Roland Mack: The heart and soul of Europa-Park in Rust

Roland Mack: The heart and soul of Europa-Park in Rust

Europa-Park in Rust is a true icon among theme parks and the life's work of Roland Mack, who recently celebrated his 75th birthday. Despite reaching an age when many people are thinking about retirement, Mack continues to work with full vigor. As a rule, he works between 70 and 80 hours per week, a commitment that hardly anyone with a comparable work ethic can muster. Even though he has left day-to-day management to his sons Thomas and Michael, Mack remains the central figure in the park.

“If there is a problem, I am the first person to be called,” explains Mack in an interview with the FAZ. This willingness to take responsibility shows how much he cares about the park. Some visitors might be able to spot him in his mobility as he moves around the park in a golf cart. Mack himself says that Europa-Park is his “extended living room” and that he feels like a host.

The expectations of employees

However, Roland Mack's passion for Europa-Park also demands a lot of commitment from his employees. Two years ago he caused controversy when he criticized the work ethic of young applicants. “Young people come and only want to work for three days, but they still have their career ahead of them,” said Mack. This opinion was not without controversy, but at the moment the shortage of skilled workers is also a big issue in the leisure industry.

Jakob Wahl, who worked with Mack for a long time and is now responsible for the IAAPA association, describes Mack as a demanding boss who, however, only expects from his employees what he himself is willing to do. Mack is known for having high expectations and can also become loud when his personal standards are not met.

Flexibility in working time arrangements

However, the challenges arising from work ethic and the shortage of skilled workers force Mack to react flexibly. “We have 70 different working time models in the park,” he explains. This is intended to satisfy both younger employees, who have limited availability, and older employees who want to be more involved. Mack recognizes that not everyone can bring the same level of commitment to the park, and accordingly tries to accommodate different characters and lifestyles.

Although Mack would often like to have his employees work longer hours, implementing this idea is difficult. Younger employees in particular often tend to value their free time. However, there are also some who would be willing to work beyond regular working hours, not only for the additional pay, but also because they are enthusiastic about their job.

The discussion about working hours and the culture of engagement at Europa-Park will probably remain a central topic in the future, as Mack's expectations and the needs of the employees have to be reconciled. For further insights and information about the situation at Europa-Park you can read the detailed article by www.schwaebische.de read.