ARBEITNEHMER IN NOT (EMPLOYEES IN DISTRESS)

The Dagmar and Dieter Reitmeyer foundation for employees in distress

With the foundation they set up in 2003, the redi-Group founder and his wife help employees - and their families - who have fallen on hard times. The foundation’s work aims to help where personal or financial need arises, particularly where an employee has incurred excessive debts or is in financial difficulties through no fault of his or her own. Such help generally takes the form of expert advice from debt consultancies or lawyers, which is paid for by the foundation, but may also be given as direct financial assistance in the form of a loan to pay off the debt.

The foundation’s top priority is to help people return to working life, to preserve their ability to work and to keep their job. By providing people with active help to help themselves, the Reitmeyer foundation aims to help employees to gain a new perspective for self-determination and confidence in their private and working lives. What’s more, the foundation also plans to become involved in initiatives to develop the theoretical foundations of the social market economy, such as academic events, research projects or the commissioning of research.

The foundation finances its work solely from donations, most of which are made or raised by the Reitmeyer family. In 2004, the Reitmeyer foundation spent some 100,000 euros on services and subsidies to help employees in distress.