Diversity– that is, the heterogeneity of people with regards to their ethnic or social origins, their religion, their sex, or their age – is an important source of talent and creativity. Around the world, people of different origins work at Continental as well, using their different ways of looking at things to contribute to finding creative solutions or winning over new markets and customers. In order to better foster this diversity in the future, the Diversity-Team was expanded in 2008.

Our diversity management focuses on gender and internationality. In 2010, we added diversity to HR management's balanced scorecard as a KPI (key performance indicator), laying the foundation for a comprehensive analysis of the global employment of foreign and female specialists and managers at the corporation. In the initiatives, we focus on tools to reconcile work and family, staff development and staff recruiting.

Measures for reconciling family and work include child care opportunities such as location-based membership in child care associations, nursery places and child care during emergencies and holidays, as well as individual contractual solutions such as flexible working hours, part time contracts and home office agreements.

We ensure the targeted support of female and foreign specialists and managers with management qualification programs offered at the corporation. Regular evaluations of the percentage of female and foreign participants show that these measures are used successfully by both groups and that their percentage is steadily growing.