Geosciences with family-friendly commitment

30.06.2008 | Potsdam: Today, 30. June 2008, the Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences is awarded the Certificate of the “audit Work and Family”. The bestowal ceremony in the Berlin Congress Centre, under the patronage of the Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Dr. Ursula von der Leyen and the Federal Minister for Economics, Michael Glos, awards this certificate to businesses, institutions and universities for their exemplary family-friendly policy.
„The German Research Centre for Geosciences sees in the improvement of the compatibility of job and family the heart of its goal to boost its equal opportunity policy. Compatibility of job and family is a key instrument in career planning especially for young scientists. Such support proves to be a big advantage in competing for the best minds” says Dr. Bernhard Raiser, Director of the Administrative Board of the GFZ. “With this audit we follow the aim, namely, that the German Research Centre for Geosciences is looked on as an attractive employer with good chances for the reconcilability of job and family”.
With the execution of the “audit Work and Family” the GFZ especially follows the aim of identifying potential for improvement as well as for the safeguarding and further development of to date successfully adapted measures.
At the time of the auditing process the GFZ had a total of 816 employees, with 377 scientists. The number of under 35-year olds was 47%; the female quota lay at 38%.
Up to now the GFZ enhances the compatibility of job and family through the numerous specific job-models and forms of part-time employment as well as the different forms of telework. An in-house playschool completes this package of measures. “Equal opportunity is a component part of our personnel-policy and we will continue to pave the way with further activities” says Bernhard Raiser.