Heimgärten Aargau Recognized as a Top Employer: Enthusiasm Meets Trust

Employee Feedback as an Ongoing Development Process

For the Heimgärten Aargau Foundation, the current survey is not a one-time assessment. Employee surveys were already conducted in 2023, 2024, and 2025. In this way, the organization is committed to maintaining an ongoing dialogue with its employees.

This year’s participation rate also speaks for itself: 88% of employees (80 out of 91 people) took part in the survey. The high response rate provides a meaningful basis for understanding employees’ perceptions and needs.

Regular surveys offer a key advantage in this regard: they reveal trends over several years and make it possible to assess the effectiveness of measures. In this way, employee feedback becomes an important tool for organizational development.

High employee motivation and a strong sense of belonging

What makes a workplace one where people not only enjoy working but are also genuinely enthusiastic about what they do? The findings of the Heimgärten Aargau Foundation provide a compelling answer to this question.

With a score of 86 index points for employee motivation, the Heimgärten Aargau Foundation has achieved an outstanding result. Particularly encouraging is the high level of identification employees have with their employer: 73% are considered “active ambassadors.” They demonstrate a strong sense of connection to their work and the organization.

The Employee Net Promoter Score (eNPS) of 63 also underscores this positive picture. The score shows that significantly more employees would recommend their employer than would express criticism of it.

Open Communication and Clear Goals as Keys to Success

A closer look at the results reveals what sets Heimgärten Aargau apart. Among the strongest motivators are two factors related to strategy and management, as well as personal enthusiasm for one’s own work.

Three factors stand out in particular:

• Open and honest communication: Employees perceive management's communication as transparent and credible.
• Clear prospects for the future: Management provides clear guidance and outlines the direction in which the organization should move.
• Enthusiasm for one's work: Employees are fully committed to their work and find it motivating.

It is precisely the interplay of these three factors that is remarkable. After all, motivation does not arise solely from the joy of one’s work. Equally crucial is a work environment in which employees trust their leadership and understand the goals their organization is pursuing. This provides a valuable foundation for long-term motivation and commitment.

An exemplary workplace culture in a challenging industry

The social services sector faces major challenges: a shortage of skilled workers, heavy workloads, and increasing demands on employees characterize everyday work life. This makes it all the more important for employers to create a supportive work environment, empower their employees, and retain them over the long term.

The foundation clearly demonstrates that this can be achieved even in a demanding work environment. With an open leadership culture, clear communication, and a high level of employee engagement, the foundation sets a positive example for the entire industry. The consistently outstanding results of the employee surveys underscore that this employer culture is truly embedded in the organization.

Excellence@Work Award for Heimgärten Aargau

These results paint a clear picture: The Heimgärten Aargau Foundation offers a work environment that combines enthusiasm for one’s work, transparent communication, and a clear strategic direction.

With the Excellence@Work Award, ValueQuest recognizes this outstanding quality as an employer.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the two executive directors, Regula Schär and Rahel Buchser, as well as to the entire team at the Heimgärten Aargau Foundation, on this outstanding achievement and on once again receiving the Excellence@Work Award. This is now the foundation’s fourth employer award, underscoring its ongoing commitment to a respectful corporate culture and a work environment where employees can feel comfortable.

We would like to express our gratitude for the many years of trusting collaboration and look forward to continuing to support the organization on its journey.