At Demcon, we stimulate employees to cycle to work. We offer a bicycle scheme that gives employees an allowance of up to €1,000 once every three years to purchase a bike. We offer a relocation allowance if an employee’s relocation reduces the distance of their commute by (over) 60%. Employees are also eligible for a discount on the purchase and repair of a bike. As part of our sustainable mobility policy, we are introducing a lease bike scheme in 2024. We are also working on a revised parking policy and further improvements to the bicycle storage facilities.

In 2023, we evaluated the menus of the company restaurants at several Demcon locations. We opted to increase the number of vegetarian menu items. We are doing the same with our lunches for external guests. We have also taken steps to further reduce the use of single-use plastic cups. Yoghurt and fruit are now served in a glass, rather than a plastic cup. Since 2023, the coffee grounds from our coffee machines are being collected and picked up for reuse. Coffee grounds are used to e.g. grow oyster mushrooms, as compost or for conversion into biogas.

Demcon would like to help employees feel good and aims to give them an enjoyable workplace. We therefore provide various vitality-related opportunities. We have listed these opportunities in the form of a Demcon vitality map. Employees and managers can use this menu in their discussions. We are asking managers to draw attention to vitality in conversations with employees. We thereby call on employees to especially identify their interests and to take the initiative.

Demcon devotes extensive attention to vitality. We have prepared an annual calendar with various vitality-related activities; from workshops, online yoga sessions and a vitality week to workplace analyses and healthy food options in the company restaurant. We are also asking employees to contribute vitality-related ideas and suggestions. This will no doubt allow us to further expand the opportunities in the area of vitality over time. 

From our various Demcon locations we participate in various sporting events with a group of Demcon colleagues. For example we are present at the Enschede Marathon, Eindhoven Marathon, Batavieren Race, Tartaros Campus Challenge, Singelloop [canal walk/run] Enschede and the FBK Double Mile Run. In addition, there is a Demcon winter sport, a Demcon sailing weekend and various sporting events organized by employees themselves and in which employees participate together. For example, ice skating, cycling, rowing and playing football together, as well as the Alpe d’HuZes, in which two Demcon teams participated.

To encourage our sportive colleagues, we like to extend them a helping hand with an attractive discount on the required sports clothing. Demcon has put together a product range for women, as well as men for cycling clothing, jogging/sports clothing, reflective clothing and the associated accessories. 

In addition to healthy and vegetarian food options in our company restaurants, we offer fresh fruit in various departments at our locations in Enschede, Best, Delft, Groningen and Maastricht. This way we offer the option of a responsible snack that is good for the health and vitality of our employees. The fruit is delivered twice a week, it is seasonal and is suitable for direct consumption.