Looking after our people

Global mobility

Global presence and success in worldwide markets require a workforce willing and able to work around the world. For those employees who are interested in working in different countries, we have a programme of international assignments to worldwide locations within the adidas Group. Most of these take place between Germany, USA, China, Hong Kong and the Netherlands. The adidas Group provides training and cultural preparation to familiarise the relocating professionals and their families with their new living and working environments.

In brief:

The Headquarters of the adidas Group employs more than 500 international employees from 50 countries
Between 100 and 150 international assignments at various locations begin annually
About 450 employees are currently on international assignments.

Work-life balance

Every employee's quality of life should be improved by working for the adidas Group. So we have a responsibility to address work-life balance. We aim to harmonise the commercial interests of the adidas Group with the private and family needs of our employees, thereby assuring the mutual benefit of both. The programme includes family oriented services, flexible work time and place, people development and leadership competence related to work-life balance. More information about this topic can be found in the Employees section of our corporate website.

Hertie Stiftung, the third largest private foundation in Germany, audited our programme to identify and initiate ways to improve family-oriented personnel management. We were re-audited in 2004 and awarded the official certificate as a Family-Friendly Employer.

Company sports

We offer our employees a wide range of sports activities at our major sites including team sports such as football and basketball, fun and fitness courses such as fencing and Tae Bo, and health and wellness courses such as yoga, healthy back, and swimming. Employees in Herzogenaurach, Portland and Canton have access to a company gym.

Our Company Sports department in Herzogenaurach also organises several sports events such as mountain biking, horseback riding, kayaking, skiing and ski tours and biathlon. Special events such as a one-week sports camp for employees' children, trans-alpine mountain bike tours, and the yearly Berlin marathon weekend (with a suitable training programme prior to the event) are also available. In 2007, the Company Sports department offered about 130 courses and more than 30 events which were attended by more than 2,800 participants.