Job sharing

New work

One Job for Two

Alternative hours meet the needs of our employees, such as those on maternity and parental leave

he dynamics of changes in the labour market make it necessary to respond flexibly at all times. This is also true for ŠKODA AUTO, which, thanks to its long-term intensive dialogue with its social partner, the KOVO Trade Union, has come up with the New Work concept that supports the carmaker in becoming a project-oriented and agile organisation. This is one of the projects of the NEXT LEVEL PEOPLE STRATEGY 2030 initiative entitled Striving for New Work. For example, a pilot project for desk sharing (more about this in the issue of ŠKODA Mobil 2/2022). is already part of this initiative. However, flexible forms of work have already become a meaningful complement to standard working hours. One of their pillars is a portfolio of alternative working arrangements that allow working hours to be adjusted to meet the needs of, among others, parents on maternity or parental leave or employees caring for family members.

Mutual agreement is key

In addition to the already established and well-known shorter working hours, the portfolio of flexible forms of work includes so-called shared jobs. The model, also known as job sharing, is based on the new amendment to the Labour Code. Its principle is relatively simple: Two employees with shorter working hours share one post by mutual agreement, with the sum of their working hours not exceeding 100%. Within the given limits, the employees agree on how they will take turns at the workplace during the given working hours. In this way, job sharing can offer the supervisor 100% of the capacity of a functional position when set up properly. An important role in the implementation of this innovation has been played by the KOVO Trade Union, which has already initiated support for this topic in previous years, as well as mapping suitable job-sharing locations in the direct area in cooperation with the PSI – Industrial Engineering department. They have also advocated the formation of a joint committee for the deployment of job sharing. 

ŠKODA AUTO is monitoring the development of the legislative situation and is currently preparing another tool for launch, namely alternative working hours, to complement shorter working hours and job sharing and help employees reconcile their private and professional lives as much as possible.

How job sharing improves company culture 

Iva Kouřilová and Marta Ježková have been employed at ŠKODA AUTO for more than 10 years. They hold the same position in the same office. They were on maternity leave at the same time and planned to return to work at around the same time. “We agreed to approach our employer with our wish to apply together for one shared job, where each of us would be employed part-time,” says Kouřilová. They both work in Purchasing and are the link between the carmaker, its suppliers, other VW Group brands and colleagues. “We each have our own processes that we’re responsible for,” she explains. “We have our own processes. We’re independent of each other and do not have to rotate in precise blocks of time. We always agree on the organisation of our working hours with our supervisor,” adds Ježková. Their working hours are partly flexible, which both of them consider the biggest added value of job sharing. You can read more about their experience with job sharing at www.skoda-kariera.cz. ED

For more information on flexible working arrangements, you can contact your manager or HR.