Around 40 engineers, software developers and IT specialists have settled down in front of their laptops. “Welcome!” appears in seven languages on the start screen of their digital meeting. If they had started their work at Volkswagen a few months earlier, they would have gathered in a conference room in Wolfsburg for the welcome. But corona doesn’t allow that to happen. Since April, the new colleagues have been getting to know each other in virtual welcome rounds. The new employees save on travel, avoid health risks, and can still make initial contacts. It is one of the many examples that show how Volkswagen is becoming a more digital, and at the same time, more sustainable company during the pandemic.
Experts are in demand even in times of crisis – that is why the Electronics Development (EE) department brings in around three dozen new experts every quarter. Margit Burkhard and Gian Carlo Brunetti from the “Change & NewWork” team now have plenty of practice in planning and moderating online formats. The welcome meetings always start with a short greeting from the heads of department – then it’s the newcomers’ turn. Everyone has 30 seconds to introduce themselves with five keywords. Many immediately discover similarities and remain in conversation after the meeting. The first handshake is a digital one.