Equality and Diversity

The HPI embraces equal opportunities for women and men in the workplace and is committed to reconciling work and family in science and research. To recruit the best people, the HPI wants to create a family-friendly working environment and tap into opportunities offered by equality agendas.

Equality efforts have been integrated into the HPI’s development strategies for several years already. The HPI’s equality plan, adopted for the first time in 2009 and regularly updated and expanded ever since, is a benchmark for sustainable, innovative and targeted policies on equality between men and women in the workplace.

The HPI’s equal opportunities representatives advise and support members of staff on questions and problems including: 

• The reconciliation of family and working life
• Gender equality
• Improving professional situation
• Professional development and training (including the Leibniz Mentoring programme)

In addition, members of staff may receive advice in matters trust such as:  

• A disadvantage and/or discrimination in employment and/or at the workplace
• Conflicts and workplace bullying
• Sexual harassment and discrimination according to the German Geberal Equal Treatment Act (Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz, AGG)

Equal Opportunities Office: HPI, House 1, Room 1908 (basement), extension: -325, or in writing (Email, office mailbox)
Office hours: By appointment.

Counselling Service

Counselling, initiated by the equal opportunities representative and the board, is available at the HPI free of charge . This may be helpful if

• you are burdened by personal concerns and need,
• you have psychological difficulties,
• you have returned to work after prolonged illness,
• you would like to discuss your situation with an independent person, or
• you are experiencing bullying or discrimination.

Counselling is provided by the HPI´s occupational health physician Dr. Gabriele Andersen

Emergency Childcare

The HPI cooperates with the childcare service Notmütterdienst, Familien- und Seniorenhilfe e.V., which offers - in cases their own childcare via day nursery, school, family or friends fails - individually care solutions for children of HPI employees.

Information regarding the children emergency care you find here.

Award and Commitment

The HPI won the TOTAL E-QUALITY award for exemplary activities in terms of human resource management aimed at providing equal opportunity.

Moreover, the HPI signed the Charta der Vielfalt (diversity charta), a corporate initiative to promote diversity in companies and institutions.