Wetzikon, 25 August 2008
Reichle & De-Massari AG (R&M), the cabling specialist from Wetzikon, Switzerland, attaches great importance to the health of its employees. So this year for the third time, from 8 to 11 September 2008, the company is once again organizing a health week for its entire workforce. Many of the 350 or so employees in Switzerland are taking part in the voluntary workshops and health checks. Foremost among them, the two bosses Martin and Peter Reichle. Three years ago they came up with the idea of putting the principle of “holistic well-being” into practice as part of R&M’s corporate philosophy and to actively implement it within the company through a working group.
Reichle & De-Massari (R&M) is one of the biggest employers in the Zurich Oberland region and has more than 30 subsidiaries and sales companies worldwide. Three years ago the company’s two bosses, Martin and Peter Reichle, had the idea of making a positive contribution to the health of their employees. They firmly believe that holistic personal well-being has a direct impact on the performance and motivation of each individual employee. And, ultimately, that has a knock-on effect in all areas of life. With their commitment to the idea, they quickly found enthusiastic takers. Soon thereafter a number of employees set up the Team Xund working group to deal with all the activities relating to corporate wellness.
The health week is always the highlight of the health program. During the week, workshops and check-ups are carried out in close co-operation with the corporate health specialists vivit gesundheits ag. The theme of this year’s workshops is “Working in motion”. It provides tips and suggestions on ways of using movement, strengthening exercises, mobility and relaxation to bring about a sensible balance to people’s posture at the workplace, which is often much too one-sided.
Health checks
Besides tips and specific analyses of the workplace itself, trained medical staff will once again be on hand as in previous years to measure blood pressure, heart rate, body fat, body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio. The results can then be compared directly with the previous years’ figures. And as an innovation, every employee now has the possibility of having their blood sugar and cholesterol levels tested.
Healthy throughout the year
At R&M corporate wellness has become an integral part of the corporate culture. And it’s the little things that help preserve and promote health and well-being. For instance the company has set up water stations for all its employees, and during the winter months it provides apples to eat during breaks for that extra vitamin burst. Anyone whose posture at their computer workstation is not ergonomic enough can sign up for a massage during their lunch break or take part in a yoga class. For those interested, there are all kinds of outdoor activities such as Nordic walking, cycling tours or swimming on offer during the lunch break.
Looking back at past workshops and health checks the company is proud to have such healthy, fit and active employees on board. And it looks as if the results are set to be just as good this year, too.
R&M - Facts & Figures
Reichle & De-Massari AG (R&M) develops and produces cabling solutions for communication networks. R&M has earned a reputation as a quality leader with its excellent copper and fiber optical products. The company dominates the Swiss market and has subsidiaries or representative offices in 30 countries. The company generates roughly 75% of its sales abroad. Total sales in 2007 amounted to 241 million Swiss francs while EBIT totaled 13 percent. More than 7 million Swiss francs are invested in research and development each year. R&M has about 700 employees. The company is wholly owned by the Reichle family and since 1999 is now being run in the second generation as an independent family-owned company.
vivit gesundheits ag
vivit gesundheits ag, a company of the CSS Group, promotes the health competence of companies. It is the leading partner for comprehensive health management in the areas of medicine, nutrition, fitness and life balance. vivit gesundheits ag is based in Lucerne through a nationwide competence network made up of outside experts (physicians, psychologists, nutritionists and sports scientists); it also works with a select group of professional partners – www.vivit.ch.
Text and images can be downloaded at www.rdm.com.
Contact: Reichle & De-Massari AG, Esther Derendinger, Public Relations, Binzstrasse 31,
CH-8620 Wetzikon, Switzerland, Phone +41 44 933 83 30,
E-mail esther.derendinger@rdm.com