Cashier Inge Braun is a buf patron at her REWE supermarket and is committed to the health of her colleagues and the compatibility of work, family and private life.
Inge Brown
one: Mrs Braun, how did you get involved with buf?
Inge Braun: My boss approached me because he knew that I was interested in these issues and in my fellow human beings. I quickly notice when a colleague isn't feeling well or is behaving differently than usual and then speak to them. And my boss has probably noticed that. There was a seminar to get me started, and since then I've taken part in the regular jours fixes for the buf mentors.
one: How do you keep yourself informed?
Inge Braun: My boss puts all the new information and brochures in my drawer, I exchange information with a colleague, she deals more with work-life balance issues and I deal more with health issues. For example, I pass on information about cancer screening to my colleagues. These are voluntary offers from the employer; you can take part, but you don't have to. Or exercises on how to lift correctly, because that's particularly important in the fruit department - the pineapple crates must weigh 18 to 20 kilos. I know my colleagues, so I can approach them specifically when there's a new offer. An over-60 colleague, for example, always wants to know what's new in terms of cancer screening, which is of less interest to trainees.
one: So you approach your colleagues?
Inge Braun: Yes, we should do the same. It's also a signal to the team: my employer is interested in me.
one: If you don't know the answer to a question about health or work-life balance, where do you turn?
Inge Braun: We have contact persons from various departments where we can ask questions and get support at any time, for example in the HR department, from the internal addiction officers or our LoS! multipliers. Addiction problems, depression or debt are not an issue in our store, but in such cases, if I didn't know what to do, I would ask there. We can also provide contact persons for questions about childcare or care. We also have telephone numbers, brochures and a notice board, where everything new and important is always posted, for example the measures poster. It's important to me to give people the feeling that someone is there to support them. For example, if a young mother is looking for a solution to organise her work shifts and daycare opening hours. We always find solutions. You just have to talk.
one: What do you like so much about being a buf mentor?
Inge Braun: I like talking to people. Knowing that someone trusts you, that you are needed, that you are doing something good for someone, passing on your knowledge and helping them: It's a great feeling.
one: What do you need to be a good buf mentor?
Inge Braun: The ability to walk through the market with open eyes and an open ear. It doesn't take much effort to get involved, by the way.
About the person
Inge Braun has been working at the REWE supermarket in Ansbach for around eight years as a cashier and closer and, as she says herself, as the "girl for everything". She has been involved with her colleagues there for four years as a buf mentor. The buf patrons are the contact persons for issues relating to the compatibility of work, family and private life and regularly inform their colleagues about current topics.
