Wedel's "Top Jobs" are at TRIOPTICS

"Top Job" is an award for Germany's best employers. In 2011, TRIOPTICS GmbH is one of the winners.

Wedel – In May, 2010, the University of St. Gallen took a poll of the 50 TRIOPTICS employees and examined the company's personnel management. The result: TRIOPTICS GmbH was awarded the "Top Job" seal of quality on January 27, 2011 from mentor Wolfgang Clement in Duisburg, joining the list of the best employers in Germany.

(Dr. Stefan Krey, CEO pro tem/technical lead, and Stefanie Käufer,
personnel head, received the award from Wolfgang Clement)

TRIOPTICS concentrates on the niche market of high-precision optical measurement equipment. TRIOPTICS GmbH offers innovative system solutions for all areas of the optical industry, from development laboratories to production, for example for the inspection of mobile phone camera lenses. Although there is still no lack of suitable employees in the industry, the scientific "Top Job" investigation confirmed the company's high level of engagement in the motivation and company loyalty of employees. The former is supported by special bonuses paid directly by management when a project works out particularly well or required more than the usual amount of overtime. TRIOPTICS supports company loyalty with voluntary bonus payments to employees. Small, self-led teams consisting of four to eight colleagues are responsible for each product and work on its development independently. They can hire software specialists or designers as required. "This independence means that motivation is significantly higher than if all instructions came down from the top," says Personnel Head Stefanie Käufer, explaining the advantages of this personnel management strategy.

And it works. In the past ten years, the workforce has doubled in size. And anyone who hires on at the optics specialist tends to stay there, too. Every year, two or three more employees celebrate their 10-year anniversary of employment at the company.

Prof. Heike Bruch and her team at the Institute for Leadership and Personnel Management at the University of St. Gallen investigated the work of 169 personnel departments at midsize German companies in all industries. They analyzed all important personnel instruments and conducted an employee poll in which at least 80% of the workforce had to participate. The 72 best companies, including TRIOPTICS, will carry the "Top Job" seal of quality for a year.

"The award is based on the opinions of our employees, and that already makes us proud," says Käufer. "And now we know what the employees think of our working atmosphere. This was important to us, because it's the only way we can continue to develop as a good employer and introduce the right measures."

An average of 493 people are employed at the 72 best midsize employers. Each of the Top Job companies planned an average of 74 new hires in 2010. More than half of the 72 Top Job companies in 2011 are family businesses. The fact that they include 11 world market leaders and 21 national market leaders proves that good employees are also economically successful. More than half of the companies pay their employees above-average wages.

You can find more information about TRIOPTICS, the other 71 prize winners, and the Top Job project at www.topjob.de.

The mentor Wolfgang Clement is the mentor of the project.
The scientific lead Since 2005, Dr. Heike Bruch has been the scientific head of "Top Job". She is a professor and director at the Institute for Leadership and Personnel Management at the University of St. Gallen.