BIG IMPACT INITIATIVE AWARD:
rewe group dito
This year, REWE Group DITO received the award in the BIG IMPACT INITIATIVE category. Together with its network mentor and CEO Lionel Souque, the network initiated and internally implemented a comprehensive online training course on the topic of “Queer Diversity”. Among other things, the focus was on dealing with gender identity and sexual orientation in the workplace. The training is available in the learning catalog for all employees for an indefinite period of time and is therefore firmly anchored in the Group for the long term. In addition to queer diversity and inclusion, further training courses on other dimensions of diversity are planned for the future.
RISING STAR AWARD:
proud – novelis
The PROUD network from Novelis will receive the RISING STAR award this year. The network was founded in Europe in 2022 and has been supported by 15 allies in the European plants since last year. In addition to initial events, such as participation in three Pride events in 2023, the network has started to take targeted action at Novelis plants in its second year. The network in Europe has inspired and motivated the regions of North and South America to also establish an LGBT*IQ network. PROUD in Europe is organized by a core team of four people and supported by the sponsor – the Vice President HR of Novelis Europe.
GLOBAL LEADER NETWORK AWARD:
equal at mckinsey
The GLOBAL LEADER NETWORK award is presented to the Equal at McKinsey network, which celebrates its 30th anniversary next year and has grown significantly in recent years. There are more than 14,000 Inclusion Allies worldwide who are committed to promoting queer issues within the company. McKinsey has a global strategy to actively promote the network in all offices around the world. The company has queer leaders in offices around the world, including China, Chile, France, Germany, Poland, Singapore, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands and South Africa. They act as role models in the company and play their part in increasing the visibility of queer people and content in the company.
sustainability AWARD:
arco by commerzbank
ARCO, Commerzbank’s Pride network, receives the SUSTAINABILITY Award from the PROUT AT WORK Foundation. For over 20 years, the employee network has been committed to breaking down prejudices and promoting mutual acceptance at all levels within the company. With regular events and publications, ARCO raises awareness of queer issues and creates a working environment in which all employees can be who they are. An Executive Ally program involves managers in all segments as supporters of queer people. The Executive Board has also supported the network, which is being continuously expanded, since it was founded in 2002. This gives ARCO a pioneering role for queer employee networks in Germany.
special award:
#outinchurch e.V.
This year’s special award goes to #OutInChurch e.V. The campaign – initiated by full-time, voluntary, potential and former employees of the Roman Catholic Church – was launched in January 2022 and is still helping to make queer people visible in the church and give their concerns a voice. The strategic goal of #OutInChurch was to expose abuses in the Catholic Church and to initiate necessary reforms that would make the Catholic Church a place free of discrimination. A secondary condition for this was the protection of the individual by creating publicity. This was successful: due to the relatively high number of participants, there have been no consequences under employment law to date. Catholic employment law was amended in the fall of 2022 so that a queer identity and a queer relationship are no longer grounds for dismissal. Public pressure on the Catholic Church, which was already high for many other reasons, was increased once again and implicitly called on its representatives to take a stand.