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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.

Portrait picture of Dr. Torsten Derr, Chairman of the Board of Management SCHOTT
Dr. Torsten Derr, CEO SCHOTT
To create innovations, you need people with creative ideas and different perspectives as well as an open company culture. With best teams, we are committed to creating a working environment in which employees can develop their potential in order to ensure SCHOTT's long-term success.

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.

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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.

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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.

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"What I love about my job is the diversity in all aspects of my work - a creative team of colleagues with different scientific and cultural backgrounds dealing with a broad range of materials, models, processes & products."

— Dr. Jovana Djordjevic-Reiß, Head of Material Development in Mainz, Germany

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"I see diversity in the cultural backgrounds and specialisms of our employees, the wide variety of our products and their applications, and our international locations. (From aerospace to the automotive industry, medicine, medical technology, electronics, communications and household appliances). This diversity in cooperation, products and locations makes it clear that diversity at SCHOTT is not just a concept, but a lived practice."

— Leila Karimi, Scientist Optical Materials / Melt & Material Development, Mainz

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"For me, diversity and inclusion is not just a statement of intent, it is a mission that requires real rethinking and commitment. The promotion of diversity has huge potential for SCHOTT, from the recruitment of new employees to the optimization of results."

— Katharina Fanenbruck, Sr. Project Mgr. Strategic Development

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"For me, diversity is the ability to look beyond origin, gender or age and treat everyone with the same respect."

— Vincenzo De Luca, Teamlead Production Engineering Technical Services, Mainz

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.

Want to know more?

If you have any questions about working at SCHOTT or need more details about our entry options, please feel free to send us a message.

Contact us
Henrik Hopp
Dr. Henrik Hopp

Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion