Women at the top: Palmberg sets signs for equality!

Women at the top: Palmberg sets signs for equality!

Ludwigslust-Parchim, Deutschland - In recent years, the entire discussion about women in management positions in Germany has intensified. There is a particularly positive example from the medium -sized office furniture manufacturer Palmberg. Since 2023, managing directors Nicole Eggert and Julianne Utz-Preußing have been leading the company, which is one of the largest in Europe with sales of 139.3 million euros in 2022. This means that two women are at the top at Palmberg-a sight that is unfortunately still rare, as [nordkurier.de] (https://www.nordkurier.de/regional/nordwestmecklenburg/zwei-frauen-an-Spitze-eines-s-noch-ein- ein- 3666524).

The company's excellent balance sheet in relation to the proportion of women on management levels shows that 50 percent of the management positions of women are occupied by Palmberg. In comparison, the proportion of women in other medium -sized companies in Northwest Mecklenburg is only 31.9 percent. And in various counties, this proportion is even lower: in the Ludwigslust-Parchim district, it is 30.3 percent, in the Mecklenburg Lake District 23.3 percent and only 18 percent in the Rostock district.

a success with role model function

The two managing directors are not a blank leaf when it comes to their know-how. While Julianne Utz-Prussing Marketing and sustainable corporate management studied, Nicole Eggert has completed a commercial training and fundamentally set up the company's planning department. In 2016, they were asked by their fathers to enter the management. The generational transition was finally carried out in 2023, and the decisions in the company also aim to strengthen interpersonal skills.

particularly emphasized is the flexibility that Palmberg offers its employees: inside. The company relies on individual solutions in working hours in order to promote the balance between work and family. A core working time from 9.30 a.m. to 3 p.m. is offered, even until 2 p.m. on Fridays. These framework conditions show how important childcare and equality are for the two managing directors.

legal requirements for equality

But what about the women's shares in management positions in Germany? In an analysis from Haufe.de from 2021 and 2022, it can be seen that the target variables for the women's proportion are only determined, only 62.1 percent of this obligation came after. In many cases, the target size was even set to zero, which is no longer legally acceptable. As a result, fines of up to 50,000 euros can be imposed on violations. In the case of larger companies, the possible punishments are even higher.

The second management position law, which came into force in August 2021, is to remove these grievances. It complements the original management position of 2015 and aims to increase equality in the management levels of German companies. In fact, the proportion of women in companies that are bound by such quotas regulations rose from 25 percent to 35.4 percent in 2015. Nevertheless, the proportion of the best management levels can still be classified as too low as long as some companies still have no women on their board.

Clear: There is still a lot to do to further promote the gender equality in the world of work. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania occupies seventh place in relation to the proportion of women in management, and the east-west gradient takes a clear picture. The increase in the proportion of women at leadership levels can significantly contribute to improving corporate culture, as current studies show.