Andreas Herz: "We are on the brink of a new era."

Andreas Herz has been Vice President of the Styrian Chamber of Commerce for 100 days. How has his first interim balance turned out? We asked him for a major interview.

Mr. Vice President, how does that sound to you? Have you already gotten used to this title? Andreas Herz (smiling): Yes, and it is still a great honor. I have been available as a top executive for my industry. When the call for higher positions came, I gladly accepted it. Looking back on these first 100 days: What has changed during this time? Andreas Herz: First of all, these 100 days have flown by. The biggest challenge for me at the beginning was definitely time management, as I took over the appointments of my predecessor Jürgen Roth and had to juggle them with my own commitments as an entrepreneur and executive. My perspective has definitely changed, as a sector representative one is naturally focused primarily on the immediate economic environment. As Vice President, I now have a much broader view. You mentioned the many appointments. Where have you been during these first days and weeks? Andreas Herz: I have visited many businesses across Styria, from small enterprises to large industrial areas, to feel the mood. The essence of these visits was that everyone is struggling with the same problems, regardless of size, industry, or region. And in which areas are there challenges? Where do you see the need for action? Andreas Herz: The biggest problem is certainly the rigidity of the system, such as in terms of working hours. The excessive bureaucracy is increasingly paralyzing businesses here, making it increasingly difficult to operate in many areas. What specifically bothers you about the working time regulations? Andreas Herz: Work should be able to be done when it arises – of course, within a certain legal framework. But I believe that employees should be given more personal responsibility here. If someone wants to work longer than ten hours a day, I ask myself, why shouldn't that be possible? Many employees desire this flexibility, but the legislator is pushing them and the companies towards criminality. This cannot be right. How should this be addressed? Andreas Herz: Many regulations need to be questioned for their meaningfulness. For example, I cannot understand why an adult cannot climb three steps of a ladder alone. Such absurdities suffocate companies. In general, it is about a more flexible framework. A framework that allows entrepreneurs to act more freely in terms of competitiveness. After all, Styria is not a Gallic village. Where do you see the role of the entrepreneur in society? Is their contribution adequately recognized? Andreas Herz: Unfortunately, no, often the opposite is true: the image of the evil entrepreneur keeps resurfacing. Yet, every entrepreneur wishes for nothing more than happy, healthy, and satisfied employees. What about the entrepreneur "Andreas Herz"? Which industry do you come from? Andreas Herz: I have a health and therapy center in Mooskirchen with eight employees. Additionally, I am a sole proprietor, working as a business trainer and coach with a focus on crisis management, resilience, and leadership. But you have also been involved in the Chamber of Commerce for many years. What drives you? Andreas Herz: It is about shaping and taking responsibility as an entrepreneur for my industry. That's why I have been active in numerous roles within the Chamber of Commerce. What priorities do you want to set as Vice President? Andreas Herz: My focus is on the healthcare industry, where we face significant challenges but also opportunities. A demographic tsunami is coming our way – and hardly anyone is reacting so far. At the same time, medicine offers completely new opportunities, such as nanorobots that can fight cancer. There is definitely a lot of potential in the Styrian healthcare industry, and my goal is to tap into it by networking businesses. In addition, I have a special interest in sole proprietors. What do you aim to achieve for this target group? Andreas Herz: With my position, there is now a dedicated special representative for sole proprietors in the executive board. Here, we will strongly advocate for facilitations.