Diversity & Inclusion

Our employees are the source of our competitiveness. We believe that diversity in our workforce fosters innovation, supports decision-making and increases our attractiveness as an employer. Diversity represents the differences between people, be it regarding gender, culture, ethnicity, education, religion or other dimensions, such as diversity of thought. It recognises that no two people are alike and that each person brings to the company a unique set of talents.

Innovation needs open minds

Through living our values in a diverse and inclusive workplace, we at Boehringer Ingelheim improve the quality of life and health around the world. At Boehringer Ingelheim, we care for our employees’ thoughts. Their experiences, capabilities, perspectives make it possible to develop new innovations and achieve sustainable worldwide success. That is why it is important for us to have an inclusive culture that promotes diversity, introduces change and creates trust.

Inclusion - What it means to us

Inclusion brings together diversity to make the company better and stronger because of each employee. It is a sense of belonging: feeling respected, valued for who you are; feeling a level of supportive energy and commitment from others so that you can bring your authentic self to work and do your best. To have them show their best, we encourage our employees to bring their uniqueness and potential into the company. To support a diverse and inclusive environment, where everyone can contribute, we have set up diversity and inclusion advisory groups.

Rajeev Sukumaran, Executive Director, Head of IT EFP Legal & Compliance, Boehringer Ingelheim“The opportunities within Boehringer Ingelheim to work on assignments diverse in terms of people, thought and culture have been greatly beneficial in developing myself as well as preparing for leadership roles in a global company.”

Rajeev Sukumaran, Executive Director, Head of IT EFP Legal & Compliance, Boehringer Ingelheim

 

 

Inclusion - Examples

Unlike the integration approach, people are perceived and appreciated in their diversity. Naturally this includes people with disabilities. Their interests and needs are taken into consideration from the outset and not only as an afterthought. Corresponding general frameworks and structures provide a natural togetherness.

Germany

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which has also been the current law in Germany since 2009, requires that the disabled have corresponding basic conditions for equal participation in the midst of the society. Boehringer Ingelheim is taking responsibility and, as the first company in Germany, has developed its own action plan in order to realise in the working environment the goals of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The company thereby expresses its support for equal participation for the disabled.

More information can be found here.

More information (in German) can be found here.

UnternehmensForum (CompanyForum): 

In 2002, medium-sized companies and groups – Germanywide and across industries – joined forces with the goal of bringing together the interests of the economy and the disabled. Boehringer Ingelheim is a member of the UnternehmensForum.

More information (in German) can be found here.

Mentoring@BI

Mentoring is an important aspect for Boehringer Ingelheim. The aim is to encourage the continual development of our employees, to support networking and to promote diversity & inclusion. Beginning in 2012, the global framework for our Mentoring@BI programme was introduced to Boehringer Ingelheim employees. A mentoring workshop and the Mentoring@BI tools help our employees to develop further and fully leverage these opportunities. The focus of the program is on deepening our pipeline of women successors, increasing awareness of talent across business groups, and encouraging sponsorship of key talent.