BOSCH DIESEL Limited has a worldwide presence and operates in a wide range of areas. In Jihlava, there are manufacturing facilities where components for common rail diesel systems are manufactured. From automotive technology to power tools, household appliances to thermal and industrial technology, BOSCH products have successfully established themselves not only in Czech households but also in cars, service stations, and industrial enterprises. BOSCH employs 4,500 people and is one of the largest employers and investors in the Vysočina Region.

BOSCH DIESEL Limited is a well-established company in the production of components for diesel injection systems. The main products include diesel high-pressure injection pumps, high-pressure reservoirs, and pressure control valves. They employ staff primarily in worker and professional positions as well as in technical development positions. In 2015, the company decided to offer its employees a Pre-Retirement Program, which offers people the opportunity to work part-time, up to half-time, for three years before retirement. In doing so, they retain a salary equivalent to 100% of their working hours and other social benefits, such as twenty days of paid leave, a contribution to supplementary pension savings, food and health allowances, and monthly bonuses, in full. The pre-retirement program is an arrangement by which the company responds to the demographic evolution of its workforce. They work in an industry where there is a highly competitive environment with logical pressure to continually improve productivity and maintain or increase profits. The average age of their employees in worker occupations exceeds 44 years, which makes the situation described above quite stressful for them. BOSCH’s philosophy is not to use employees “to the last drop of sweat” and then dismiss them for non-performance and replace them with fresh labour. They value their employees and consider them partners. They believe that, despite a less accommodating state pension policy, employees should be guaranteed a dignified retirement where they do not “crawl” into it completely exhausted or waiting for it at the labour office on minimum wage.

The average age of the company is forty-four, which is quite high compared to manufacturing facilities in other countries, especially when you look at the demands the company claims on its employees. By joining the program, employees do not lose their entitlement to other social benefits. Employees who have three years before retirement do not have to join the scheme. They can still work full-time if they wish. However, there are very few of them, perhaps only one has remained full-time. Awareness of the pre-retirement program is increasing. However, it is quite challenging to enforce it in other companies as not all companies can afford it. They also do not want to substitute the role of the state, i.e. it is not their fault that the state keeps pushing the retirement age.

The company values its employees and wants them to retire with well-deserved work life, often for many years associated with the BOSCH name, without being totally exhausted and plagued by occupational diseases. With the pre-retirement program, they ensure their employees a dignified, considerably more peaceful retirement.

innovative technologies, mobility solutions, household, industry and craft, automotive technology, household appliances, thermal and industrial technology, pre-retirement program, part-time, social benefits