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Countless books have been written about how diversity in the workplace promotes creativity and a positive (working) atmosphere and enriches business culture. Employees from more than 15 different countries work together at Boels Rental in Austria. This has made Austria one of the front-runners in the Boels organisation. We spoke to six employees from Boels Rental in Austria about their work, the atmosphere, their passion for the industry and the opportunities Boels is giving them.
Austria has a long history as a country with a big mix of nationalities and cultures. Their influences can still be seen in the country today. Slovenians, Czechs, Slovakians, Germans, Bosnians and Poles all lived in the vast Habsburg Empire for centuries. This ‘connection’ is one of the reasons why many people from these countries have chosen to make Austria – and Boels – their home again. However, Boels Austria also employs people from countries like Iran and Afghanistan. It’s this ‘multicultural society’ that is contributing to the company’s success.
Language knowledge is crucial
We arranged to meet up with Assistant Branch Manager Alireza Bahrdar and Site Worker Foad Mosaedi, both from Iran and employed by Boels for 10 and three years respectively. Alireza speaks fluent German with an Austrian accent.
Alireza is now the ‘go-to’ person for information at the branch and also introduced Foad to Boels. Both employees say they get a lot out of their work. “No two days are ever the same, but we’re always here to help customers. That’s our passion and it’s what puts a smile on our faces when we set off for work every day.”
Foad wants to progress with the company just like Alireza has. So, he’ll be starting the German language course offered by Boels very soon. “I feel at home here, the atmosphere is good and my colleagues help me whenever I need them to; that makes everything a lot easier. My dream is to become a mechanic. I’m slowly working towards making that happen.”
“Everything starts with a sufficient command of the language and the will to succeed. I was lucky; my colleagues were there for me right from the start. And I also decided to learn the entire Boels catalogue by heart. I was determined to ‘make it’ at Boels and I’m still benefiting from the effort I put in back then.”
Treat people the way you’d like to be treated yourself
It’s just a four kilometre drive from Foad and his dreams to where Savo Malinovic, the Head of Workshop, works. Savo, who’s from Bosnia, has been with Boels for 13 years now – some of which with a company that Boels acquired back in 2015. “Right from the start, my aim was to work my way up. I learnt the language and worked hard with my colleagues to make the company a success. A lot changed for me when Boels became my new employer. Boels listened to me, which I wasn’t used to. Computer technology is a hobby of mine and I wrote a program that mechanics could use to consult a technical database. I wouldn’t have had the confidence to do that without Boels and mechanics are still using my program now. I’m very lucky to be working here. Treat people the way you’d like to be treated yourself: that’s what I learnt from my managers at Boels. It’s an important lesson and I like to pass it on to new colleagues too. Talk to each other, listen to each other and help each other. That’s how we work here, which is why the working atmosphere is so great.
Diversity is the basis for a good atmosphere
The good atmosphere and willingness to help each other are both confirmed by Daniel Kadlot, a site worker from Hungary. “We’re a team and one big family too! It works well. If someone has a problem, in their work or private life, it’s normal for us to try to help each other. It’s brilliant to have so many different nationalities here. I learn something new about other cultures and customs every day and that’s fun. It makes the work even more diverse. We always have something to share with each other and that’s great for the atmosphere as well.”
Love
Klaus Meinecke, the German account manager, joined Boels Austria just under a year ago. He came to Austria for a very different reason: for his Austrian girlfriend. “I particularly like the transparency and openness at Boels. There’s a good mentality here; less hierarchy and more of a one-big-family feel.” Klaus says that the multilingualism in the workplace can be very handy.
Klaus stresses how important it is to want to succeed at an individual level. “Although my colleagues are very supportive, the drive has to come from you.” Klaus has high ambitions, which he wants to pursue and achieve himself. “It’s a wonderful company and I always recommend it to family and friends. I especially like it because of the respect you’re given and the level of acceptance.”
“I was on a building site recently and all the construction workers were Croatian. Luckily, I was able to call on the help of a Croatian colleague at Boels for help.”
Trust
The last international employee we spoke to was Vlastimil Janovac, from the Czech Republic – he was Boels driver of the year in 2021. ‘Vlasti’ (which is what his colleagues call him) has been with Boels for eight years now. He’s a well-known face in Austria. As a driver, he probably knows more colleagues than anyone else. Always cheerful, Vlasti commutes to and from home once a week and sleeps in his truck the rest of the time. “I still clearly remember having to go to Sittard to pick up my beautiful new truck. I’d only been with the company for a month. That’s real trust.” He likes working in Austria. “The people here are friendly and fair. They accept each other quicker and are approachable too. Because people from so many different countries work for our company, we all understand the hurdles we face. So, there was no need to be afraid of being judged for any mistakes I made while speaking German. That meant I learnt the language faster, which was a bonus.”
Vlasti’s enthusiasm was obvious as he spoke with us while preparing his evening meal in the kitchen of the branch in Graz. “I really enjoy working for Boels. I love the personal contact I have with others and how friendly and helpful everyone is. You can’t beat it. We’re a real team, made up of people from all kinds of different backgrounds. But we all want the same thing: to work together well to make the company a success.”
