People

Markas Austria is dedicated to the employment of people with disabilities. In a workshop involving Austrian colleagues and the social enterprise myAbility, Markas Austria developed a goal-oriented action plan and continues to organize networking events with other companies engaged in this area. The "Inclusive Working" project, for example, aims to employ more people with disabilities, thereby promoting their independence and autonomy. The goal is to create a work environment tailored to their needs, highlighting employees' strengths and allowing them to focus on their personal abilities. Markas’ Inclusion Officer is responsible for the strategic, long-term implementation of the project, acting as the internal and external liaison.

Since 2022, raising awareness among facility managers, specifically regarding interaction with people with disabilities has been a key focus. Internal communication channels, including social media, payrolls, and Markas News, have been increasingly used to inform and create awareness about this initiative.

In 2023, Markas Austria has also highlighted other inclusion initiatives:

• Pride Month: The company enhanced internal and external communications to promote awareness and inclusivity within the LGBTQIA+ community.
• International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3): Markas raised awareness around this day and topic through dedicated campaigns.
• Removing Barriers: Markas has worked to eliminate obstacles throughout the employee lifecycle—from the recruitment process to addressing biases and mental barriers within the workforce, involving leaders and all business areas.

Inclusion is also addressed during the onboarding of new colleagues, and to break down communication barriers. A sign language course has also been promoted.

Following the 2022 satisfaction survey, one of the most important topics raised was the need to improve communication and ‘bring closer’ Markas headquarters and contract sites. In response, Markas People For You was created, an initiative aimed at placing even greater value on our contract employees by prioritizing in-person meetings and actively listening to their needs.

Launched in 2022 and continued in 2023, the initiative included a series of monthly on-site meetings attended by office staff, including managers, employees, and directors. These visits provided essential information on topics such as payrolls, employment management, workplace health and safety, and welfare.

Between 2022 and 2023, Markas People For You reached over 3,500 employees across more than 20 Italian cities, and nearly 50 locations. In 2024, the initiative will also be implemented in Austria.

MarkaSeeds, Markas’s corporate training project, was created to offer team members a concrete opportunity for personal and professional development. In 2023, the project was rebranded as Markas People Seeds, retaining the reference to the word “seeds,” which holds a double meaning for Markas: nurturing its people while cultivating their strategic skills.

Markas People Seeds is a two-year program that includes a representative group of colleagues from the company’s eight departments. Throughout this journey, participants develop various skills through theoretical classes, outdoor training, and workshops. The project’s goal is to equip participants with strategic skills vital for the company’s future, such as problem-solving, innovative thinking, relationship management, and a strong understanding of organizational processes.

The program concluded in May 2023, after 18 days of training and more than 230 hours of learning.
Having received positive feedback from participants, instructors, and management, Markas People Seeds was relaunched in March 2024.

Markas Italy has always valued its employees, offering them guidance programs focused on professional and personal growth. The most impactful programs for 2023 include:

• Coaching Program: This coaching initiative supports the personal and professional development of employees. Although the program has existed for many years, it was underutilized. In 2022, Markas recognized the need to create a unique approach to offering and organizing this valuable tool. As a result, specific guidelines were developed in 2023 to define management, usage, and enhancement of the coaching program, along with an awareness campaign to highlight its availability and encourage participation.
• Company Buddy: Starting a new job in a complex, structured organization can be challenging. Since 2022, Markas Italy has assigned a company buddy to each new employee. A ‘buddy’ is someone who has been with Markas for at least 15 years and possesses a deep knowledge and perspective of the company. This person helps new hires better understand their new environment. In 2023, the buddy program was successfully continued and, due to that success, it was extended to Markas Austria employees as well.

In 2023, Markas launched an important project to promote health and safety among contract employees: Markas Safety Week.

The initiative consisted of three weeks in which the Prevention and Protection Service (SPP) team visited contract sites to ensure employees were following all the required health and safety protocols. Each week included two basic sessions, aimed at supporting employees in completing their annual safety checklists. The first session was focused on how to fill out these checklists, while the second included clarifications provided by contract site personnel.

Thanks to its considerable success in 2023, the initiative will also be implemented in 2024. Additionally, Safety Week provides the SPP team with an opportunity to conduct informal  interviews and stay informed about any relevant situations affecting the contract sites involved.

In 2023, tests were also conducted on devices for lone workers, known as "man-down" devices. These devices, resembling a smartwatch connected to a mobile phone, monitor the user’s movements and trigger an alarm in case of inactivity. Implementation of these devices is planned for 2024.

Markas Austria also saw a year full of initiatives in 2023, including:

• Fitness and Wellness Programs: Yoga sessions aimed at workplace wellness and tables to improve posture during meetings.
• Safety: Training on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) to prevent falls from heights.
• Markas Health Day: An informational day dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of mental health.

In 2021, Markas Italy launched Markas People Lift, a training and orientation program aimed at preparing employees’ children, particularly children of contract staff, for the business world and their future career. The second edition of the initiative took place in 2023 in Bolzano, involving 16 young people aged 18 to 29, all children of Markas’ employees.

Participants spent a week together, engaging in indoor and outdoor training sessions as well as various workshops. During the training sessions, company leaders and management interacted with the younger generation, discussing work, professionalism, and the dynamics and processes within a structured organization like Markas.

While Markas People Lift was one of the most notable achievements of 2023, other significant projects were also implemented that year. For instance, in 2023, dedicated project management teams were created in order to address the need of a more efficient and unified approach towards projects.

Additionally, a cybersecurity training program was held in 2023. It was met with considerable success engaging over 600 employees in Italy and more than 800 employees across the entire Group (see Chapter 3 for further details).

Looking ahead to 2024, several key initiatives are planned, such as cooperative training courses at contract sites. This initiative was born from Markas Lab Ideas 2022, the company’s innovation challenge aimed at uncovering innovative, sustainable ideas to shape the company’s future through direct employee involvement. Additionally, to better support contract staff,  the company plans to create universally understandable visual materials, regardless of the language spoken. Feasibility studies will also be conducted in 2024 to address language gaps among contract employees.

Finally, a key objective for 2024 is the creation of an internal coaching team that will offer employees training activities, helping them integrate their skills and interests as well as develop their talents.