How we live the
“Friendly Work Space”
Quality Standard at Syngenta Switzerland
Move, stretch, thrive!
Ever heard of Bare Minimum Mondays? This somewhat divisive social media trend relies on a minimal task list to ease into the workweek. Which is nice in theory, but tricky in reality.
At Syngenta in Switzerland, we’ve also established a routine for the start of the week: Mobility Mondays. Other than a chair, this 15-minute energy boost for the workweek requires no equipment. It’s all about simple moves with maximum impact to beat any case of the Mondays, and it can be repeated anytime, anywhere, on any day of the week.
Simple neck exercises can help you improve posture, reduce neck pain and stiffness, and increase flexibility, making many daily tasks much more pleasant.
The instructor in the video, Vanessa Kurtz, also happens to be an HR Business Partner for Syngenta Switzerland and leads the Wellbeing Team. The team brings together colleagues from different departments and locations. Their goal: to shape and improve wellbeing initiatives across all Syngenta sites in Switzerland—including places beyond the typical office setup like labs and production facilities.
These efforts now got a fresh boost—thanks to Friendly Work Space, a Swiss quality standard for systematically implemented workplace health management that Syngenta was awarded last year.
“We’ve always been committed to promoting health and wellbeing at our sites in Switzerland,” says Vanessa. “But the systematic approach of the Swiss quality label convinced us. It allows us to bring all initiatives under one roof and continuously improve them. Furthermore, earning the Friendly Work Space certification gave us new motivation to broaden our efforts and make them more accessible to all colleagues in Switzerland—which doesn’t come without its challenges.”
One Size Doesn’t Fit All: Wellbeing That Works
Syngenta’s presence in its home country of Switzerland includes a wide range of work environments and roles—from headquarters offices to research labs and large production sites. That’s why making wellbeing initiatives work in practice takes flexibility and a good sense of what fits locally.
Silke Lübbering, Communications and Admin Specialist at the Kaisten production site, explains: “Some activities that work well in a multilingual office setting like Basel just aren’t practical at a manufacturing site like Kaisten. Most of our colleagues work in shifts, spend little time at a computer, and mainly speak German—so initiatives in English and designed for desk jobs often don’t reach them.”
To shape something that truly complements global offers and fits each site’s needs, the Wellbeing Team did—and continues to do—the most logical thing: they ask.
Through regular, structured wellbeing surveys, they check in with colleagues across Switzerland—what’s working, what’s missing, and what’s on their wish list. At each site, representatives from all departments also meet regularly to share ideas, suggestions, and critical feedback.
Syngenta’s presence in its home country of Switzerland includes a wide range of work environments and roles—from headquarters offices to research labs and large production sites. That’s why making wellbeing initiatives work in practice takes flexibility and a good sense of what fits locally.
Silke Lübbering, Communications and Admin Specialist at the Kaisten production site, explains: “Some activities that work well in a multilingual office setting like Basel just aren’t practical at a manufacturing site like Kaisten. Most of our colleagues work in shifts, spend little time at a computer, and mainly speak German—so initiatives in English and designed for desk jobs often don’t reach them.”
To shape something that truly complements global offers and fits each site’s needs, the Wellbeing Team did—and continues to do—the most logical thing: they ask.
Through regular, structured wellbeing surveys, they check in with colleagues across Switzerland—what’s working, what’s missing, and what’s on their wish list. At each site, representatives from all departments also meet regularly to share ideas, suggestions, and critical feedback.
Not for couch potatoes – or is it?
The result? Practical, hands-on offers that help to promote health, wellbeing and safety at work while making it more fun to spend time with colleagues—and even compete with them a little, if the occasion allows for it.
Perhaps the sportiest example is the annual, nationwide Bike2Work initiative, where Syngenta colleagues once again cycled enough kilometers this year to almost circle the Earth. The winners among the 21 Syngenta teams? The Couch Potatoes!
But of course, it’s beyond sports. The text boxes below give a glimpse of how varied our wellbeing offer is, and the slide show below shows what some of the items look like in action.
"The pace is consistently fast, and we have to deal with constant change.
That's why we offer a broad variety of programs that support the physical and mental health of individuals and promote a positive team experience.”
Elisabeth Vock, Head of HR
Health & Safety
- Regular health checks and vaccinations offered in collaboration with the medical service
- Discounted, nutritious meals offered in staff restaurants, including Vital menus and themed events (e.g. Veganuary)
- Relaxation room available for employees to rest outside working hours (e.g., before driving home after a night shift)
- “Stay Hydrated” initiative: Reminder for employees to drink enough water, and free “Focus” water distribution
- Free fire safety and extinguisher training sessions for employees
- Fitness and gym offers available on various sites
Mental Wellbeing
- On-site mediator available for conflict resolution and personal concerns
- 24/7 confidential Employee Assistance Program hotline for all Swiss sites, offering advice on mental health, family matters, finances, and legal issues
- Trained volunteer colleagues (Mental Health Aiders) provide a first point of contact and support in multiple languages
- Online wellbeing programs including: Guided mindfulness sessions, Mental health webinars and podcasts
Giving to Others
- On-site blood donation drives
- Team participation in “Thanksgivers” and other local charity initiatives
Sports & Team Fun
- Team events such as After Work Thursdays, BBQs, and seasonal breakfasts
- “Exploring Culture” sessions where employees present their home countries
- New outdoor break areas and relaxation zones
- Sports & Fun Events: Mixed teams compete in sports like beach volleyball, table tennis, football, basketball, and boccia, followed by a group BBQ
- Support for participation in local sports clubs
- Participation in Switzerland-wide initiatives like Bike2Work and B2Run
Balancing Act:
Between Wellbeing and Work Realities
“As a company, we can offer working conditions that promote well-being in the workplace, but ultimately it is the employees who are the key to maintaining a friendly workspace, and I am particularly proud of that.”
Elisabeth Vock, Head of HR
No matter the department, location, or work environment, most employees at some point experience a familiar reality: working at a global company like Syngenta can be demanding. The pace is fast, and change is constant.
This holds true even for those in so-called “comfortable” desk jobs. Early calls with Asia and late ones with the U.S. can quickly blur the line between work and personal life.
Flexible working models offer valuable support—helping people set boundaries and make space for family, hobbies, and rest. Syngenta actively encourages these models. But as always, one solution doesn’t fit all. Depending on the work environment and local regulations, policies like home office can vary widely.
And even the strongest company support can only go so far. At the end of the day, taking care of ourselves—and looking out for one another—is a shared responsibility.
“Speaking up about concerns is essential,” says Gabriel Schmied, Team Leader Plant and Soil Health Research in Stein, who was just elected as the new president of the employee representatives for Syngenta Switzerland. “It helps everyone do a more effective job. As employee representatives, we are committed to doing what we can to justify the trust our colleagues place in us—to bring their interests forward when it comes to health and wellbeing policies, and beyond.”
Not just altruism
Despite—or perhaps because of—all these efforts, one might start to think that Syngenta isn’t supporting all this purely out of selflessness. And one wouldn’t be wrong!
Advancing Wellbeing, of course, also serves the company’s own core interests. Syngenta aims to be seen as an attractive employer with future prospects, both by current employees and new talent. Creating and maintaining a friendly environment—on both a broad and practical level—is clearly a prerequisite, ultimately boosting satisfaction and productivity.
“We’re not aiming for a superficial feel-good effect, and we certainly don’t want to engage in window dressing,” says Vanessa Kurtz. “If it comes to living up to the Friendly Work Space certification, our definition of success isn’t about doing everything at once. It’s about thoughtful actions that have a lasting impact – and we’re excited about what’s still to come!”
Not just altruism
Despite—or perhaps because of—all these efforts, one might start to think that Syngenta isn’t supporting all this purely out of selflessness. And one wouldn’t be wrong!
Advancing Wellbeing, of course, also serves the company’s own core interests. Syngenta aims to be seen as an attractive employer with future prospects, both by current employees and new talent. Creating and maintaining a friendly environment—on both a broad and practical level—is clearly a prerequisite, ultimately boosting satisfaction and productivity.
“We’re not aiming for a superficial feel-good effect, and we certainly don’t want to engage in window dressing,” says Vanessa Kurtz. “If it comes to living up to the Friendly Work Space certification, our definition of success isn’t about doing everything at once. It’s about thoughtful actions that have a lasting impact – and we’re excited about what’s still to come!”
What Makes a Workspace Friendly?
The Friendly Work Space certification, awarded to Syngenta in 2024, sets the Swiss quality standard for systematically implemented workplace health management (BGM) and is supported by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco) and the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG).
The Health Promotion Switzerland foundation which has a legal mandate, issues the certification. Conducted by independent external assessors, is based on six quality criteria that make employee health measurable. If successful, the company is awarded the Friendly Work Space label for three years.
ERGs: Networks that spark change
In a country like Switzerland, where traditional gender roles are still quite present, Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) for women play a particularly vital role. At Syngenta Switzerland, we’re proud to have several networks that not only offer tangible development opportunities for women but also help drive meaningful cultural change. Among these are our mentoring programs in collaboration with the Advance organization, as well as the Women in Manufacturing ERG at our Monthey site—which stands out especially, given the global underrepresentation of women in manufacturing roles.
