HR Asia, a leading human resource management magazine in the Asia-Pacific region, presented Pepperl+Fuchs Vietnam with its HR Asia Best Companies to Work for in Asia Award last year for the company’s special dedication to its employees. The New Work concept employed there underscores the company’s modern working philosophy and wide range of activities to support employee wellbeing. We asked Han-Thanh, General Director of Pepperl+Fuchs Vietnam, to tell us more about it.
Hello, Han-Thanh. The New Work concept has created a working environment where employees feel comfortable…
Han-Thanh: Yes, exactly. The goal of the concept is to promote innovative ways of working and offer employees an inspirational working environment. Our new building is just this kind of modern working environment. Employees can choose their own workstation in the morning. Each person has a rolling case where they can store their personal items. There are smaller, semi-enclosed niches where people can concentrate while they work. And then there are also larger, open-plan areas where they can share ideas and get creative together.
That sounds interesting. Can you give us another example of how the New Work concept has been put into practice?
Han-Thanh: Flexible scheduling is another key element. We introduced a remote work option to give employees more freedom to incorporate work into their daily lives. Our goal there was to improve work-life balance. Ultimately, there are no hard-and-fast rules. Employees can talk to their supervisor about how often they should come in to the office. We don’t record people’s working hours, either. It’s all on an honor system. At the end of the day, it’s the results that count. We also promote healthy lifestyles among our employees.
A healthy lifestyle
How so?
Han-Thanh: We have yoga classes three times a week, twice a day, so employees who work shifts also get the chance to attend at least one of the classes. We also have two badminton courts, a fitness center with a treadmill, stair climber, bikes and so on, and a rec room with pool, table tennis, foosball, and a reading corner. All of these options are very popular. Mental health is another important point. Once a quarter, employees have the opportunity to join a webinar and talk with external experts about mental health and burnout.
How would you describe the working atmosphere?
Han-Than: Very family-like, open, friendly, and positive. There’s always a lot of laughter, especially at lunchtime. But we also always have various team building and team bonding activities to foster a sense of community and team cohesion.
Team cohesion
Can you give us a few examples?
Han-Thanh: The team bonding activities take place within a department. Going bowling together or having an evening barbecue on the plant grounds are just two examples. And then we have team building, which is interdepartmental. Our annual company excursion for the entire staff lasts at least three days. We traveled to a beach resort last year. It took 16 buses to get us all there. Once a year, we rent a movie theater so everyone can go and watch a movie together. And shortly before lunar new year, we hold a year-end party to see the old year off in style. We do this to thank employees for all their hard work and give them a chance to get to know their colleagues better outside of the job. We also hold an annual event for the employees’ children. The last Children’s Day involved a trip to the zoo, for example.
Do you have additional plans for the future?
Han-Thanh: We’d like to offer more support to families with babies and toddlers, but we’re not sure yet what form it will take.
See impressions of the location here
![View into the open-plan office. On the left you can see a wooden tree with tables around it. Otherwise there are three more round tables with chairs. In the background you can see four small cubes in which you can have undisturbed conversations.](https://career.pepperl-fuchs.com/blog-en/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/PeFu_Karriereblog_New_Work_Vietnam_04-1024x768.jpg)
![View of four seating niches against a wall. These consist of longer tables with wooden benches with gray upholstery. Yellow flowers are planted between each table.](https://career.pepperl-fuchs.com/blog-en/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/PeFu_Karriereblog_New_Work_Vietnam_03-1024x617.jpg)
![View of two small seating areas. The partitions are light blue and the seating areas each consist of two small sofas in light gray and pink. In the middle of each room there is a small table with a screen.](https://career.pepperl-fuchs.com/blog-en/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/PeFu_Karriereblog_New_Work_Vietnam_02-1024x641.jpg)
![View of four cubes standing in the open-plan office. They are gray, yellow and green and each has a glass door. In a cube there are two small sofas and a small table mounted on the wall.](https://career.pepperl-fuchs.com/blog-en/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/PeFu_Karriereblog_New_Work_Vietnam_01-1024x768.jpg)
![View into the light-flooded hobby room. At the front of the picture you can see two table tennis tables, at the back by the windows there are two table football tables. Adjacent to this, go through the door on the right into the fitness area.](https://career.pepperl-fuchs.com/blog-en/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/PeFu_Karriereblog_New_Work_Vietnam_09-1-1024x768.jpg)
![View of two white and blue billiard tables. The reading corner can be seen at the back. There are various books to choose from on the shelves on the wall.](https://career.pepperl-fuchs.com/blog-en/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/PeFu_Karriereblog_New_Work_Vietnam_08-1024x709.jpg)
![View of the fitness studio: There are various fitness machines such as treadmills and bicycles on the left side of the window.](https://career.pepperl-fuchs.com/blog-en/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/PeFu_Karriereblog_New_Work_Vietnam_10-1024x768.jpg)
![View of a weight bench in the gym. In the background there is a shelf with different weights.](https://career.pepperl-fuchs.com/blog-en/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/PeFu_Karriereblog_New_Work_Vietnam_09-1024x629.jpg)
![Insight into the canteen at Pepperl+Fuchs Vietnam. On the left you can see the food serving area, on the right you can see several white tables with black chairs.](https://career.pepperl-fuchs.com/blog-en/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/PeFu_Karriereblog_New_Work_Vietnam_12-1024x616.jpg)
![Insight into the canteen at Pepperl+Fuchs Vietnam: view of several rows of tables. The tables are made of light wood and the chairs have white backs. There are small, green plants on the tables.](https://career.pepperl-fuchs.com/blog-en/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/PeFu_Karriereblog_New_Work_Vietnam_11-1024x734.jpg)
![View of the terrace surrounded by trees and meadow. There is a long table with a bench, two parasols and an outdoor kitchen.](https://career.pepperl-fuchs.com/blog-en/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/PeFu_Karriereblog_New_Work_Vietnam_06-1024x718.jpg)
![View from above of a badminton court. To the left is the terrace with seating and outdoor kitchen, to the right is the parking garage.](https://career.pepperl-fuchs.com/blog-en/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/PeFu_Karriereblog_New_Work_Vietnam_05-1024x689.jpg)