AMF-Bruns once again awarded the ‘audit berufundfamilie’ certificate

AMF-Bruns first successfully participated in the “audit berufundfamilie” in 2013. The initiative was launched by the non-profit Hertie Foundation, and its corresponding certificate is a recognized seal of approval for companies that demonstrably pursue family- and life-phase-conscious HR policies. In recognition of its long-standing commitment to work-life balance, AMF-Bruns has now once again received the certificate with distinction from berufundfamilie Service GmbH.

At the formal award ceremony held on 17 June 2025 in Berlin, AMF-Bruns received its fifth certificate from Mareike Wulf. She serves as Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Education, Family, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, Karin Prien, who acts as patron for both the “audit berufundfamilie” and the “audit familiengerechte hochschule +vielfalt” programs. AMF-Bruns was represented in Berlin by Simone Becker and Julia Becker, who work in the HR department of the family-owned company based in Apen.

“Our employees have always been our most valuable asset,” emphasized Jan Woltermann, Managing Director of AMF-Bruns, on the occasion of the renewed certification. “All the more reason for us to be pleased that our long-standing commitment to family-friendly HR policies has once again been recognized through the audit berufundfamilie.”

State Secretary Wulf highlighted: “To ensure that our economy remains strong despite demographic change, companies need to promote the talents and skills of their employees even more strategically. Reliable work-family balance is a decisive key. The certified companies, universities and institutions demonstrate impressively how this can succeed – with flexible, innovative and practical solutions instead of rigid models. They set standards and serve as role models for employers across Germany.”

Successfully completed another extensive audit process

AMF-Bruns is among the total of 306 organizations – 125 companies, 147 institutions and 34 universities – that were awarded the “audit berufundfamilie” or the “audit familiengerechte hochschule +vielfalt” certificate this year, which is typically valid for three years. The basis for awarding this quality seal is a structured, multi-month auditing process in which solutions for better balancing work or studies, family and private life are (further) developed and a family- and life-phase-conscious orientation is anchored in the organization’s culture.

With the current certificate, AMF-Bruns can look back on three successful audits and two dialogue procedures. The latter are available to organizations that have been creating a compatibility-friendly work environment through the audit for at least nine years.

The audit is offered by berufundfamilie Service GmbH, which – as part of quality assurance – will schedule another dialogue procedure in three years. The aim is to maintain the high level of development of family- and life-phase-conscious HR policies / family-friendly working and study conditions while also identifying and realizing optimization potential in selected areas.

Offers and recognition for older employees

The award ceremony was thematically framed by berufundfamilie’s 2025 annual theme: #agematters – age-conscious attractiveness. With this focus, berufundfamilie is addressing age-related topics in the professional context. The goal is to encourage organizations to reduce age discrimination and promote equal opportunities in the workplace regardless of age.

Oliver Schmitz, Managing Director of berufundfamilie Service GmbH, said at the ceremony: “Our world of work is finally moving towards addressing employees of all ages in both recruiting and retention management. Success depends particularly on designing age- and ageing-conscious work-life-balance offers that move away from general assumptions about the performance and work ethic of different generations. Where many organizations are still hesitant, the companies, institutions and universities certified under the audit berufundfamilie or audit familiengerechte hochschule +vielfalt are already active: They consciously consider the factor of age to foster the individual potential of their employees and to build a broadly positioned workforce.”