Best place to work
People are the cornerstone of our success, with teamwork serving as the foundation of everything we do. For good reasons, ‘Care for People’ is one of our five core values. At DAF, we foster a healthy work environment built on an open and inclusive culture. We strive to ensure everyone feels safe, valued, and empowered to share their ideas while finding fulfillment and enjoyment in their work.
‘Care for People’ extends beyond the active employment of our workforce. We believe that this core value should be ingrained from applicants to retirees, reflecting our aim to fostering a sense of belonging at every stage of the journey with DAF. For instance, we have an active association for retirees. The connection with DAF, fueled by pride in our company, is still strongly present among many former employees.
For our employees, we have several pillars on which the ‘best place to work’ is built; In addition to good employment conditions and benefits, there is a strong focus on the development of employees. Our development-oriented approach is aimed at optimal performance in the current role or enabling promotion and internal mobility, while also prioritizing sustainable long-term employability, so that employees can continue to work healthy.
Together we are DAF
To further strengthen an open and inclusive culture, we have launched the initiative ‘Together We Are DAF’. The ambition is to make everyone feel at home and to foster a work environment where individuals feel free to express their opinions and a space to learn from mistakes. This leads to an environment where everyone can bring out the best in themselves and contribute together with colleagues to DAF.
The Diversity Council plays a crucial role in fostering an inclusive workplace. The council meets on a regular basis to discuss relevant themes and proposes initiatives that champion diversity and inclusion among employees. Workshops and events are organized, focusing on cultural awareness, inclusion, and social safety. A notable employee recognition event on this topic includes a new award for ‘diversity & inclusion’ which is personally presented to teams and individuals by a DAF Board Member. Additionally, council members introduce new international employees to the DAF culture and to local habits and culture, ensuring a warm welcome to support a harmonious work environment.
DAF encourages development and promotion of talents to executive positions through internal career development. Ongoing actions to improve our workforce composition include mentorship programs, role models, employer branding, training programs, enhancement of an inclusive work environment, equal pay opportunities, management development programs, a diversity council and PACCAR Woman’s Association activities.
Promoting well-being
DAF takes a pro-active approach to creating a healthy work environment. The company has implemented strict, new ergonomic guidelines to reduce physical strain. Workstations and tasks are assessed for ergonomic risks using tools like the Automotive Assembly Worksheet (AAWS). The company’s engineers are trained to make continuous improvements.
If necessary, programs are available to reduce stress and workload. These include training sessions and support from social workers, psychologists and company doctors, as well as preventive initiatives to address sources of work stress. Managers are trained to recognize and respond to stress signals. The company also provides support for personal issues like financial management and health problems, recognizing that these contribute to overall well-being. Where possible DAF supports employees in making their lifestyle healthier by providing a lifestyle coach, offering a bicycle plan and supporting programs to stop smoking and drinking.
Health and safety
To improve safety of our employees, we have implemented a robust management system. This system emphasizes hazard identification, risk assessment, and thorough incident investigation to ensure a safe working environment. We provide comprehensive occupational health services and actively involve workers in consultations and communications regarding their health and safety. In 2024, 750 factory workers participated in a full day training on occupational health and safety. These training sessions equip our employees with the necessary knowledge to recognize and manage risks effectively.
Additionally, we promote overall worker health and take proactive measures to prevent and mitigate safety hazards. Our manufacturing sites are ISO 45001* certified; for these sites marketing, design, development, manufacturing, sales and after sales service are in scope of this certification. 50% of the injuries in our factories are related to hands and fingers. To reduce these injuries, a dedicated hand safety campaign ‘high five for hand safety’ was started in our plants in Eindhoven, Westerlo and Leyland in 2024. Hand and finger injury rate in Eindhoven and Westerlo dropped by 35% in 2024 compared to 2023.
DAF Trucks won the 2024 Innovation Award at the Brabant Bicycle-Friendly Employer Election. The widespread availability of bicycles is contributing to the growing number of cyclists on the DAF campus. Additionally, a new bicycle plan was launched for DAF in Eindhoven, which encourages colleagues to leave their cars at home for commuting and get on their bikes instead.
In 2024, Leyland Trucks displayed its Care for People through introducing free Prostate Cancer screening for all employees in the ‘at risk’ category. Through providing PSA testing, Leyland Trucks helps its employees detect potential cancer sooner and seek early intervention treatment.
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