The FAZ Institute and the IMWF Institute for Management and Economic Research have examined Germany’s 5000 largest companies for their study “Germany’s Most Sought-After Employer 2018”. The RKW Group took second place in the industry ranking by scoring points for quality, performance, success, sustainability, corporate culture and values.

RKW Group CEO Harald Biederbick is delighted by his company’s second-place ranking in the rubber and plastics industry: “This award confirms our employer strategy aimed at bringing together the best of both worlds for our staff: we are globally active and continuously open up career development opportunities. As a tradition-rich company with more than 60 years of experience, we secure long-term prospects.” Founded in 1957, the 100 percent family-owned company is a leading film manufacturer and employs around 3000 staff at 20 locations worldwide. RKW produces sustainable film solutions that contribute to improve the daily life of consumers all over the world. RKW offers applicants numerous career opportunities in research and development, technology and production or in commercial positions. Biederbick adds: “Our company gives all candidates an opportunity to demonstrate their talent and develop professionally and personally in a pleasant working environment.”

For its study of Germany’s most sought-after employers in 2018, the FAZ and IMWF institutes examined companies from 132 different sectors. The study analyzed online communications pertaining to these companies. On Facebook and rating platforms as well as in professional forums and blogs, the researchers examined how employers are perceived and what factors were particularly important to applicants and employees. In addition to salaries commensurate with industry standards, five other factors turned out to be particularly relevant to a company’s reputation: employer performance, quality of products and services, management performance, economic success, and the sustainability factor. For many applicants, the qualitative evaluation of an employer increasingly depends on so-called “soft factors” as well as on corporate culture and values. “Respect is one of the core corporate values at RKW,” Biederbick explains. “In our company, employees notice from the first day on that we place great value on respect – and we strive to earn it anew every day. Our teamwork is based on mutual esteem. Reliability and excellent quality are as self-evident to us as loyalty to our staff.”