Skip to main content Skip to primary navigation

Umicore Named “Top Employer Germany” for the Sixth Consecutive Year

Regional website Germany
  • The materials technology and recycling group Umicore has been recognized by the Top Employers Institute since 2012.
  • Certification process ensures continuous improvement of employer benefits

“We are very proud to be able to solidify our position as one of Germany’s best employers with our sixth consecutive award,” explains Carsten Neumann, Head of Human Resources at Umicore AG & Co. KG, following the announcement of the Top Employer certification. The award recognized both Umicore’s German sites in Hanau, Pforzheim, Bad Säckingen, and Rheinfelden, as well as its plants in Belgium and France.

The certification, conducted by the Top Employers Institute, annually recognizes employers worldwide for outstanding HR management and strategy. An essential component of the certification program is that all participating companies undergo a uniform assessment process in which they must meet high, defined, and standardized requirements. To enhance the validity and value of the entire process, all responses and supporting documents are thoroughly reviewed by an independent body. This comprehensive procedure not only demonstrates the company’s current performance but also presents Umicore with an opportunity for continuous improvement, as Neumann explains: “The significant effort involved in the certification process pays off for us in two ways. On the one hand, it allows us to demonstrate our position as a Top Employer; on the other hand, using the refined questionnaire, we examine various key areas such as onboarding, training and development, and leadership development in greater detail year after year and derive concrete action steps directly from the process." For example, there are special programs to support new managers in preparing them for their future responsibilities, as well as onboarding initiatives designed to integrate new employees into the company. Through these, new employees not only get to know the company itself but also key aspects such as corporate culture and values. Ultimately, both parties benefit from a successful onboarding process—employees through rapid integration and the company through motivated employees who are up to speed in a shorter amount of time.

“Of course, we’re not resting on our laurels now. Through the certification process, we’ve gained new ideas that we now need to implement for the future,” Neumann concludes.