Companies help Companies
Innovations in the corona crisis

Seeing the corona pandemic as an opportunity... might be hard for businesses in the gastronomy or event industry. But maybe the future's brighter than they think. Regarding an innovative idea from the Siegerland, there might be a chance to save mini jobs and other temporary jobs. Another company can temporarily employ the mini jobbers. A win/win situation for all parties is created.

Giving mini jobbers a perspective with temporary work

Konstantin Turan usually works for Hüseyin Fidan. As a mini jobber in the "Casa's Pizza" restaurant, he earned well. Then the pandemic intervened. Fidan, business owner of the restaurant, had to react to the new situation. "I had to dismiss the mini jobbers", says the restaurateur sadly. Fidan has been shaping the gastronomy industry in the Siegerland for years. However, there is no government aid or short-time work for mini jobbers. Students or pupils are basically without a job - so it was the case for Konstantin Turan, if there would not have been Sebastian Klietsch's idea from the Klietsch engineering association.
Mr. Klietsch's 45 year old company operates in the high-tech software industry. He knows the problem that many smaller tasks are left behind in everyday work. The reason is a lack of personnel. Some of these tasks are paperwork or telephone services which often are outsourced to call centers. Sebastian Klietsch made a different decision. He asked Hüseyin Fidan whether mini jobbers were available for temporary employment. Three mini jobbers could be hired promptly and without much bureaucracy. "The call was a complete success," said Matthias Klietsch happily. "Mr. Fidan was in. Then everything happened very quickly." All parties benefit from the solution of this short-term takeover: The mini jobbers receive their income, the catering industry is relieved because they don't have to pay the mini jobbers and the hiring company solves staff shortages. A Win-Win-Win Situation.

Mr. Fidan is known for his openness. He does not lose his smile, even in this time of the pandemic. "Many restaurateurs say: Why isn't the state helping? They had eight months to come up with an idea, with a concept," he explains in an interview. "Then I just say: But you had this time too!" Mr. Fidan got active: He distributed flyers and advertised his delivery service online. Thanks to the new strategy and the expansion of the service, his existential fear is over.

The plan: Strategy of success should reach other companies

The mini jobbers like their new job at the Klietsch engineering association. For Matthias Klietsch, hiring mini jobbers is rather unusual. But the new idea works for him and he doesn't regret the decision. "We got three great guys from Mr. Fidan. Also, the concept was much easier for both sides than a usual job search". Konstantin Turan is one of them. He is happy about the "pleasant working environment" and a work he can do "via home office, so I can protect others".
In the long term, the engineering association and Mr. Fidan want to motivate other companies to take up the idea. The goal is to support each other in the region. So there are safe jobs and resolved staff shortages as well as an attractive region to work. Many of the mini jobbers are students from other regions. "If they lose their job, they might leave Siegen", says Sebastian Klietsch from the engineering association. "We want to make Siegen attractive as a location and keep students here after their studies, in the best case.

Support from all sides: Mayor and IHK welcome idea

Mayor Steffen Mues welcomed the idea, as well as Sabine Bechheim from IHK Siegen. Mues emphasizes the importance of the gastronomy in Siegen, which makes the city lively, attractive and invitiny. There are already financial supports at the University of Siegen to support temporary workers, but Klietsch's idea closes further gaps. Sabine Bechheim would like to encourage companies to follow the example of the engineering community. "Interested companies should get in touch with their trusted restaurateur right away, as the Klietsch company did itself," she says. This avoids large efforts in advance. He also trusts in the mini jobbers to come back one day. "Anyone who has ever been in the gastronomy industry is not made for computer work permanently," he says. He doesn't fear to lose mini jobbers this way. "You shouldn't forget: Tips make up to 30 percent of wages in our industry. So I'm sure my mini jobbers will come back."

Companies with vacancies for temporary workers should have the courage to contact a restaurant directly. There, they can ask about mini jobbers to resolve staff shortages. There are certainly open tasks in every large company - even if they are simple tasks like cleaning the yard or typing up data. The win/win/win situation helps to create completely new opportunities in the corona pandemic instead of only destroying jobs.

written by Lorena Müller, free writer