Logistics is an area that is still heavily dominated by men. Verena Hammer has had a stellar career in this male-dominated field: Since 2013, the trained retail clerk has held leading positions in the PENNY Norderstedt warehouse - first as a department manager in logistics and since 2019 as operations manager. To date, she is the only female operations manager within the REWE Group.
one: When you started in Norderstedt in 2013 as head of the goods provision department, you were the only woman in the warehouse management team. How did that feel?
Verena Hammer: At first, it was very challenging to gain the trust and acceptance of ten male team leaders. However, through conviction, honesty, loyalty and transparency, I succeeded relatively quickly.
one: How did you react when you were offered the position of Operations Manager?
Verena Hammer: Surprise, joy, doubt and irritation were all there at the same time at first. Thanks to the trust of the regional and logistics management and the support of my husband, I was convinced and accepted. So far, I haven't regretted this decision for a second.
one: And how did the employees react?
Verena Hammer: I was really pleased with the reaction from my colleagues. I have received so many nice emails and phone calls, which have made my start in the new challenge easier.
one: Were there any resentments or prejudices and if so, how did you deal with them?
Verena Hammer: When I started as Head of Goods Provision, there were 130 men and two women working there. There were prejudices due to my experiences with my predecessors, but I didn't let that put me off my path. When I took over as operations manager, there were no more prejudices to overcome.
one: What are the challenges of being a woman in a male bastion like logistics?
Verena Hammer: For me, it's quite normal to be almost the only woman working among men. In the beginning, I certainly had to fight harder and provide more well-founded arguments in order to gain the acceptance and trust of my colleagues.
The proportion of women aged 15 to 65 in employment has risen continuously since the turn of the millennium. The Federal Statistical Office puts the rate for 2020 at 71.8 per cent. In 2000, the figure was 57.7 per cent. Most recently, 79 per cent of men in the same age group were in employment.
The greatest differences in gender participation in the labour market can be found among 30 to under 35-year-olds, with the proportion of men twelve percentage points higher. According to the Federal Employment Agency, the steadily rising employment rate of women aged 35 to under 40 indicates that they are looking to re-enter the labour market quickly after starting a family.
one: And what were the arguments?
Verena Hammer: I go round the warehouse several times a day. If I found something that wasn't right, I always addressed it directly. If there were counter-arguments, I usually provided the relevant evidence and thus earned the necessary respect. I don't think a man would have had to do that in this way - it worked well.
one: What is your personal recipe for success when working with employees?
Verena Hammer: When working with colleagues, the most important basic requirement is to be professionally fit. It is also very important to me to communicate on an equal footing. I want to give colleagues the feeling that the issues they bring to me are really taken seriously. It's important to listen very carefully when you're working with people. I manage that quite well. I'm probably not your typical boss.
MORE ABOUT WOMEN IN THE REWE GROUP
Women in the REWE Group: professional driver, store manager, boss
Interview with regional manager Tina Mangold: "We can't afford to give away this potential"
Katrin Feiertag and Kathrin Bräuer in conversation: The (shopping) woman herself
Ilse Holzer, CFO Billa Czech Republic: "Women only have one obstacle"
