Top-level research lives on interesting, forward-looking problems, well-educated personnel and staff-oriented working conditions. Scientific creativity requires an offset outside of the of the office and laboratory, and a balance between profession, family, personal hobbies and continuing professional development (CPS) is therefore a substantial success factor even for highly qualified academics. This applies to people both with and without care obligations. It is certainly in the company‘s own interest to attract more women with technical-natural sciences expertise and to offer them career opportunities. Experience has shown that an increase in diversity in terms of personnel, coupled with good management, leads to more creativity, innovation and an improvement in the working atmosphere.
For many years, BEST has been implementing a wide range of activities to achieve more gender equality within the company and in society. The BioDiversity project is currently taking this a few steps further. In addition to gender, this project is analyzing new dimensions of diversity in more detail, namely age (especially 20-30 year olds and 50+) and origin (nationality/culture) within the company, and taking these into account when deriving measures. The specific requirements of the above-mentioned age groups in terms of working life are being surveyed in order to ensure that everyone is able to work and that there is good cooperation between the generations.
Monika Enigl
To me, work @ BEST means: Interesting content, diverse duties and a high level of temporal and spatial flexibility. This is also reflected in our diverse team. The openness and support provided by our management facilitate further awareness for and implementation of measures to promote diversity as well as reconciling work with other aspects of life. At some point all colleagues benefit from these framework conditions . I enjoy being part of this success story!
Manuel Schwabl
As a father and a commuter I enjoy the benefits of paternal part-time working, flexible working hours and the home office, and yet BEST continues to make efforts to improve my working conditions – albeit not altruistically, because this is reflected in my high motivation, commitment and loyalty to my employer.
Katharina Fürsatz
A distinctive feature of our Vienna site is the operation of our gasification reactor in campaign mode. Managing it around the clock requires dedication and demonstrates how challenging and varied shift work can be. Although weekend and night shifts can be demanding, the working conditions and compensation structures at BEST are continuously reviewed and adjusted to further improve working conditions.
The introduction of teleworking has made it possible for me to work from abroad for several days at a time, an opportunity I have already shared with colleagues. Such flexible work arrangements complement daily tasks, allowing for focused work that often gets sidelined in the day-to-day routine, while also strengthening team spirit and creating valuable shared experiences.
Dina Bacovsky
My work at BEST is both interesting and meaningful. My expertise in the field of biofuels and bioenergy, and my roles in the Technology Collaboration Programmes of the IEA, enable me to support the deployment of biofuels and bioenergy, both within Austria as well as internationally. This contributes to the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions in our fight against climate change.
Daria Shabatska
What I really enjoy about working at BEST is the variety of opportunities to learn and grow. With so many different projects, no two tasks are the same, and there’s always something new to explore and understand. In addition, as a student, I value being part of an experienced and supportive team that helps me grow professionally, and the flexible working hours make it easy to combine my studies with work. Above all, it feels great to know that what we do actually makes a difference for the environment and helps build a more sustainable future.
Tanja Gollinger
What I really appreciate about BEST is that the work is always varied and interesting thanks to new projects and topics. Although I have been working in the laboratory for 20 years, there is always something new to learn, whether it be new analytical equipment, new analytical methods, or new questions.
But what is just as important to me are the flexible working hours, which allow me to care for my elderly father and support him when needed in addition to my job. BEST's family-friendly corporate culture enables me to balance caregiving and my career.
Sandra Staudt
What I particularly love about working at BEST is the diversity of our projects and therefore also my daily working life. It can be a challenge sometimes, but that makes it all the more exciting. In addition, I consider myself very fortunate to work in such a competent and motivated team that enriches my life every day, both on a professional and a personal level.
