitment Days” throughout January and February. During these events, candidates were able to get a first impression of their potential new workplace.

“We are very grateful to the workers’ council and the union for creating the opportunity to respond to this unique situation with such an innovative measure, and to the many people who chose to apply for this job,” emphasized Mr. Theis. The weekend shift was agreed upon as a temporary measure and will expire at the end of February 2024, at which point B&R hopes that many of the new employees will continue working and transition into one of the existing shifts.

Jobs for the Future

As the global center for machine and factory automation within ABB, B&R is one of many successful global companies investing in the jobs of the future in Austria. With the opening of the training, education, and innovation center last summer, ABB has expanded B&R’s headquarters in Eggelsberg to over 100,000 square meters. This makes B&R one of the largest integrated production, research, and training centers in Central Europe.

Source: https://www.br-automation.com/en/about-us/press-room/500-new-employees-in-production-28-03-2023/