People are Precious to us
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) is essential to our identity and culture. We actively encourage different perspectives, put together diverse teams, provide equal opportunity, and insist on real cultural change toward a truly inclusive work environment.
Targets and Key Figures
We believe that diversity makes us better—better at understanding our markets and customers, at generating business opportunities, and at being innovative. Consequently, we have made DE&I a top strategic issue.
Diversity is part of our six core values at Heraeus Precious Metals. All dimensions of Diversity are important to us. But we are focusing in particular on promoting gender and international balance. Therefore, we have set ourselves ambitious targets to be reached by 2025:
- Gender Diversity: We fill at least 40% of all global management positions with women.
- Cultural Diversity: We increase the international Diversity in our global management team to at least 50%.
- We develop and train our leaders as they play an important role in creating an inclusive culture.
- We promote equal opportunities to ensure fair access and opportunities for all employees at Heraeus Precious Metals.
Where We Stand
At year-end 2023, women accounted for 39% and non-Germans for 44% of our Global Management Team. Our company’s age structure, including for executives and managers, is well balanced across all age groups. At year-end 2023, our average employee was 42 years old.
While making progress toward quantifiable targets is important, diversity also has a qualitative aspect that cannot be measured by KPIs—atmosphere and culture. We therefore address the topic from different angles.
Share of Females within Global Management Team
Projects & Examples
Diverse recruitment and promotion form the basis of our successful workforce. We use gender-neutral language in job advertisements, are working to enhance our brand as a diverse employer, and place less emphasis on the ability to speak the local language fluently. We require search firms to provide us with at least 50% female candidates. Our trainee and talent programs include at least 50% women and 50% non-Germans. Ultimately, we hire or promote the best candidate for a particular position.
“Diversity is a cornerstone of our culture. Therefore we have set ourselves ambitious targets. We are very well on track to reach our goals of 40% women and 50% international employees in our Global Management Team by 2025.”
Deniz Serifsoy
Executive Vice President HR & Communications at Heraeus Precious Metals
What Our Employees Worldwide Think about Diversity
"What does Diversity mean to you?"
We have asked our employees worldwide and here is what they said.
