Made by Vielfalt: MartinBauer joins German family businesses championing diversity, openness and acceptance

MartinBauer has joined more than 40 German family businesses and two business associations in eastern Germany by signing up to the “Made in Germany – Made by Vielfalt” national campaign for greater diversity and acceptance within German society. MartinBauer opted to become part of the initiative out of a deeply held conviction that diversity is a key factor in economic success.

Diversity strengthens competitiveness and customer satisfaction

More than 2,300 people of all ages from 35 countries and many different cultures work together at MartinBauer’s sites around the world every day. The family business, now led by the fourth generation of the Bauer/Wedel family, has incorporated its values into daily working practices with a range of measures. These start with its comprehensive Code of Conduct; it also signed the national Diversity Charter as far back as 2011. “Diversity and equity are much more than a moral obligation for us,” says Anne Wedel-Klein, CEO of the nature network, to which MartinBauer belongs. “They promote creativity, innovation and productivity, and they improve decision-making processes and heighten employee satisfaction. An integrative corporate culture is attractive for employees and allows us to better respond to diverse customer requirements. That increases our competitiveness and customer satisfaction, helping us achieve success within demanding markets.”

MartinBauer’s approach

Nina Tantinger, Talent and Development Manager at MartinBauer Germany, ensures that job ads are formulated in such a way that all potential recruits feel addressed. But MartinBauer doesn’t only express its commitment to diversity externally; it’s an important part of the internal culture, too. Tantinger explains: “Our inhouse campus offers regular courses and talks that not only help participants to develop their own strengths but also communicate the value of diversity.” The company also has a broad range of flexible working models that enable inclusion within daily working life and allow people to exercise their religious beliefs – for example, by providing prayer time for Muslim employees. The company has also developed guidelines on gender-neutral and inclusive language and has an anonymous complaints system that employees can use to report any violations of laws and regulations. There is also a women’s network, initiated by Anne Wedel-Klein in 2018, which currently has 73 members. The network allows women working in management and specialist roles at the nature network’s German sites to exchange news and views. It aims to promote diversity within the nature network, improve recognition and appreciation of female specialists and managers, raise their profile, and encourage discussion. The network is currently working to establish a special mentoring program by and for women.

Diversity cannot be taken for granted

“In difficult times in particular, we have seen that diversity and inclusion cannot be taken for granted,” says Sebastian Sieben, CEO of MartinBauer’s Europe Hub. “We need to invest time and effort into securing those things. Open communication and active listening are essential for us in our daily working life because that’s how we generate understanding for multiple perspectives and create a working environment where everyone feels appreciated.”