Equal opportunities in the world of work: vision or reality?

Despite significant progress, equal opportunities in the workplace remain a goal that has not yet been fully achieved. Women are still underrepresented in many sectors, take on the majority of unpaid care work and face structural hurdles. At the same time, men who decide to take parental leave or care for relatives continue to experience social prejudice. But how can sustainable change be brought about?

Equal opportunities as lived reality

The future belongs to a society in which equality is not only discussed, but lived as a standard. This requires far-reaching structural changes that are anchored not only in companies, but also in social norms.

At Trenkwalder, women and men work together to create a fair, inclusive and supportive working environment. Here, equal opportunities are not just seen as a vision, but actively implemented:

• Code of Conduct
  In our Code of Conduct, we set out rules of conduct that define equal opportunities, respect and diversity as fundamental principles.

• Family-friendly company policy

  Flexible working hours, home office options, part-time options and parental leave for mothers and fathers promote a better work-life balance.

• Gender equality

  Targeted measures break down barriers and create fair career opportunities for all. For example, over 40 percent of management positions at Trenkwalder Germany are already held by women. A growing number of male colleagues are also taking parental leave as a matter of course.

The two keys to real equality

In order to establish equal opportunities as a social standard, two key changes must be driven forward:

• Structural equal opportunities in professional life

  Fair access to education, careers and management positions must be ensured and new work and life models must be established as the standard.

• Social change

  Role models must be broken down so that care work and careers are considered equal tasks for everyone.

Conclusion: Where are we today - and where do we need to go?

It is progress when equal opportunities are no longer seen as a goal, but as a lived reality. However, consistent measures are required to achieve this. The course has been set - but it is up to companies, politicians and society to continue along this path with determination.

International Women's Day on March 8th reminds us every year how important it is to stand up for a fair and just society. Let's continue to work together to ensure that equal opportunities not only remain an issue, but become the norm!

Find out more about our Trenkwalder values on our homepage.

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