People behind REHAU: Jana Schröder

23.09.2021

"My passion is working with people."

Our interview partner today, Jana Schröder, is a native of Germany and took the opportunity at REHAU a few years ago to immigrate to the USA to work as a human resources manager at the Cullman plant. She told us what is particularly important to her in her work, what a significant role corporate culture plays for her personally and how it decisively shapes her everyday working life.

Jana, would you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?

Hello, my name is Jana, I am 33 years old and have been working in the human resources department at the Cullman plant in Alabama, USA, since December 2015. In my job, I support our employees from the day they apply for a job with us and ideally accompany them until the day they retire with us.

How did you originally come to REHAU?

I started as an intern at the headquarters in the town of Rehau in 2012. At that time, I was still a student. In 2013, I successfully completed my Master of Management and Organizational Sciences degree and started my first job in the human resources department at the Viechtach (Germany) plant in the same year.

What motivated you to take the step to the USA back then?

My tasks as an human resources generalist in Viechtach already had an international character. This gave me the opportunity to visit different plants, make contacts and work with colleagues from different locations. I was also in close contact with the Cullman plant when it initiated a major recruitment phase in 2015 and the people responsible asked me to support them. I saw this offer as a great opportunity to develop personally and learn new things. In the end, I decided to accept this new professional challenge.

What advice would you give to your former self?

Be Brave! New challenges and a different environment always bring uncertainties, be it in your private or professional life. Accept new challenges and grow with them.

What are your tasks as human resources manager at the Cullman plant?

My team and I look after more than 700 employees who work in the automotive or construction sector. Our tasks are very diverse and range from recruitment, training, employer branding and employee relations to benefits, reward systems and health, safety and environmental topics.

In my role as human resources manager, I focus on working with the local management team to implement new processes and strategies and support my team on individual projects. For example, we are currently working on a training and development concept for our plant employees. Along the way, I also support our automotive sales office in Detroit, Michigan.

What is most important to you in your work?

My passion is working with people. For me personally, it is important that employees feel comfortable in their working environment and that they can approach us with questions, concerns or ideas in a trusting manner. I see it as our central task to support all employees - from shop floor to management - in their concerns and to give them the right tools for long-term success. It makes me happy to see how our colleagues develop successfully and thus grow with the company.

You work very intensively on the topic of culture in the company. What do you think is particularly important in shaping the culture at the plant?

I think every site and plant needs to provide a welcoming work environment and understand what is important to employees. We want new colleagues to feel welcome in the company from day one and for all our employees to feel valued. It is equally important that management listens to the needs and desires of the workforce, understands the particular challenges faced by production employees and bases its actions on this. We as a company, as well as each employee, can only be as successful as the ongoing production in our plants!

What are you doing to improve the culture and working atmosphere at your plant?

Employer branding is an important tool, not only to attract new employees but also to provide employees with good service as well as competitive rewards and benefits. We are also in the process of developing a comprehensive production training and development program for employees interested in growing with the company. And last but not least, we are very excited to celebrate “25 years Cullman plant” this year, for which we have great activities planned for our workforce.

What do you particularly appreciate about the American mentality and how can you bring this experience into your work?

Having been fortunate enough to spend time in more than one country, I especially appreciate the hospitality of the southern states. There isn't a day when a stranger doesn't give you a smile and make your day a little better. I also encounter this openness at work, where every task and every challenge becomes an opportunity.

Thank you for the interview, Jana!