Promoting equal opportunities, regardless of gender, age and nationality, is one of the fundamental values of the European Severe Storms Laboratory (ESSL).
An organisation dedicated to science, especially meteorology and atmospheric science, ESSL respects the legal provisions that regulate the promotion of equal opportunities, and all recommendations given by the European Union, and the German and Austrian governments.
More precisely, ESSL ensures equal opportunities for all employees regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, language, religion, political or other belief, national or social origin, property status, social position, marital or family status, age, health condition, disability, genetic heritage, gender identity or sexual orientation. ESSL implements a policy of non-discrimination in the field of employment and work, and in relation to conditions for employment, advancement at work, professional development and training, reconciliation of professional and private life and pregnancy, childbirth, parenting and all forms of guardianship.
In fact, ESSL recognizes that a diverse workforce benefits its team as well as individual employees, each of whom brings their own unique capabilities, experiences, and characteristics to their work. It believes that the wide array of perspectives that results from such diversity promotes innovation and the success of ESSL. We believe in treating all people with respect and dignity and strive to foster a supportive and understanding environment in which all individuals realise their maximum potential within the organisation, regardless of their differences. ESSL is committed to employing the best people to do the best job possible and explicitly recognizes that a person may be suited best for a job in part because their employment increases the diversity of the team. As a responsible community member, ESSL recruits people from all backgrounds. We believe that our employees from many different cultural, linguistic, and national backgrounds provide us with valuable knowledge to engage in an optimal way with our partner organisations that are likewise diverse, being based throughout Europe and the world.
A particular challenge that ESSL addresses in its recruiting policy is to strive for a gender-balanced team in the light of the male-dominated meteorological community that exists to this day. ESSL is committed to developing for its employees a healthy balance between work and family life by offering flexible working times wherever possible.
To ensure that ESSL implements the above policies, it has taken the following actions:
An Equality Officer (EO) has been appointed by the Executive Board. Their responsibility is to supervise the implementation of the above. Their work comprises a dedicated resource to promoting equality within the organisation.
All employees are actively informed who the EO is and what their role is.
For the purpose of an overview of the equality status within ESSL, the EO will annually prepare a report for the EB that will include statistics on employee background diversity, remuneration, promotion to leadership positions, and identification of existing challenges, and recommendations on ways to address these challenges. The EB ensures that the necessary resources are allocated to the secretariat to support the EO with their work. Based on the EO’s report, the EB will subsequently decide on necessary actions, and review the adequacy of this Diversity Policy and Gender Equality Plan.
As part of annual employee performance talks between employees and their supervisors, the aspect of equality will be discussed. This is done in the context of discussing employee happiness with their work situation, their career perspectives, and any other issues that affect the employee. Potential shortcomings in the field of equality are reported to the EO who will include this in their report to the EB, or, in cases requiring more urgent action, announce them to the EB without delay.
As part of the recruitment procedure, the EO will be heard before advertising any vacancy, and before making a decision on starting employment of a new employee.
ESSL’s EO will appoint a confidant, i.e. a person to whom all employees can confidentially and safely report any gender-based or other discrimination, or misbehavior including sexual harassment. In case this would happen, the confidant will report to the director level and provide a recommendation of the course of action to be taken. All employees are actively informed who the confidant is and what their role is.
The ESSL Executive Board ensures the availability of financial resources for a training budget for the EO and the confidant, which they can use to participate in courses on (gender) equality issues and conflict resolution to ensure the highest possible effectiveness of the implementation of equality goals, and resolution of any occurrences of discrimination and misbehaviour.
In addition to the responsibilities of the EO, ESSL takes the following actions to promote equality within its organisation and the meteorological community:
ESSL periodically supports, financially or in kind, conference and workshop participation for young scientists and weather forecasters, and in selecting candidates will, besides quality of the candidates, take into account their diverse background to ensure minorities are sufficiently supported to effectively compensate for existing imbalances in backgrounds.
ESSL ensures that in its educational resources and public communication community diversity is appropriately reflected.
ESSL has no restrictions regarding the employment of persons with disabilities, in tenders for open positions it will be explicitly stated that persons with disabilities can also apply.
ESSL promotes work from home so persons with disabilities or any other health condition as well as nursing mothers are able to adapt their working hours and pace of work to their needs as long as they fulfil their obligations within agreed time limits.
31 March 2023
Wessling, Germany and Wiener Neustadt Austria,
For the Executive Board,
Dr. Pieter Groenemeijer
Director