Work and Family

In 2010, DIPF underwent an “audit berufundfamilie“ thus taking an important step towards improving the harmonization of family and workplace-relate commitments.

In 2010, DIPF underwent an “audit berufundfamilie“ thus taking an important step towards improving the harmonization of family and workplace-relate commitments.

Managing director Susanne BoomZertifikatsübergabe berufundfamilie - Boomkamp, Hintzekamp-Dahmen and Peter Hintze, Secrretary of State, on the occasion of awarding the certificate “berufundfamilie” on May 25th, 2011 in Berlin.
Source: berufundfamilie gGmbH

 

DIPF is one of 265 enterprises, institutions and universities that were successfully audited in 2010 / 2011, thus it is one of 1000 certified employers in Germany, thus taking a leading position among science institutions in Germany.

For this audit, DIPF developed concrete measures which were documented in 2010 in an agreement on management objectives: Based on these objectives, DIPF was awarded the certificate, which is valid for three years.

During this three-year period, DIPF will strive to put the objectives and respective measures into practice. At its core, the endavour is concerned with establishing a lasting positive attitude towards the harmonization of family and workplace demands in the Institute’s culture.

Here, the Institute considers the concept of “family“ in a broad sense: In terms of the audit “berufundfamilie” refers to any kind of setting where long-term personal responsibilities exist. This particularly relates to children, parents, siblings, spouses, grandchildren, grandparents and individuals in need of care irrespective of their being related.

After three years, a re-evaluation will lead to an agreement of further measures. If re-auditing is successful, the Institute will continue to bear the certificate.

Measures implemented in 2011

Besides providing for an office parents can use with their small children in case of emergencies, DIPF has since 2011 offered immediate (financial) support for care provisions and access to the services the AWO offers for parents (ElternService AWO).

DIPF plans to introduce alternating teleworking opportunities in 2012.

As a founding member in the “Dual Career“ network for the Rhine-Main area and the ”Dual Career” network Berlin, DIPF contributes to supporting couples where both partners plan a professional career. Partners of people who are (newly) employed at DIPF can benefit from networking contacts and support services.

The certificate “audit berufundfamilie“ is awarded as a quality indicator of family-awareness in employment policy. It certifies that DIPF is engaged in a sustainable support of harmonizing family and workplace demands.

berufundfamilie gGmbH was founded in 1998 by the non-profit Hertie Foundation to co-ordinate all activities the Foundation conducts in the field. The gGmbH has since been established as an outstanding competence source for questions concerning the harmonization of work and family demands. The “audit berufundfamilie“ has been conceptualised as a strategic management instrument for sustainable, family-aware human resource development policy. It is a recognized quality indicator of family-friendly employment policy. Leading German business alliances BDA, BDI, DIHK and ZDH recomend it; the Federal Minister of Family Affairs and the Federal Minister of Economy act as its patrons.

Find out more about berufundfamilie gGmbH (only in German)

Contact
Vanessa Krebs