We value and support diversity and inclusion within the Arendt group.
We value difference in our workforce, whether of age, race, culture, religion or beliefs, sexual orientation, ethnicity, disability or medical condition, socioeconomic background, education or any other characteristic that makes a person unique.
Our commitment to diversity and inclusion extends to all practice areas and business services, and pervades our decision-making in recruitment, training, placement, mobility, advancement, compensation, benefits and termination, social events and other areas.
We have established a number of strategic objectives putting these values into practice, to:
- apply the principle of equal opportunity at all levels, and integrate people by driving talent acquisition and management practices to support this aim;
- create an inclusive work environment that fosters creativity and innovation and promotes colleague engagement through awareness, inclusive leadership training, and flexible work-life balance arrangements;
- ensure that diversity and inclusion initiatives, actions and results are transparent and engaging to different groups across our staff, clients, suppliers and subcontractors;
- hold leadership accountable for diversity and inclusion goals and objectives, and encourage all staff, suppliers and subcontractors to promote non-discrimination.
To ensure the achievement of these goals at all levels, Arendt has implemented a range of specific governance mechanisms.
The Diversity and Inclusion Network at Arendt (DNA Committee) includes employees from all departments. Its role is to source and share initiatives and best practices related to gender equality and non-discrimination, cultural diversity and the inclusion of individual differences among staff. The DNA Committee’s goal is to help build a diversified talent base within the firm. This committee is one of our initiatives in the Positive Actions programme led by the Ministry of Equal Opportunities (MEGA), whose action focuses on the concept of “talent” and the promotion of diversity internally.
Among many other projects, the DNA committee organises the annual Arendt Speech Contest. This contest is an opportunity for employees to express themselves freely on a variety of topical subjects, leading to exchanges and revealing new oratory talents. Each participant is coached in public speaking prior to the contest. A dozen teams and individual speakers then take to the stage in an oratorical competition, delivering in the language of their choice (English, French, German, etc.). All employees and a jury cast votes to select a winner, which takes home a grand prize. The prize is always linked to one of Arendt’s donee organisations (a trip to Cambodia to visit schools we finance, to Madagascar to see nurseries we support, etc.). During the pandemic, the contest format was changed from live to digital so that it could still be held in spite of the restrictions. It remained a resounding success, and an event highly appreciated by all Arendters.
In 2019, the Arendt Speech Contest was recognised by the Diversity Awards Lëtzebuerg as an initiative raising awareness about unconscious bias and promoting talent.
In this area, Arendt has also appointed a Diversity and Inclusion Officer (DIO) and a Recruitment and Integration Officer, who perform coordination work essential to the success of the firm's many projects launched to develop and maintain its inclusive culture.
In December 2020, Arendt received the “Actions Positives” Label for 2020. This award was conferred in recognition of a positive action plan programmed by Arendt, which followed up on an in-depth study of the well-being of our staff, funded by the Ministry for Equality.
Arendt is also signatory of the Diversity Charter Lëtzebuerg, demonstrating our commitment to the promotion and management of diversity through concrete actions that go beyond legal obligations.
Finally, Arendt is a member of IMS Luxembourg (short for “Inspiring More Sustainability”) – the leading network of Luxembourg companies involved in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).