Extension of annual personal development meetings

view larger image

Around half of employees in productive units are already involved in the PEQO program (personal development, quality/qualifications, organizational development) today. All other units will gradually introduce this annual personal development meeting over the coming months. Salzgitter Flachstahl is taking a pioneering role in requirement-led qualifications through this extensive program for all employees in commercial units.
The key element of the program is an annual meeting on qualifications with all staff covered by collective employment agreements on their requirements in terms of qualifications and their professional aspirations and opportunities. Specific training measures are then introduced based on the meeting.

PEQO meetings were also introduced for the first time in May 2009 for employees who are graduates, mainly in engineering. This group accounted for around 50% in total in the pilot area, technical customer services. In addition to more specific technical skills, social and personal skills are also key requirements in these positions. This necessitated a change to the structure of the meetings. For example, the areas of communication and feedback are based on the Salzgitter competences applicable group-wide. The PEQO project provides intensive support for engineers and employees with other degrees after completion of the Salzgitter support program for trainees and new young employees through to further personal development programs at group level (e.g. Salzgitter courses for experts and management).

The feedback from all participants on the first round of meetings with engineers was very positive. This is also because the PEQO meeting is more than just the planning of training for the coming 12 months. It creates maximum transparency with regard to the requirements made of the position. The requirements with regard to qualifications of both employees and management are identified through a comparison of necessary qualifications. A binding agreement is made with the management on qualifications which meet needs precisely. Another key aspect of the meeting is exchange on personal development opportunities. What are the employees’ expectations, what do they wish to achieve, where do they require support from the management? Do the assessments of the employee and of management correspond?

With the start of the second round of meetings in technical customer services in mid-May 2010, the success of PEQO for the graduate employee group will be completely evaluated. Launch in other large units within the Technical Division is planned on the basis of this. PEQO ensures continual and intensive dialogue on training opportunities. Even the opportunities relating to expert and management career paths at Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH are covered by the PEQO meeting at least once a year.

If you have questions on entry and development opportunities at our company, please contact us or visit us at one of the upcoming events.

We look forward to hearing from you.