Interview with Katrin Giger - Swiss National Bank
In 1998, when France won the Football World Cup as host country, when Google was founded in a garage in California, when both Windows 98 and the first smart coupés were launched, the Swiss National Bank (SNB) was already a member of profawo. 1 January 2023 marked the 25th anniversary of its membership. We took this opportunity to conduct a short interview with Katrin Giger, responsible for Diversity & Inclusion and Employer Branding at the SNB.
Ms Giger, what does the compatibility of family and career mean to you personally?
For me, a successful life balance means pursuing my professional tasks and goals as well as offering my two daughters the necessary support and attention and then still having enough time and resources for my partnership, friendships, family and myself.
Juggling all the tasks, needs and expectations - analogous to driving a car on a demanding track - can be very challenging and intense at times. Sometimes the 24-hour day is simply too short, especially when other challenges such as illness or unforeseen appointments at home come up at short notice. Thanks to a high degree of time flexibility and a home office, however, many things are feasible nowadays. Moreover, I am fortunately not alone on this journey. My husband and I take turns at the wheel, encounter and overcome obstacles together and can thus stay the course.
Ms Giger, what do you particularly appreciate about profawo's services?
For the SNB, the work-life balance of its employees is very important. We see the nationwide membership of profawo as an optimal complement to our existing framework in order to provide targeted support to our employees in their search for care and/or relief options.
We have recently started to draw more attention internally to the wide range of services offered by profawo. Our employees can use profawo's services simply and without complications. For example, profawo can offer them a place in their kids & co daycare centres, find them a nanny, support them in all aspects of caring for adult relatives or provide input at exciting online events.
I also personally appreciate the broad understanding of reconciliation. It does not only apply to employees with children, but to all people who have professional obligations and take care of family members, are active in politics or clubs, or have other responsibilities.
Have the demands of employees changed in recent years?
The social framework conditions, values and needs have always been changing and will always change. Nowadays, demographic change, the shortage of skilled workers, digitalisation, technological progress and international networking are in the foreground. These factors and many more have an influence on our working world and cooperation. We are also feeling this.
The SNB offers a unique working environment and attaches great importance to personal and professional development as well as lifelong learning. Thanks to progressive employment conditions and a culture characterised by respect, trust and collegiality, we create a framework that enables individual growth and flourishing. Together, we are all directly or indirectly involved in fulfilling our mandate, which makes our work meaningful. These are aspects that have endured for a long time and will continue to do so in the future.
How would you summarise the 25 years of profawo membership?
profawo was founded 26 years ago, the SNB has been a member for 25 years. At that time, a successful work-life balance was hardly an issue. The importance of reconciliation has steadily increased in society in recent years and shows that our commitment was worthwhile and is now paying off.
We look forward to continuing our constructive cooperation with profawo and are excited to see what issues we will encounter in the future.
Photo © Maya & Daniele