voestalpine’s 24-Hour Childcare Boosts Employee Support with Increased Demand and STEM Initiatives

voestalpine’s 24-Hour Childcare Boosts Employee Support with Increased Demand and STEM Initiatives

(IN BRIEF) voestalpine’s expanded 24-hour childcare program at its Linz site has been warmly received by employees, especially those working in shifts. In its first year, the program has seen over a 30% increase in enrollment, with more than half of the overnight and weekend slots filled. The facilities accommodate flexible hours, catering to employees’ unique schedules, and include STEM-focused activities to support early education. The new “Vacation at Work” program also proved popular during the summer, and further sessions are planned for upcoming holidays.

(PRESS RELEASE) LINZ, 7-Nov-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — After one year of launching Austria’s first 24-hour childcare program for an industrial company, voestalpine reports a highly positive response from its employees. Since September 2023, the company’s Linz site has provided flexible, round-the-clock childcare for children up to 12 years of age, specifically designed to support employees working in shifts. With this expansion, voestalpine has doubled its childcare capacity, and the response has been strong; enrollment in the kindergarten and daycare facilities rose by more than 30% in the last year. More than half of the available slots for overnight and weekend childcare have already been filled.

Currently, 120 children are enrolled in voestalpine’s daycare center and kindergarten in Linz, an increase of 20 children compared to the previous year. In the 24-hour care program, five of the initially available eight spots are occupied, with the flexibility to expand both day and night care if demand continues to grow. This summer, the new “Vacation at Work” program was also in high demand; for five weeks, 25 children between the ages of six and 12 participated each week, and the program is planned to return for the fall and Easter breaks.

Herbert Eibensteiner, CEO of voestalpine AG, expressed satisfaction with the initiative’s reception among employees, noting, “We are very pleased that our extended childcare offer has been embraced so enthusiastically by our team. Our goal was to provide a flexible, child-friendly environment that aligns with modern educational standards and offers individual scheduling options. By introducing round-the-clock childcare, we are pioneering a new approach in Austria’s industrial sector, supporting parents and children alike.”

The 24-hour childcare option primarily serves employees with shift-based roles, including voestalpine’s occupational health and fire services staff. Parents can pre-register their childcare needs, whether it’s for early or late shifts, weekends, or overnight care. For children of night-shift workers, designated sleep times are scheduled, and care is extended into the early afternoon. On days without shifts, children stay at home with their families.

The daycare and kindergarten facilities also prioritize accommodating parents’ work schedules. Standard hours of operation from 6:30 am to 5:00 pm can be extended from 6:00 am to 7:00 pm if needed.

In addition to childcare, voestalpine places a strong emphasis on early STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education, integrating programs designed to cultivate curiosity and foundational skills in these areas. Activities such as worm composting, programming “BeeBots,” and simple experiments in color mixing foster a hands-on approach to learning. The program encourages equal participation among all children, recognizing that early interest in STEM is not influenced by gender.

The voestalpine Group

voestalpine is a globally leading steel and technology group with a unique combination of materials and processing expertise. voestalpine, which operates globally, has around 500 Group companies and locations in more than 50 countries on all five continents. The voestalpine Group has been listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange since 1995. With its premium products and system solutions, voestalpine is a leading partner to the automotive and consumer goods industries, as well as to the aerospace and energy industries. The company is also the global market leader in railway systems, tool steel, and special sections. voestalpine is committed to the global climate goals and has a clear plan for transforming steel production with its greentec steel program. In the business year 2023/24, the Group generated revenue of EUR 16.7 billion, with an operating result (EBITDA) of EUR 1.7 billion; it has around 51,600 employees worldwide.

Media Contact:

Peter Felsbach
Head of Group Communications & Spokesman
Tel: +43/50304/15-2090
mediarelations@voestalpine.com

SOURCE: voestalpine AG