Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
With around 17,400 employees from more than 100 nations and locations in over 30 countries, SCHOTT is an international company that serves a wide variety of industries and customers worldwide. For over 140 years, we have been constantly pushing technological boundaries and making the seemingly impossible possible. That requires people with innovative ideas and various perspectives. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are not only ethically important but are real success factors in our corporate strategy. This is based on our SCHOTT values.
We lead inclusively
We are convinced that a company can only be successful if it has an unbiased corporate culture in which everyone feels respected, supported and empowered. We create a working environment in which all employees are fully integrated, valued and supported in their individual growth - regardless of age, ethnic and social background and nationality, gender, identity and sexual orientation, physical and mental abilities, religion and worldview. This is what we call ‘Best Teams’.
Recruiting policy
In 2024, we signed our globally applicable recruiting policy, in which we and our managers commit to recruit objectively and without any bias when filling vacancies. From the job advert, through the selection of applicants, to the final recruitment - we do not want to favour anyone on the basis of gender, age or ethnical background, but want to treat all applicants equally.
Unconscious bias training
As part of this, all managers must complete our mandatory unconscious bias training. In this training, they learn how unconscious bias influences our thoughts and actions and how they as managers can contribute to an inclusive working environment.
What our employees around the world think about diversity, equity and inclusion
4 employees speak about their challenges, what DE&I means to them and how they perceive SCHOTT in this regard.
We present best teams as a top priority
Our priorities and initiatives
Development and lifelong learning
The personal development of our employees is important to us and promotes a sense of belonging. We therefore offer a wide variety of development programmes tailored to the participants. Our ‘International Graduate Programme’, for example, promotes young talent with the help of mentoring, assignments abroad and networking events.
Our broad and comprehensive further training programme allows our employees to deepen their knowledge on various topics (intercultural cooperation, communication, etc.) - in a traditional seminar or completely virtually.
Platforms for exchange and inspiration
Global dialogue and mutual learning from one another are essential for creative work and innovation. Our two female ERGs (USA and Germany) are networks that support and advocate for DEI through regular dialogue and activities. There is great interest among the workforce in the formation of further ERGs with a different focus. Our ‘Teamup Tuesday’ is a virtual format in which employees from all over the world come together to share their knowledge and experiences.
Balancing work and family life
Trust and flexibility are values that are important to us.
Through many innovative working time models (trust-based working time, hybrid working), we endeavour to meet the time requirements of our employees and offer flexible working arrangements.
Processes: We embed diversity in our core processes
We are continuously working on anchoring diversity, equity and inclusion in our core processes. We are helped in this by key figures that we regularly measure and evaluate. Our KPIs with targets up to 2026:
Dr. Henrik Hopp
Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion