A welcoming smile on arrival ...
Uta Zipfel, Germany
... and when you leave: that’s Uta Zipfel’s daily gift to colleagues and visitors at the company headquarters in Zeulenroda, Germany. She works at reception together with Philipp Hohlfeld and Janine Nowack. She organizes business trips, web conferences and inquiries of any kind. Her goal: to impart happiness to those who pass by. Uta Zipfel sees an opportunity in this crisis because she believes that social interaction has already turned into something positive.
How are you at the moment, Uta?
I’m well. I’m healthy and I feel fine – and I’m happy because I got a permanent contract during my probationary period. What a sign of appreciation!
Great, congratulations...
Thank you very much. I’m quite proud because I worked for one company in the catering industry for 23 years, and I was worried if changing to such a big company would be the right thing for me. So it’s all the nicer that my induction with Philipp, Janine and Gaby, who recently retired, went so well.
What does the current situation mean for you and your reception team?
Things have gotten quieter: we receive fewer calls, there are hardly any visitors, and travel and fleet management have almost come to a stop. But we’re still here for our colleagues as usual. We deal with inquiries over the phone, issue pool vehicles, and we were able to help with the dispatch of multipurpose wipes for the employees – what a great campaign! We’re also currently organizing a lot of web conferences, for example. Communication has really changed in general.
How do you feel social interaction has changed during this crisis?
People take more time for others, even make small talk, at a distance, of course, they’re less stressed and increasingly have a kind word or a smile on their lips – that’s great and I’m really pleased to see that. In general, we have to be mindful and take precautions. At reception, we have protective shields, we try to keep our distance as much as possible, and everyone is very considerate. In my private life, too, I’m making provisions: together with my mom, we’re making face masks that we’re sending to relatives and friends. I hope that if we all help each other, we’ll get through the coronavirus time safely.
You’re always cheerful and kind, even in this situation. How do you do that – especially in such difficult times?
I look forward to every day, I love life, I have a great family and wonderful friends. Once a week, I go to a NIA class, that’s a movement dance workout in Gera. I even equipped my dining room as a dance and yoga studio. All that gives me strength, and I want to pass on this positive energy.
About Uta Zipfel
Uta Zipfel has been working for Bauerfeind in the Front Office / Travel Management since October 2019. Before that, she worked in a hotel in Thuringia for 23 years. Together with her colleagues, she passionately manages various organizational and representative tasks at reception in Zeulenroda. Uta is from Wünschendorf and even in the current situation, she maintains her positive nature, always trying to make people happy with little gestures: she’s currently sewing face masks for friends and relatives.