Andreas Ladner, whom I know from a previous joint activity works as a coach/consultant at Kiebitz. Kiebitz? What do you think that is? I make an appointment with him and meet him for an interview.
Andreas, what is a lapwing?
Kiebitz is an association that in the field of work integration. Clients are, for example, the regional employment services (RAV), disability insurance (IV) or social welfare. Kiebitz supports and accompanies people during a career change. Reintegration into the primary labor market is one of the goals. The counseling varies between 3 and 6 months. In a few cases it lasts 9 months. This can affect people who are assigned by the IV or social welfare social welfare.
But you can also private individual can also take advantage of our coaching. The focus is also on career planning. However, as a private individual, you have to pay the costs yourself. bear the costs yourself.
What kind of people come to you?
These are people between 16 and 65 who have lost their jobs due to illness or downsizing in the company lost their job as a result of illness or downsizing. But they are also people who have no basic education and have simply lived from job to job, for example. The The jobs of unskilled workers are usually the first to be cut. are cut.
However, Kiebitz is not a a placement office for apprenticeships. The agogic offer in own and external external companies serves to rebuild employability.
How many older job seekers do you look after?
650 people benefited in 2018 from the coaching and advisory services. Around 10 people per year are aged 60 and over.
What do you do as a coach? Do you give lessons?
No, I don't give lessons. I only do individual counseling and provide support for the people who come to me come to me so that they can sort themselves out. I support them on the path to a new professional solution. I have to listen carefully, get them, ask them fundamental questions and work with them to with them. The clients should be able to strengthen their application skills and take responsibility for their own process. This involves, for example Questions: What do I like doing and what don't I like doing (any more)? What skills do I have?
My consultations concern on average 50% women and 50 % men.
What is your success rate?
How is success measured? Even Being clearer on the road is already a success! Especially in the case of prolonged unemployment, it is important to question your skills, thinking and behavioral patterns. If someone has been ill for a longer period of time what is still possible.
Since the aim is to reintegration into the primary labor market - as long as the state of health condition allows it.
By the way: The unemployment insurance fund unemployment fund claims that around 45 - 50% of people who have completed a program at Kiebitz who have completed a program at Kiebitz subsequently find a job again.
What do you think of seniors@work?
I have already recommended the website to two of my clients who are 60+. I am pleased that seniors@work includes exciting companies that are prepared to employ "older" people, even senior citizens. The latter bring a lot of life and work experience with them. I don't understand why companies only want to hire young people.
You know - says Andreas Ladner - Sometimes coaching is needed for the companies!
If that's not a great ending! Thank you Andres for this interview and good luck with your work!
An article by Christof Schuerpf appeared in the bz on October 7 2019 an article by Christof Schuerpf about the increase in the retirement age. The journalist refers to the auditor Deloitte, which in June of this year thousand people aged between 50 and 70 on this topic in June of this year. on this topic. The increase - in whatever stages - was poorly received. well received.
Various scenarios are on the table:
- The Federal Council would like to gradually raise the retirement age for women over four years from 64 to 65 over four years. Although this plan has already failed twice at the ballot box at the ballot box.
- In the room is the additional idea of making pension withdrawals more flexible. In concrete terms retirement between the age of 62 and the age of 70. age.
- And then There are also the Juso, who want to raise the retirement age to 66 and and then link it to life expectancy.
The President of Pro Senectute, former Federal Councillor Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf, stated in an interview that the interview that the current system of old-age provision would soon no longer be financially viable. This means that fewer and fewer senior citizens will be able to live on their pension. can live on their pension. They will have to look for additional jobs. She is in favor of flexible handling of the retirement age and emphasizes that a construction worker cannot work for the same length of time as a lawyer (see bz/2.7.2019).
Former member of the Council of States Philipp Müller on the other hand, caused a furore because he thinks the retirement age should be should be abolished. He noted that employees over the age of 50 are very difficult to difficult to place if they lose their job. He believes this is due to the high non-wage labor costs. And he explains that a kind of "lifetime working time" should be included in the calculation (see bz / 30.9.2019).
Well, dear reader, And how do you feel about a decision? Which is the right one? The subject is complex and difficult. In my opinion, however, it needs the economy and a rethink. As long as companies stop hiring people over 50, even a flexible and higher retirement age is useless. Or is it?
PS: By the way: in August 2019 the unemployment rate in Switzerland was a low 2.1%. Also in August 7645 people aged 60+ were registered as unemployed across Switzerland (sources: Federal Statistical Office / Situation on the labor market, 9.9.2019).
It was a beautiful Wednesday morning, the sun was unusually warm for this time of year and the atmosphere in the photo studio of Stefan Schmidlin in Basel was cheerful. White paint on the concrete walls, lots of technology and lighting and many wooden planks. Different lengths, different widths and sometimes generous. The photographer needed these boards to bring the models to the same eye level, an important detail of today's shoot.
The marketing consultant of KUCK UCK - Agency for Communication and the photographer stood relaxed with a coffee in their hands at the massive brown work table, each munching on a fresh croissant from the bakery around the corner, exchanging ideas and thoughts. They were served croissants, small cakes, Basler Läckerli, fruit and mineral water. A relaxed start to the day.
The work for this seniors@work The project began much earlier, with a lot of thought and creativity. The platform for retired talent over 60 needed a new website and, in this context, new photos that show how generations are brought together in the world of work.
Seniors stand for trust and reliability
How could the generational exchange between senior citizens and active workers be staged? What symbolism could best convey the idea of "complementing and not replacing"? After careful consideration and a few discarded concepts, the marketing consultant had a thought: how about a simple handshake? A handshake connects, shows trust and strength. The handshake demonstrates the interaction between the generations at eye level, within a second and very strikingly
The idea was born: let's join hands. The world of work would trustingly leave the work to senior citizens in order to free up their time and benefit from their experience and knowledge. What's more, it would show senior citizens that we are happy to make use of them. The handshake would create a powerful dynamic. The idea is that this would more accurately express the benefits for society.
How should these photos be taken? Outside, at work, at home? No, preferably in front of a neutral white background. If the photographer succeeds in emotionally charging an encounter between two generations, then the strict, hard image form allows the people portrayed to convey the symbolism with confidence. We needed an atmosphere and an expression that would capture more than just the specific moment.
These pictures should get to the people: entrepreneurs as employers and senior citizens as employees. So it was obvious for us to create very simple portrait photography: show people as they are. There was no make-up, people should imagine themselves as they are in real life. In addition, there were no complex instructions for these close-ups other than: shake hands. There was a lighting setup, a camera angle and a very simple portrait. Straight ahead, honest, and so spectacularly unspectacular. However; showing this lightness can be exhausting.
Senior citizen as photo model
Kathrin, a recent senior citizen, parked her bike right next to the entrance. She entered with a relaxed air and her presence quickly took over the room. The team greeted the newcomer model with a friendly handshake and after a sip of coffee, the first shots in everyday clothes could begin. The photographer coordinated the setting with the marketing consultant for the last time and the lighting was switched on. The smile is in place. The camera flashes. Kathrin's eyes light up. Alexis, founder of the platform seniors@work, laughed back, confidently accepted the senior's handshake and the camera clicked. In the second run, Kathrin was patiently photographed several times with the young entrepreneur, and in the third with a young mother. The little girl accompanying her mother was spontaneously enthusiastic about the photos, and so these pictures were also selected for the project.
Our team made rapid progress. The senior arrived punctually at 12 noon by bike and first inspected the pictures he had taken before standing in front of the camera for the shots with the founder. The senior smiled skillfully and calmly for the camera, confident and serious. In the second set, he shook hands with the young entrepreneurs and finally impressed them with his mother and child. The productive day was great fun for everyone involved and was a simple experiment with spectacular results.
In the afternoon, things got a little more creative; the choice of images was to represent a series of generational transitions and reflect the emotion of connectedness. This took a surprisingly short time and the team was very pleased. Looking at the photos, you can see how the idea is internalized by those involved. The handshake is a gesture of non-verbal communication, a sign of equality and respect. A sign of accessibility, trust and exchange. A simple idea of a handshake to connect generations at eye level.
