On that day, at about 4 p.m., the son of one of the employees ran into their office shouting that there was something wrong with his father. Adrian and Frank ran to check what was going on and when they saw the paralysed worker, they immediately called an ambulance. It turned out that the man had poisoned himself by eating fermented preserves. Worried about the worker's fate and this dangerous bacterial infection, they rode with him from hospital to hospital, anxiously waiting to see if the doctors would be able to save the man's life. By the morning, the rescue operation proved successful. Adrian would remember that first, eventful working day for the rest of his life.
Karina has joined OTTO one year after Adrian. She recalls the job interview with Peter Verlegh as if it were yesterday. The company was growing at such an impressive pace that Karina could choose from several positions. Yet, she did not hesitate, as she was always interested in organising the day-to-day office work. And so, she started working in the Administration Department. For the following 18 years, she kept a close eye on the contracts of all employees and ensured a proper employee circulation within the company. In the meantime, she followed courses on Dutch labour law. Currently, she is engaged in processes concerning the Balanced Labour Market Act (WAB) and contract management.
"We have built a house in Poland, but we have never moved in"
"These were unbelievable times” recalls Karina. "We were earning in guldens, learning foreign languages and new skills, but we always thought that we would go back to Poland. And so, the first, second and third year passed. We have built a house in Poland, but we have never moved in."
Who would have thought that this was the beginning of a new phase in the life of these two young students in love; that they would set up a happy family, have two great children and, first of all, that Germany and the Netherlands would be their new home? After all, they only came to Holland for a few weeks to earn some extra money on a lily farm during their holidays. And despite the terrible pain in their backs, they will never forget this experience, and they are glad that their lives turned out this way.
It does not take them long to answer the question "What has kept you at OTTO for 20 years?". They are unanimous in praising the dynamism and atmosphere of the company. Karina enjoys going to work every day and adds that she is never bored. She is proud that OTTO is always one step ahead of other employment agencies and the first one to introduce new processes and legal regulations.
A factor in the success of our company is not only good organization, but also awareness of what we do and awareness of the direction in which we are going. We know how, we know why & we know where. Properly targeted action energy makes a difference. Every two years we sharpen our strategic course. In future years, we will want to find out exactly what motivates our employees. The title of the 2020 - 2024...
A factor in the success of our company is not only good organization, but also awareness of what we do and awareness of the direction in which we are going. We know how, we know why & we know where. Properly targeted action energy makes a...
"The vast majority of foreign workers working in our country return to their countries after some time. Circular economic migration, especially from outside Europe, must be properly regulated. We should not bring in just anyone, but regulate and control the influx,” says Frank van Gool (OTTO Work Force) in his latest article for Flexmarkt.
"The vast majority of foreign workers working in our country return to their countries after some time. Circular economic migration, especially from outside Europe, must be properly regulated. We should not bring in just anyone, but...
When Irena and Janusz started working at OTTO, there were about eighty employees. A friend recommended OTTO to them and Irena and Janusz have stayed for 20 years. They came to the Netherlands as “Poles on a German passport,” which was the access pass to work on the other side of the river Oder in that time. Only in 2004, when Poland joined the European Union, a bigger number of Poles could travel to work abroad...
When Irena and Janusz started working at OTTO, there were about eighty employees. A friend recommended OTTO to them and Irena and Janusz have stayed for 20 years. They came to the Netherlands as “Poles on a German passport,” which was the...
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