As of: February 18, 2024, 6:31 a.m
By: Charlotte Borst
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Her professional life keeps her vital: Ulrike Schreiner wants to continue working, even at 80. G. Förtsch Not in a dream!
Ulrike Schreiner when asked whether she is thinking about retirement.
© Gerald Förtsch
Ulrike Schreiner is celebrating a rare service anniversary this year.
She has been doing her dream job in the Schleissheim family business for 50 years - and is not thinking about quitting.
Oberschleißheim – Ulrike Schreiner is celebrating a rare anniversary.
She has been working at the Oberschleißheim label company Schreiner-Group for 50 years.
And even at 80, she's not thinking about retirement.
She is the mother of managing director Roland Schreiner, wife of senior partner Helmut Schreiner and, above all, an employee of the Schreiner Group for 50 years: “I joined as a wife and businesswoman,” she says after a short tour of the company at Bruckmannring.
“I work with people and numbers.
This is my dream job.” In the meeting room, she puts her car keys and smartphone on the table and explains how she started working at her husband’s side in 1974.
They had printed their engagement announcements on a Heidelberg cover, “that took a whole night.”
She vividly remembers her mother-in-law, who made it clear to her: “The wife makes the wages.” The family business had twelve employees and an annual turnover of 2.5 million German marks.
“At first we made stickers, mainly for bread.
Then also signs for stockings or labels for Avon cosmetics and for vegetable jars.” Wet-adhesive and self-adhesive labels, “and removable ones if the customer wanted them.”
First computer: “I had no idea how it worked”
Ulrike Schreiner typed letters, contracts and pay slips on a mechanical typewriter.
“Many employees didn’t have an account yet.
I gave them an envelope with money in it, which contained their wages, counted down to the penny.” At that time, she was simply asked for a wage increase in the parking lot: “Can I get 50 pfennigs more?” someone called over.” – and she called back: “Of course.” These are different processes today.
But the beginning was difficult: “I had two small children.” She worked at home: “I worked a lot in the home office, even though the word didn’t even exist.” She talks enthusiastically about Christmas 1986. “That’s when it came first computer, an employee put it in the workroom: there it is - and disappeared.
A monster!”, Ulrike Schreiner points out the dimensions of the device with her arms outstretched.
“I had no idea how it worked.” But then the computer training began: “It was a great time.” Thanks to technical developments, she learned a lot.
“That was great for me.”
Employees from 40 nations
She communicates with colleagues every day, keeps statistics, and updates lists: training courses, anniversaries, languages.
“The employees come from over 40 nations,” and there is a lot of language skills in the company.
Despite all her openness to new things - in some points she is of the old school: "The fact that today you no longer write the date of birth in a job reference or don't find out why someone is sick - I think data protection is very exaggerated," she shakes her head: “I used to visit employees in the hospital and during the postpartum period.”
Our company was our third child in the house.
Ulrike Schreiner
The Schreiners live in Munich, but have many connections to Oberschleißheim since the company moved from Fasanerie-Nord to Oberschleißheim in 1993 with 160 employees.
Mayor Hermann Schmidt had recruited her.
Today, fine dust stickers, scratch-off labels for PINs, seals for vehicle documents and removable labels for vaccinations are produced.
1200 employees generate an annual turnover of 217 million.
The fact that Ulrike Schreiner's professional life is so fulfilling is probably because she does what she loves: “Our company was our third child in the house.” Daughter and son sat at the table when the parents talked: “They noticed that we enjoy this work.”
The husband also still works
Helmut Schreiner is also still in his job; he runs several real estate companies and an innovation company.
A common hobby is playing chess, says Ulrike Schreiner.
Every now and then they go on trips, “but for a maximum of 14 days.
Otherwise there will be too much work left behind.”
Considering her age, you might think it's time to think about retirement: "Not in my dreams!" she exclaims, laughing in a relaxed manner and not seeming stressed at all.
She wants to move on, live in the here and now and deal with the present.
"Sure, of course.
If I drop dead tomorrow, the company will continue to run without me.” She doesn’t consider herself irreplaceable.
“I hover a bit above the processes in the HR department.
The lists aren’t attractive, but I’m making them much nicer.”
Further news from Oberschleißheim and the Munich district can be found here.