From 33rd to 18th: WEG's Mental Health Climb Headlines a Season of Workplace Awards

A Brazilian industrial group has jumped 15 places in a national corporate mental health ranking, one of a string of workplace-health and family-friendliness honours handed out to employers across Europe and beyond in recent weeks.

WEG took third place in the industrial sector of the "Anuário Saúde Mental nas Empresas 2026", published by Instituto Philos Org. Among the 81 companies analysed overall, the firm rose from 33rd last year to 18th. The assessment draws on Global Reporting Initiative reports, ISO 45003, the Copenhagen Protocol and HSE-IT, among other references. Its in-house Viver Bem programme, now running for more than 20 years, logged over 3,800 individual consultations at its plants in 2025 alone.

Prevention prize for a compressor maker

In Germany, TD Deutsche Klimakompressor GmbH (TDDK) received the "Kultur der Prävention" award from the wood and metal trade association (BGHM) on 7 October 2026, recognising years of work on occupational safety, health protection and accident prevention. Managing director Atsuyuki Morishita, accepting the honour from BGHM representatives, described it not as a finish line but as the starting point for further improvements.

Fulda-based Werner Schmid GmbH took first place in Berlin at the sixth Sustainable Impact Award in the "Generali SME EnterPrize" category for small and medium-sized businesses. The prize is awarded annually by WirtschaftsWoche, Generali Deutschland AG and Lavazza across four categories to four companies in total. A twelve-member jury reviewed the entries and placed followfood GmbH and KNAUER Wissenschaftliche Geräte GmbH in the remaining positions. Dr Janosch Günzel and Matthias Hauß collected the award, which cited the firm's environmental and energy management, its Perspektiva initiative and its workplace health management programme, badged "Gesund Arbeiten in FD".

Five firms seal a new regional quality mark

Austria's national BGF prize 2026 for workplace health promotion went to novum Verlag of Neckenmarkt in the medium-sized enterprise category — an honour the publisher earned on its first attempt.

Back in Germany, the district of Viersen and its economic development agency (WFG) handed out the "Ausgezeichnet Arbeiten – Kreis Viersen" quality seal for the first time. Five businesses qualified: ALDERS electronic GmbH of Kempen, HEMPEL Industrial Maintenance of Willich, tax consultancy Clemens Rütten of Nettetal, Volksbank Viersen eG and W.K.K. GmbH of Nettetal. Certification involved an audit and a jury decision, with re-certification scheduled after three years. The next application round, supported by Competentia NRW, runs until the end of January 2027.

Mapfre joins a small elite

Spanish insurer Mapfre announced the renewal of its efr certificate for balance, flexibility and responsibility at the Excelencia A level, awarded by Fundación Másfamilia. Only 36 of more than 1,200 certified organisations across over ten countries reach that grade. The measures taken into account include flexible hours, location-independent working, part-time arrangements and leave for family obligations. Álvaro Guitart, Director de Desarrollo de Personas at Mapfre España, accepted the certificate in Madrid.

Vienna's dm drogerie markt was re-certified under the state "berufundfamilie" seal in October 2026 for the sixth time in a row; the retailer has held the distinction for 13 years. Karin Reisinger, chair of the management board at dm Austria, stressed the value of family-friendly measures. Through 2028 the company will focus on flexible working models for different life stages, consolidated communication and family-conscious leadership.

Care sector audit and two Swiss diversity honours

Sana-Klinikum Remscheid passed the second monitoring audit for the "pflegeattraktiv" seal, developed jointly with the Federal Association of Nursing Management. Nursing director Andreas Fischer praised staff efforts in areas such as reliable shift scheduling, induction concepts and life-phase-oriented working.

At the Swiss Diversity Night 2026, two organisations backed by the Swiss Employers' Association were recognised. compasso received the Swisscom Entrepreneurship Award 2026 for its reWork Profil programme, which covers around 80 standardised occupational profiles for people returning to work with health limitations. The focus50plus initiative won the Swiss Diversity Award 2026 in the cross-generational diversity category.