Michael Hetz

Michael Hetz works as a house technician in our construction and facility management.

Michael, what are you doing here at Leibniz-HKI?

I’m the in-house technician, driver, handyman, I do everything except for scientific work.

Are you from Jena?

Yes, I was born in Jena and have lived in this beautiful city ever since. I used to think about moving somewhere else, for example to Mercedes in Stuttgart. My uncle worked there and wanted me to join him. But love kept me here at the time, and in the end I’m quite happy with my career.

“I’m the in-house technician, driver, handyman, I do everything except for scientific work.”

How did you end up at the Leibniz-HKI?

I’ve been here for 13 years now. I used to work in a hotel, but I wanted a career change – it was the right decision at the time. I had a very good interview at Leibniz-HKI with Elke Jäcksch, the administrative director, and the vibe was just right. I had the feeling that quality counts here, and that was very important to me.

Tell us a little more. You can be seen everywhere at the institute, in addition to being in the workshop. What is your everyday work like?

I was hired to create the best possible conditions for the scientists. I have taken this task very seriously. My day is often packed – I walk a lot, sometimes under time pressure. But I always take my responsibilities very seriously, even if I don’t always manage to do everything. Many people know me by now and know what makes me tick. (laughs)

What does appreciation mean to you in the workplace?

A lot. I pay close attention to tidiness, for example at events. When we set up rooms and everything is left in a mess afterwards, it’s just a shame. It’s about respect – also when it comes to furniture, technology, or simply clean walls. I think you should behave here as you would at home and take care of things.

Do you also have insight into the scientific work at the institute?

I admire the people here. Especially when it comes to lab work – the precision, working with pipettes for hours on end – I would have gotten tendonitis long ago. (laughs) I can imagine how demanding scientific work is, and I find it really impressive.

You said you also work as a driver. Do you enjoy that?

Yes, I really enjoy driving! It’s also a bit of a balance to the physical work. It’s usually quiet with the boss, our director Axel Brakhage – he works while we’re driving. We have a little chat now and then, which is always nice. But I also enjoy listening to music when I’m driving without passengers. In my free time, I like listening to Italian music. Not opera, more melodic stuff, that’s what I like.

In old office cabinets, you sometimes find the strangest things alongside used pens and a pile of paper clips. Have you ever found anything unexpected in a cabinet or drawer?

Not here – but I once cleared out a cupboard in a hotel and suddenly a “female pleasure device,” if I can say so, jumped out at me. (laughs) That was definitely a find that surprised me. At our institute, people often leave lots of small items in the wheeled cabinets when they leave – that upsets me a bit and I wish people would take their things with them. Someone always has to tidy up in the end.

What do you do in your free time?

I have a camper and a boat on Lake Fleesensee near Waren an der Müritz. I really enjoy it there. I leave early, shop locally, and enjoy my time there. On the boat, I sometimes sing “Schön ist es auf der Welt zu sein” (“It’s nice to be in the world”) when I feel like it – it really resonates there! (laughs) My son is 23 now, and we went on vacation together this summer – 14 days, no stress, everyone had their own space, but we had breakfast together. I’m also very proud of him and my daughter. It’s nice to see that both of them have turned out well and that I don’t have to worry about my children anymore.

“It takes courage to admit your own mistakes, but that’s just part of it.”

How do you spend your time outside of work?

There’s never a boring day for me, I always have something to do. Yesterday I went out for dinner with my best friend, today I’m preparing my tax return, and tomorrow I’ll finish it. And every week I visit my grandmother, who is already 95. My son stops by then too. I always keep myself busy.

What would you like to do if money were not an issue?

I would buy a nice, big boat and sail a lot. I just love the water, the peace and quiet, and not having to do anything. Maybe I would also travel through Europe in a motorhome, who knows. And another little dream of mine would be to fly in a helicopter with my boss. (laughs) Just to get up high, I’d love to experience that.

Michael Hetz on his boat on Lake Fleesensee. “I really enjoy it there,” he says. © Michael Hetz, private

What do you wish for in your everyday working life?

More appreciation, even for the little things – that’s the most important thing for me. Many people don’t see all the work that goes on behind the scenes. A simple “hello” or a little bit of awareness is often enough to make me happy. I’m a positive person and I’m good at motivating myself. Things do get heated with the guys here sometimes when we’re really busy. (laughs) I go outside, light a cigarette, and think about the problem – and then I sometimes have to admit to myself that I’ve gone too far. (laughs) It takes courage to admit your own mistakes, but that’s just part of it. And you have to talk to each other after an argument, that’s important. A few hours later, we’re all back in each other’s arms, laughing about it and giving each other a big hug. I like the guys. And as long as I’m here, I’ll just enjoy doing my job.