Gender Equality Plan

The Clinic for Rehabilitation Münster is committed to equality in all six dimensions of diversity (age, gender, sexual orientation, religion or belief, disability and ethnic origin or nationality), and to fostering a culture of recognition and mutual appreciation among all employees. To enable a free working environment, the centre wants to ensure that every employee is valued equally. This applies not only to employees, but to patients too. Our goal is to create an environment in which all employees can flourish. To achieve these goals, the following measures are implemented:

Protecting human dignity in the workplace

Protecting human dignity in the workplace is crucial because it promotes the well-being of employees and improves productivity and the overall working atmosphere. Any actions, statements, behaviours, representations or publications that violate the dignity of people in the workplace will not be tolerated, particularly derogatory statements, bullying and sexual harassment. Guidelines and procedures for reporting bullying, harassment and discrimination have been implemented to ensure that complaints are taken seriously and dealt with appropriately. Employees will be informed of the legal and other options available to defend themselves against violations of their dignity in the workplace.

Further training for employees

At the Clinic for Rehabilitation Münster, great importance is placed on mindful interaction. All employees should feel respected, valued and, above all, safe at work at all times. Discrimination, intimidation and sexual harassment are not tolerated at the Clinic for Rehabilitation Münster. To further raise awareness of appropriate and respectful behaviour and teach the aforementioned values, training courses on tools for dealing with gender-specific violence, discrimination, awareness-raising and prejudice are offered to all employees. Management training courses cover topics such as advancing women, the Federal Equal Treatment Act, dealing with employees, and maintaining human dignity in the workplace. All employees are informed well in advance about the available training courses and encouraged to participate. Where possible, further training opportunities are offered during normal working hours.

Gender equality

To give all employees the same opportunities, job advertisements are formulated in a gender-neutral manner. Discriminatory questions (e.g. about family planning, marital status, religion or sexuality) are not permitted in interviews. When assessing applicants' suitability, no evaluation criteria based on discriminatory or role-stereotypical understandings of gender may be used. Social and gender competence are also used as criteria for assessing leadership qualities. In accordance with the Clinic for Rehabilitation Münster 's internal guidelines, at least two genders must be represented among the decision-makers when personnel decisions are made.

The Clinic for Rehabilitation Münster recognises the benefits of promoting diversity and actively encourages women to apply for management roles to increase diversity at this level. When planning and developing personnel, the possibility of family leave is considered in the career planning of both genders. Acceptance of parental leave and part-time work due to childcare responsibilities or caring for relatives in need of care is promoted among men, too. In addition, more flexible working models are being introduced to improve work-life balance. When it comes to work commitments, especially overtime or extra work, consideration is given to time constraints due to care responsibilities wherever possible, taking necessities into account. Employees must not suffer any disadvantages at work due to care responsibilities. Working part-time is not a reason for exclusion from a management position.

People with disabilities

In Austria, employers with 25 or more staff are required by law to provide employment opportunities for disabled people. As a healthcare facility, the Clinic for Rehabilitation Münster is committed to supporting people with disabilities and creating barrier-free workplaces. For this reason, we were delighted to receive the 'We are inclusive' seal of approval last year. We fully share argeSODiT's motto: 'We need diversity and a focus on what we have in common.'

Data collection and monitoring

The Clinic for Rehabilitation Münster undertakes to compile an annual report on the progress of the Gender Equality Plan it has developed. These reports ensure transparency regarding our objectives and include data on staff and their diversity characteristics. Monitoring is intended to assess the effectiveness of the measures and revise the plan if necessary.

We collect the following data at regular intervals and publish it here. The diagrams show data collected over a one-year period (1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025). All genders and other diversity characteristics were asked; however, the respondents identified themselves as either male or female, and the results reflect this distribution.

Explanation of abbreviations:
PT/SPOSCI (physiotherapist, sports scientist), OT (occupational therapist), MASSAGE (masseur), SLT (speech and language therapist), MA/MT (medical assistant and medical technician)

Integrating gender dimensions into research, teaching and development

In addition to its efforts to support women in research, the Clinic for Rehabilitation Münster also prioritises gender-neutral language in its daily work and publications to ensure inclusivity. All gender dimensions are incorporated into research, teaching and development. Attention is paid to gender-specific similarities and differences in rehabilitation and their effects on health, with the aim of enabling everyone to receive the best possible rehabilitation at our centre.

Gender-neutral language

The Clinic for Rehabilitation Münster believes that language influences thinking. For this reason, we expressly refer to the gender-neutral language guidelines provided by the Federal Ministry (bmbwf.gv.at). All internal and external correspondence and publications are written in gender-neutral language. For individual personnel matters, the respective gender-specific wording is used. The use of a general clause at the beginning of a text or as a footnote on a form is not permitted.

To achieve these goals, the Clinic for Rehabilitation Münster supports its staff through continuous training and practical guidance. In addition, individual counselling and support are offered.

As the management of Clinic for Rehabilitation Münster, we are committed to the goals of the Gender Equality Plan and will actively and sustainably support the implementation of equality-related measures within our company.