A good salary is important. But that is by no means the only reason why people stay. Thomas Langer Steuerberatungsgesellschaft mbH has been recognised by kununu, the well-known employer review platform, for salary satisfaction and family-friendly practices. A good reason to take a closer look. In the interview, Managing Director Thomas Langer explains why appreciation is more than a seal of approval: It shows in the way the team works together, in flexible solutions and in the freedom to help shape how work is done.

Mr Langer, your firm has been recognised by kununu for salary satisfaction and family-friendly practices. How can you tell that people enjoy working for you? 

You can tell by the way we interact with one another: the atmosphere, the laughter, even when things get stressful. And although we offer generous working-from-home arrangements, many employees still prefer to be in the office, which is a strong sign. I also notice at team events that the sense of togetherness is genuine. It makes a difference whether people are simply doing their job or whether they identify with the firm and want to make things better together. 

You describe a close-knit team. What happens when there is friction despite that?

Then we address the issue directly. I don’t believe in letting things build up for months and only bringing them up at the annual review. If something is bothering you, you should say so – reasonably, openly and without making a big fuss. Most of the time, colleagues sort things out directly with each other. And that works really well for us.

“In the end, quality always comes down to people"

Fair pay is the foundation. What matters is the overall package of salary, recognition and development at Thomas Langer Steuerberatungsgesellschaft mbH. 

You have also been recognised for salary satisfaction. What does fair pay mean to you?

If you want to attract and retain good people, you have to pay them properly. But fair pay is more than just the figure on the payslip. For us, this also includes benefits, an annual bonus and making sure that the employee’s performance is recognised. In the end, quality always depends on people. And they need conditions that are fair – and feel fair, too.

How does this look like in the day-to-day operations of the firm?

It means being open about money, performance and development. That’s why, in our annual reviews, we don’t just look back; above all, we look ahead: What went well? What needs to change? Where do we want to go? This also creates opportunities and opens up new prospects when it comes to salary, responsibilities and further training.

You mention development: How much freedom do your employees have to shape their own development?

A lot! If you simply tick off the tasks assigned to you, you often fail to reach your full potential. At our company, employees can have a say in the direction in which they want to develop. That might mean focusing on particular areas professionally, or having a say in working hours, working from home and career progression – in my view, a key factor in job satisfaction.

"An environment where you can grow"

When life gets in the way, work needs flexibility rather than rigid rules.

You have also been awarded the kununu seal of approval for family-friendly working practices. Is this mainly about family in the narrower sense, or about balancing work and life in general?

For me, it’s about balancing work and life as a whole. Children are an important aspect of that, but they are not the only consideration. It can also be about caring responsibilities, personal commitments, health or simply finding a good way to combine work and life. The crucial point is that clients receive reliable support. Within this framework, we offer a great deal of flexibility when it comes to working hours, working from home and holiday planning, or when something unexpected comes up in your personal life at short notice. This works because the whole team pulls together and substitution arrangements are clearly regulated.

For this kind of flexibility to be more than just good intentions, it also has to work from a technical perspective, right?

Absolutely. Flexibility only helps if you can also work effectively outside the office. That’s why, for us, digitalisation isn’t just a matter for the firm, but also an employee issue. Those who work from home or have to reschedule at short notice need access to systems, processes and a reliable digital infrastructure. Only then will good intentions turn into real freedom and flexibility.

To finish, let’s look at things from another perspective: If you were a job applicant, what would convince you to join your firm?

What would convince me is that there’s a human approach to working together here, along with opportunities to develop professionally. On top of that, there’s modern equipment, a strong team and clients who appreciate the work we do. In short, an environment where you can grow.

Mr Langer, thank you very much for the interview. 

Image sources: istockphoto (ArtMarie & Peopleimages)