Werner Systemgastronomie Honored with the i-work 2026 Award

Seven companies had applied, and now the winner has been announced: Werner Systemgastronomie is the recipient of the i-work 2026 award. Through this competition, JenaWirtschaft honors companies from Jena and the surrounding region that embed and actively promote intercultural diversity within their teams.

At Werner Systemgastronomie Jena—a franchisee operating several McDonald’s restaurants in Jena and the surrounding area—international diversity is an integral part of everyday work: About 45 percent of restaurant employees have an international background, and individual teams include people from up to 14 different countries. To ensure that diversity fosters a positive working environment, the company actively promotes integration. It offers free German language courses and supports new employees with administrative procedures, finding housing, opening bank accounts, and choosing health insurance. If needed, it also provides furnished housing. Structured onboarding, designated points of contact, and an anonymous help desk accessible in multiple languages round out the support.

Integration That Makes a Difference in Everyday Life

The company provides particularly intensive support to its international trainees. Experienced employees serve as “buddies” to assist them with any questions. Once a month, the trainees receive an additional workday so they can study and prepare for exams. HR Manager Romy Ast maintains close personal contact and regularly visits the trainees at the restaurants. At the same time, the company actively addresses cultural differences. Misunderstandings and conflicts are openly discussed and resolved together.

“People who come to us from another country often need support at the beginning with things that go far beyond the actual workplace. We want to be approachable and find solutions together—whether it’s about language, finding an apartment, dealing with government agencies, or the training program,” 

says HR Manager Romy Ast. 

“But it’s just as important to us to openly address cultural differences. For us, integration works when we learn to understand one another and everyone finds their place on the team.”

For Managing Director Boris Werner, the success of this approach is evident above all in long-term collaboration: 

“Our teams thrive on people with very different experiences and backgrounds working well together. This requires openness, but also time, reliability, and clear structures. When employees recommend us to others and new colleagues find their way to us through personal connections, that’s a strong sign to us that this approach works.”

Practical Commitment with Long-Term Impact

With this comprehensive and highly practical commitment, Werner Systemgastronomie Jena impressed the jury and has been awarded the 2026 i-work Corporate Award. The fact that many new employees now join the company through personal recommendations from within their own teams demonstrates that this commitment also has a long-term impact. Active integration efforts thus foster trust, loyalty, and a strong network.

In addition to the traditional certificate and a trophy, the winning company will also receive one-on-one coaching to further develop its own intercultural competencies in a more targeted manner with external guidance.

Inspiration and Exchange Beyond the Competition

But it’s not just the team at Werner Systemgastronomie that has reason to celebrate. All other applicants also walk away with tangible benefits: Every company receives a voucher for an intercultural workshop, which supports their next steps in development and further strengthens exchange within the i-work community.

To this end, JenaWirtschaft is partnering with a strong collaborator: 

“For the first time, we are presenting this year’s i-work Company Award as part of the International Business Lounge in cooperation with BARMER,”

 said project manager Cornelia Meyerrose. 

“This format for companies active in intercultural engagement offers the local and regional business community the ideal opportunity to exchange ideas, make new contacts, and gain inspiration from the international community.”

For BARMER Regional Managing Director Maria Alletsee, this is a key priority: 

“At BARMER, we are committed to intercultural diversity in regional companies and support firms in onboarding and integrating new employees. Diversity creates different perspectives, strengthens teams, and can foster innovation. At the same time, an open and appreciative corporate culture contributes to health, satisfaction, and employee retention.” 

It is crucial that both employees and the company benefit from this diversity.

Diversity in Action Strengthens Jena as a Business Hub

The patron of i-work, Jena’s Mayor Dr. Thomas Nitzsche, is also pleased with the diversity of the participating companies as well as the diversity within the teams. 

“Internationalism is part of our city’s DNA. Our companies need people from all over the world to remain innovative and successful. At the same time, international employees bring new perspectives, experiences, and ideas to Jena, thereby enriching our entire urban community. That’s why diversity in action is more than just a plus for individual companies: it ensures Jena’s future as a hub for business, science, and quality of life.”

The following companies applied for the 2026 i-work Intercultural Corporate Award for Jena and the surrounding region:

• Accenture (Jena office)
• Active Fiber Systems GmbH
• Asklepios Specialized Clinic Stadtroda
• GÖPEL electronic GmbH
• SOMAG AG
• VITROMED GmbH
• Werner Systemgastronomie Jena GmbH

Background:

Since 2017, the i-work—the Intercultural Corporate Award for Jena and the Region—has honored companies that successfully integrate international professionals and actively promote intercultural diversity. The award is presented by JenaWirtschaft (Jena Economic Development Agency). We are looking for good real-world examples that demonstrate how international teams contribute to success. Whether you’re a globally established company or a smaller business just starting out on this path, all companies from Jena and the surrounding region are eligible to participate. The competition’s patron is Jena’s Mayor, Dr. Thomas Nitzsche.

The 2026 awards ceremony took place on September 9, 2026, at the Scala and was part of an extensive accompanying program featuring speakers active in the field of intercultural relations. All interested companies were able to gain new ideas for their own work and exchange views on the topics of intercultural leadership and a welcoming culture.