ATB has once again been awarded the ‘berufundfamilie’ audit certificate in recognition of its family- and life-stage-friendly HR policy. This reaffirms the institute’s long-standing commitment to improving the work-life balance. But how can the diverse needs of staff be effectively supported and continuously developed within a dynamic research environment?

Excellent research requires excellent working conditions. This includes a working culture that puts people first and recognises the different stages of their lives and their family commitments. At ATB, ‘family’ means that people take responsibility for one another – whether for partners, children or relatives in need of care. Our aim is to create a working environment in which all staff feel valued and can realise their full potential.

This re-certification is the result of a strategic management process that ATB has been undertaking since 2010. It is based on an ongoing dialogue: most recently, staff actively contributed their wishes and ideas through a comprehensive survey and a dialogue day. The resulting action plan for the coming years includes, for example, the further development of flexible working models, the revision of the risk assessment for psychological stress in collaboration with the Leibniz Institute for Work Research at TU Dortmund (IfADo), various events, such as those on intercultural competence or caring for relatives, as well as the organisation of children’s days, during which children can gain an insight into their parents’ working lives at ATB.

The driving force behind this ongoing development is the ‘Work, Family and Diversity’ working group. By expanding the working group’s remit to include the topic of ‘diversity’ and as a signatory to the ‘Diversity Charter’, ATB is clearly committed to an inclusive and diverse working environment. The working group advises the two directors of ATB and provides them with targeted support in implementing new measures from the action plan in a sustainable manner, as well as in continuously developing existing, tried-and-tested initiatives.