May 2, 2023 All Articles

Meet the Speaker: Laura Di Paolo, Head of People & Culture, Aroma AG

We caught up with Laura Di Paolo in preparation for her involvement in the Wellbeing at Work Summit Europe which takes place from 23-25 May live and in-person in Amsterdam & Zurich to find out why she is so passionate about wellbeing at work and why she is looking forward to the Summit.

We are thrilled that you will be speaking at our Wellbeing at Work Europe Summit in May. Our first and most important question is, how are you doing today?

Thanks for asking, I am very well! Thanks to Aroma’s flexible working model and my
manager’s trust I can well juggle my job and the studies at the same time. This
motivates me and makes me feel appreciated at work.

As a leader based in the region, what are the main challenges you are facing when it comes to employee wellbeing?

In Switzerland, the legally permitted working hours per week are very high compared
to the rest of Europe. This makes it even more difficult to change the mindset that a
good balance between working hours and rest time is more beneficial than working
yourself sick.

What strategies have you seen developing in Europe over the past 6-12 months to address health and wellbeing in the workplace?

The development that I still perceive most strongly is in the context of new work in
connection with corporate culture. In other words, working on the question: What
conditions do our employees need in their workplaces so that they feel comfortable,
can juggle everything and are successful in their jobs? Does our corporate culture
allow for this? How can we positively influence our culture? The strategies in
response to these questions must be worked out very individually depending on the
company situation.

Why is employee wellbeing so important to you personally?

Because I am firmly convinced and can observe it in myself that when you feel like
you belong, accepted and trusted, you can behave and work best. This applies both
privately and professionally and is mutually reinforcing.

What are you most looking forward to about the Summit in May?

For me, the topic of this panel touches the core of leadership, so I am very happy to
actively participate, learn from the discussions and get new impulses from this great
network.

Tell us, what is your vision for the workplace of the future, in terms of employee engagement, health and wellbeing?

My vision is to be an employer where every kind of person feels welcome and where
people support each other to get the best out of each other. And this is only possible
under the premise of a positive and reflective attitude, the prioritization of the
people’s well-being and the consideration of individual needs.

What areas do you think employers should be focused on over the next 12-18 months?

I am convinced that a leadership style at eye level, based on trust and a holistic
understanding of our employees in the context of their lives, will bring us much more
sustainable success than a focus on short-term productivity. That’s why employers
should be willing to invest in the individual well-being of their employees.

How has your organisation been leading the way?

At Aroma, the working relationship is based on trust, which allows for a very flexible
way of working and thus an individual working style. One third of our positions are
part-time and these are equally shared by all genders!
We also actively address mental health in the organization and promote open
discussions to strengthen understanding within the management team and among
employees. We also offer our crew free and anonymous external social counselling
for any concerns that could affect their wellbeing.
Just recently we have set up a working group on inclusion and thus also on wellbeing.
I am looking forward to co-creating new ways to constantly develop our organisation
towards more wellbeing.

Laura will be speaking in Zurich at the Wellbeing at Work Summit Europe that takes place both live and in-person in Amsterdam & Zurich and virtually for the wider region. Further details on the Summit can be found here.

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