Arvato Group | Gütersloh, 09/19/2023

Arvato employees support social institutions

More than 100 Arvato employees swapped their workplace for a charitable institution for one day on "Social Day". In a total of 34 different institutions such as daycare centres, schools, clinics, care facilities run by Caritas Gütersloh, Wertkreis Gütersloh or the Gütersloher Tafel, the Arvato team was able to gain a deeper insight into social professions while making a positive contribution to the community.

"Social Day is a great initiative that promotes understanding of social professions and supports people and communities in many ways. This day allows our employees to experience the daily challenges and successes of those who work in social institutions, and it promotes a deeper understanding of the importance of community service," explains Annika Wengenroth, Social Day organiser at Arvato.

"Day of valuable encounters"

During their "field work", the Arvato employees could choose between different facilities and tasks. These included, for example, homework supervision, reading promotion and sports lessons in various primary schools, supporting the environmental protection department of the city of Gütersloh by cleaning streets, rivers and forests in and around Gütersloh, patient support at the LWL Clinic Gütersloh or support in caring for and working with physically or mentally impaired people in various facilities of the German Red Cross, Caritas Gütersloh and Wertkreis Gütersloh gGmbH.

"Social commitment is the cement of our society. The 'Social Day' offers employees the opportunity to get to know new worlds of life and work. In our elderly care facilities, we create a day of valuable encounters for everyone and are thrilled by the motivated people and their energetic commitment," says Andrea Vieweger, Head of the Living in Old Age Department at Caritas Gütersloh, praising the commitment of the Arvato employees. Corina Kötting, who was at Caritas Haus St. Anna in Verl during the "Social Day", adds: "It was an extremely rewarding experience to spend time with the residents of Haus St. Anna. I clearly noticed how important social interaction and caring are in old age and that it is fun to support the older generation and contribute something to their well-being." And Arvato employee Verena Heiden also took away a lot during her assignment at Wertkreis Gütersloh. "It was incredibly fun, if only because of the warmth and openness with which I was welcomed. I gained many new insights and learned new things, not least practical tips on how to sow lamb's lettuce properly. Thank you very much for the exchange and the joint work."

"Lasting impression"

"We can only return the thanks," says Wertkreis media spokesperson Steffen Gerz. "The Arvato team has left a lasting impression on the people to whom we offer partial participation in working life because of the sincere interest and the great open-mindedness of those involved. It is always something special for everyone when employees from other companies sit down with them for a day at their workplace and get to know the people who work in a WfbM. The most frequent question at the end of the day was: "When are they coming over again?", explains Gerz.

The campaign is set to remain a permanent fixture in Arvato's calendar in the future. "We have now held 'Social Day' for the fifth time, and it has become an important part of our social commitment," emphasises Stefanie Rheker, Chief Human Resources Officer at Arvato. "That's why we will continue to do everything we can to support our employees in taking part in such activities and thus making a positive contribution to society." The "Social Day" at Arvato has also spread beyond national borders. Similar activities are taking place throughout September in other countries where Arvato is represented.