Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden: Certification as a family-friendly institution confirmed

The Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e. V. (IPF) has once again been awarded the family-friendly certificate it received in 2010 as part of the berufundfamilie GmbH auditing process. The certificate was presented on 13 June 2023 in Berlin by Lisa Paus, Member of the German Bundestag and Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth.

The re-audit took place as part of a dialogue process that included reporting, the creation of a programme of action for the next three years and a dialogue day with an auditor from berufundfamilie GmbH.

On the basis of an employee survey, an important measure to further improve the compatibility of work and family was, among other things, the flexibilisation of working hours and place of work: Mobile working is now possible on the basis of a set of rules agreed between the Management Board and the Works Council.

Other focal points in the action programme include raising awareness among managers for good personnel development and strengthening social skills, improving information channels and institute-wide communication and networking among employees (digitally, with events, through meetings) and expanding health management (occupational integration management, stress analysis).

The family-friendliness documented with the audit berufundfamilie certificate is, in addition to professional excellence, a key factor in being able to attract highly qualified, excellent specialists from Germany and around the world as an attractive employer. The ever-growing network „Dresden Network Career and Family“ (SMWK, TUD, IFW, IPF, HZDR, IÖR, HTW, SLUB, University Hospital, HfM, Barkhausen Institute) is also constantly developing its programmes. 

The IPF is an external university research institution and one of the largest polymer research institutes in Germany. It belongs to the Leibniz Association and is a member of DRESDEN-concept e.V. There are 483 employees at the institute; the proportion of female employees is 49% and the proportion of employees with foreign nationality is 25% (as of 31 December 2022).

Press release by "idw - Informationsdienst Wissenschaft" from 15 June 2023