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ŠKODA AUTO at Prague Pride
The carmaker becomes an official partner of the festival dedicated to LGBTQ+ rights
he Prague Pride human rights festival culminated on 13 August with a large rainbow parade through the centre of Prague. Forty members of the ŠKODA Proud employee group and other interested people from the carmaker, along with their loved ones, were among those who took part in the event. But that was not all. ŠKODA AUTO also became an official partner of the festival. “Diversity and inclusion are firmly embedded in ŠKODA AUTO’s corporate culture. Together, we strive for an international working environment characterised by tolerance, openness, trust, understanding and mutual respect. We are committed to these values and, on the occasion of the Prague Pride festival, want to set a clear example against homophobia, social exclusion and deliberate disregard,” said Maren Gräf, Board Member for People & Culture.
Prague Pride focuses on the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people. This year, the festival offered around 150 events, ranging from concerts to happenings and professional conferences. Václav Horecký from the SEA/1 – New Media / Language Training department was among the ŠKODA AUTO employees in the rainbow parade. “I am very happy that we came together and were able to represent our company. It was a unique feeling, and I’m really proud to work for a company that supports diversity and, at the same time, helps to change the way society looks at diversity issues in such a visible way. I believe that next year, there will be even more of us,” said Horecký.
ŠKODA AUTO also participated in several events aimed at sharing experiences in developing diversity and inclusion in the workplace (e.g. employee group meetings) and has also become a partner in a debate on the importance of supporting LGBTQ+ people. Thus, the carmaker actively promotes diversity, inclusion and fair treatment in the workplace and in everyday life, which it confirmed by joining the European Charter for Diversity in the Czech Republic in 2019 (you can read more about the promotion of diversity at the carmaker in the issue of ŠKODA Mobil 6/2022). ED
HR department in the picture
Following a request from the SB – Operational HR Care, Digitisation, HR 4.0 department, an online workshop was held for the HR department. During a two-hour training session, its employees were introduced to important LGBTQ+ concepts and solutions to situations, for which employees may contact them in this context. Meanwhile, a PDF guide for HR staff is also in the pipeline. Why was the training needed? Last May, ŠKODA AUTO became a member of the Pride Business Forum platform, which brings together employers who actively work with LGBTQ+ diversity in the workplace. One of the issues addressed by this platform is the double standard in the approach to marriage and civil partnerships. While marriage has a number of benefits attached to it by law (e.g. two days off to get married, time off in case of death of a family member etc.), registered partners are not entitled to these benefits. Companies share good practice examples at the Pride Business Forum and try to rectify the differences in their processes beyond the law. ŠKODA AUTO has also been reviewing the collective agreement to look at where these inequalities arise and how to address them. This is why it was necessary for HR to be well versed in this topic.