Cases

Social contract – EMPLOYEES

A community that promotes growth

Going to work at Verdo has to be a pleasant experience. We therefore create the setting for a committed community and dedicated employees. Through initiatives like Verdo Awards, we pay tribute to employees who seek to advance the community and lead the way as good examples in leadership, innovation and performance. Our employee well-being survey in 2021 also showed that employees are happy to go to work.

For us, an attractive workplace is also a place where we have a social community. That is why we take part in fitness runs, bike races and other activities together. We have a cycling club and a hunting and angling club, and we enjoy each other’s company at the annual Christmas party.

Our staff social club also invites employees and their families to events such as the annual trip to Djurs Sommerland and Christmas bingo, among many others.

Verdo has a wide range of employees in a variety of functions, all of whom contribute to achieving our common goals. For example, we seek to have a high proportion of apprentices and trainees, while also retaining senior staff, so that their experience and knowledge can benefit Verdo as long as possible. It is also important to us to include and create opportunities for employees with special needs – for example in the form of a flex job scheme. You can read more about this in the case on electrician Henrik Amdi on page 45.

Four employees recognised at the Verdo Awards

Verdo collects dedicated and ambitious employees, who seek to advance the community and lead the way as good examples in leadership, innovation and performance. That is why we hand out three Verdo Awards within these categories every year. However, there were four winners this time, as the Performance Award was jointly received by two winners.

In line with tradition, all employees had the opportunity to nominate candidates for the Innovation Award and Performance Award, stating their reasons, while the Leadership Award is handed down by Group Management. Group Management then selected winners from among the nominees.

The winners were announced at a dialogue meeting held by CEO Jakob Flyvbjerg Christensen.

Winner of the 2021 Leadership Award: Max Pehrson Frederiksen, Head of Department, Energy Winner of the 2021 Innovation Award: Toke Andreassen, Verdo Energy Systems

Winners of the 2021 Performance Award: Tim Deuce Patterson, Trading, Carbon Partners Inc. and Jonas Søgaard, Teknik

Each winner received a certificate and DKK 5,000

Employees are happy to be at Verdo

At Verdo, we want to create an even better workplace, with a strong common corporate culture. As an important part of that focus, we invited all employees to take part in an employee well-being survey last autumn. There was strong support among employees, such that we achieved our target participation rate of 80%. The survey thus gives a true and fair picture and a good basis for the ongoing work of developing the company, including the company culture, using the results.

Overall, the survey showed that employees are happy to be at Verdo. They have a high level of commitment and satisfaction. But there are also areas where Verdo can improve as a workplace. Work to improve employee well-being and commitment via specific initiatives has begun, and extends into 2022.

If we compare Verdo with other private companies, we also scored very well. On virtually all parameters, we exceed the benchmark, which includes about 2,300 employees in the private sector.

In autumn 2022, we will again test the water among employees and follow up on our efforts. This will be via a smaller questionnaire this time – a ‘pulse’ survey.

We will continue to survey employee well-being in future, so we can make improvements in selected areas.

DHL Stafetten is a popular annual event

The happier our employees are, the more our business thrives. With this in mind, we have a number of clubs that help to bring employees together who have common interests, in pursuits like hunting and fishing. The ‘Good Energy’ association, conversely, gathers people across geography and supports local events and activities.

One of the regular events during the year is participation in the DHL Stafetten relay race, and 2021 was no exception. In early September, a large group of employees attended in both Aarhus and Aalborg, where participants enjoyed communal dining in the tent, in the mild late summer weather.

Verdo apprentices are among the best in East Jutland

At Verdo, we are very keen to give something back to the local communities we are part of. We want to invest in ensuring vibrant and long-term development locally, so that the business community remains strong, healthy and attractive. This is achieved in part through our involvement and partnership with educational institutions. 30 September 2021 was therefore a special day. No less than three of our apprentices were among East Jutland’s best, according to the tradesmen’s association Aarhus Haandværkerforening and the Confederation of Danish Industry. All three were presented with a medal at Aarhus City Hall to mark their successful training and hard work to become qualified technicians at Verdo.

Pictured: Jeppe Enevold Jensen (left), Ole James Poulsen (centre) and Niklas Nikolajsen.

A flex job at Verdo is the best solution for me

Verdo’s electrician Henrik Amdi was met with understanding when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and had to work reduced hours in a flex job.

In 2021, Henrik Amdi celebrated 25 years of service at Verdo, where he works as an electrician. He works in a flex job now, however, since being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2021, with the limitations that entails. As an electrician, Henrik Amdi works in the field and is responsible for performing checks, measurements and extended safety inspections on electrical cabinets along roads and paths in Randers Municipality. “I enjoy my work, and it means a lot that I can organise my own working day,” says Henrik Amdi, who works three hours a day, four days a week.

“A flex job at Verdo is the best solution for me, and it’s meant a lot that I could stay here. It’s important for me to have time for training and to keep my mind active. This has actually meant that I’m less affected than many others with the same illness, but also that I have energy for my family when I have time off.

Solidarity is golden Although some time passed before Henrik Amdi told his manager about his illness, it was well received by everyone.

“It can be difficult to be the person who needs assistance, but it’s mostly me who feels that way about it. Everyone is very considerate – and I would have done the same for a colleague,” he says.

Henrik Amdi greatly appreciates his helpful colleagues:

“There’s great solidarity. If there’s something I can’t manage in the field, one of my colleagues drops by and lends a hand.”