ERFURT – For their outstanding commitment to equal opportunities in the workplace, TOTAL E-QUALITY e. V. awarded its eponymous seal of approval to 59 recipients from across Germany on October 25th in Erfurt. The TOTAL E-QUALITY seal recognizes companies and organizations from the business, scientific, and administrative sectors for their dedication to establishing and expanding equal opportunities and diversity within their organizations.
“We sincerely thank all award recipients for their commitment,” says Dr. Ulla Weber, Chair of the Board of TOTAL E-QUALITY. “They are outstanding examples of equal opportunity personnel policies that are geared towards current and future challenges. Their successful applications demonstrate that equal opportunities and diversity are integral parts of their organizational culture. They present themselves as attractive employers in the competition for dedicated, qualified professionals. Research institutions further highlight equal opportunities as a component of their excellence.” The award ceremony takes place annually at different locations; this year it was held at the COMCENTER Brühl of LEG Thüringen in Erfurt. LEG was honored for the sixth consecutive time in 2022.
“We have been a recipient of this award since 2007 and are delighted that the ceremony is taking place here this year,” said Andreas Krey and Sabine Wosche, Managing Directors of LEG. “For our company, equal opportunities and diversity are central aspects of our corporate culture. We promote diversity, work-life balance, gender equality, and employee health with the aim of increasing motivation, meaningful work, and performance throughout the entire company!”
The long history of TOTAL E-QUALITY e. V. demonstrates that genuine equal opportunities and the future viability of companies and organizations are directly linked. This is particularly evident in the recruitment of skilled workers. A work environment in which people are treated with respect and evaluated equally, regardless of their personal and social characteristics, is a key success factor not only for attracting but also for retaining skilled employees. How can we create a culture based on mutual respect and recognition, where everyone has the same opportunities? "There are different views and perspectives on HOW to achieve our goals. We will have to discuss this – repeatedly, with each other, even controversially, and above all with all stakeholders, across generations. Under the heading 'Generational Contract for Equal Opportunities,' TOTAL E-QUALITY Germany e. V. is using this year's award ceremony to shape and advance the dialogue between generations," explains Dr. Ulla Weber.
Organizations from business, science, and administration, as well as associations, that typically employ at least 15 people are eligible to apply for the TOTAL E-QUALITY award. Applications must outline fundamental principles, strategies, measures, and their monitoring. An independent jury reviews the application documents on behalf of the association and decides on the award. A key criterion is that the organizations achieve a balance between economic interests and strategies for implementing equal opportunities in the interest of their employees. The jury takes into account the diverse starting points and circumstances of the applicants.
The award is valid for three years. Recipients receive a certificate and can use the TOTAL E-QUALITY logo in all internal and external communications for presentation and image enhancement. Renewal of the award is granted if a repeated application demonstrates that the path to equal opportunities is sustainable and further progress has been made. In 29 award ceremonies since 1997, TOTAL E-QUALITY e. V. has awarded a total of 1,020 awards to 357 organizations. 241 of these have already successfully renewed the award at least once. Those receiving the award for the fifth time are given the Sustainability Award. 72 organizations have already achieved this distinction. Behind these 357 organizations are a total of approximately two million employees and around 900,000 students.
This year's winners are:
For the first time, the "predicate in development" is awarded to
- Federal Foundation for Equality, Foundation under Public Law
The new recipients of the TEQ label: first award
- adesso SE
- BIG direkt gesund, KdöR
- German Rheumatism Research Centre Berlin (DRFZ) - A Leibniz Institute
- Foundation Medicine GmbH
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ GmbH
- Osnabrück University
- Holzmühle Westerkamp GmbH
- IU International University
The recipients of the TEQ award again: repeated recognition
- AOK - The health insurance fund in Hesse
- Vocational training centers of the Bavarian economy
bfz gGmbH, bbw gGmbH, gfi gGmbH, gps mbH, TRAIN GmbH - Continentale Insurance Group a. G.
- German Aerospace Center (DLR).
- DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials e. V.
- EDG Entsorgung Dortmund GmbH
- Women's Center Dortmund 1980 eV.
- Hamburg Investment and Development Bank, a public-law institution
- Nürtingen-Geislingen University of Applied Sciences (HfWU)
- Hotel Esplanade GmbH & Co. KG
- Institute for Contemporary History Munich-Berlin/Leibniz Institute for Contemporary History
- Thuringian State Development Corporation
- Leibniz Institute for Age Research - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI) e. V.
- Leibniz Institute for European History
- Leibniz Institute for Jewish History and Culture - Simon Dubnow e. V.
- Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute e. V.
- Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW)
- Leibniz Institute for Economic Research Halle e. V.
- Messer SE & Co. KGaA
- Rhön-Rennsteig Savings Bank, a public-law institution
- Robert Bosch GmbH Blaichach
- City of Herne
- City of Nuremberg
- City of Witten
- Cologne City Administration
- Technik in Form Blechbearbeitung GmbH
Design in Form Fertigungstechnik GmbH - Nuremberg Institute of Technology Georg Simon Ohm
- Ostwestfalen-Lippe University of Applied Sciences
- Ilmenau University of Technology
- TIB – Leibniz Information Centre for Technology and Science
- TITK Group:
Thuringian Institute for Textile and Plastics Research eV.
East Thuringian Materials Testing Company for Textiles and Plastics Ltd
smartpolymer GmbH - Federal Environment Agency
- University of Duisburg-Essen
- University of Cologne
The recipients of the sustainability award for the fifth consecutive year are:
- Construction and Real Estate Management NRW
- BBQ Education and Vocational Qualification gGmbH
- Herder Institute for Historical Research on East Central Europe - Institute of the Leibniz Association e. V.
- IHP GmbH - Innovations for High Performance Microelectronics/Leibniz Institute for Innovative Microelectronics
- Municipal Employers' Association of Bavaria e. V.
- Leibniz Institute for German Language
- Leibniz Institute for Plant Biochemistry
- Leibniz Institute Hessian Foundation for Peace and Conflict Research
- Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
- Mülheim Housing Cooperative.
- Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research e. V.
- Technical University of Berlin
- Thuringian Ministry for Labour, Social Affairs, Health, Women and Family
- Thuringian Ministry of the Interior and Municipal Affairs
- TIBOR Gesellschaft für Bildung, Beratung und Vermittlung mbH
- vbw - Association of Bavarian Businesses e. V.
vbm - Association of the Bavarian Metal and Electrical Industry e. V.
bayme - Bavarian Business Association for the Metal and Electrical Industries.
ibw - Information Center of the Bavarian Economy e. V.
TOTAL E-QUALITY Germany e. V.
TOTAL E-QUALITY Management (a combination of TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT and EQUALITY) is an organizational and human resource management approach focused on gender equality and diversity. The TOTAL E-QUALITY Germany initiative awards the TOTAL E-QUALITY seal annually for exemplary practices in promoting equal opportunities in organizational and human resource management. The seal is based on a voluntary self-assessment followed by a jury evaluation and is valid for three years. Over 1,000 seals have been awarded since 1997. TOTAL E-QUALITY is recommended by renowned public figures (the Board of Trustees) and, since 2001, by the German Federal Government.
