The topic is complex and sensitive, but of the utmost importance. Because it’s about people. About uniqueness and diversity, appreciation and dignity. And it involves the professional careers of individuals and the business success of the entire company. In a nutshell, it’s about diversity and inclusion at Freudenberg Sealing Technologies (FST). Besides the abbreviation “D&I,” the abbreviation “DEI” is also used, particularly at our U.S. sites. The “E” in the middle stands for “Equity.”
The Guiding Principles of Freudenberg clearly state that “we reject all forms of discrimination and personal disparagement. We show and demand understanding and respect in our dealings with one another. We ensure a culturally diverse working environment in which employees from a wide range of countries contribute their skills in teams to enhance our expertise and thus enrich our company culture at the same time.”
Such aspirations must be exemplified by managers and lived by employees. Day after day. “D&I” has been part of Freudenberg’s DNA for more than 170 years. Employees should be aware of this and take it to heart.
“We want to reflect the diversity of each respective society in our organization. We take this very seriously and we commit to it explicitly in our ‘Diversity Commitment Statement.’”
Claus Möhlenkamp – Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at FST
But what does that mean exactly? No one may be discriminated against on the basis of gender, age, race and ethnic background, culture, religion, sexual orientation or physical or mental impairments. “We want to reflect the diversity of the surrounding societies in our organization. We take this very seriously and make a clear commitment to it in our Commitment Statement,” says Claus Möhlenkamp, CEO of FST.
He then adds: “The diversity of our employees enriches our collaboration because it lets us look at things from different perspectives. When different perspectives come together, we become more innovative and agile. To be and remain the first choice among our customers, we want to have the best people working for us: with the most diverse life paths, backgrounds, interests, and preferences possible. We want them all to feel valued, respected and included.”
FST therefore creates the general conditions to give all employees the opportunity to contribute their individual experiences, talents and perspectives in the spirit of diversity and inclusion. For years, for example, bringing women into management positions had been an important aspect. Even though there is still a long way to go here, the fi rst steps have been taken. Cross-organizational communities have existed for some time, e. g., the “Tech Ladies,” and a focus on D&I has been included in management training for several years. In 2021, gender diversity objectives were set for the divisions at management level and regular reports on the implementation status were made at the quarterly business review meetings. This year, FST also established a “D&I Committee” to give further momentum to the topic. Communication activities are also being stepped up, including a series of articles on the FST portal.
FST Diversity & Inclusion Commitment Statement
Diversity and Inclusion is a central part of our corporate culture. Our commitment to diversity and inclusion is deeply rooted in our Freudenberg Guiding Principles.
We are convinced that an organization which reflects the diversity of our societies is essential to our business success.
We recognize that differences – be it in gender, racial and ethnic background, age, nationality, sexual orientation, physical ability, thinking style and social background – bring richness to the way we collaborate, manage our business and subsequently to the results we deliver to our customers and stakeholders. Such plurality helps us to look at things from several perspectives and – while working together in an inclusive, open and constructive environment – to become more innovative and successful as a result.
Our goal is to attract, develop and retain the best and brightest from all walks of life and backgrounds. This requires an organization to have a culture of inclusion where all individuals feel valued, respected and heard, where they are treated fairly, provided work-life balance and an opportunity to excel in their chosen careers.
All articles on “D&I” are available on the FST portal: https://on.fst.com/3sAjqiB
