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COMPANY OF THE YEAR in the Czech Republic: Equal Opportunities 2010: ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE AWARD

(5. 1. 2011) - COMPANY OF THE YEAR: EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES has been awarded by Czech non-governmental organization Gender Studies since 2004. Its purpose is to motivate companies to see equal opportunities for women and men as one of the cornerstones of their own development and the development of their employees. And of course, it also endeavours to make the companies to implement these principles in their policies. Gender Studies offers qualified consultancy and experience in this field.

COMPANY OF THE YEAR: EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES has been awarded by Czech non-governmental organization Gender Studies since 2004. Its purpose is to motivate companies to see equal opportunities for women and men as one of the cornerstones of their own development and the development of their employees. And of course, it also endeavours to make the companies to implement these principles in their policies. Gender Studies offers qualified consultancy and experience in this field.

2010 Award in two rounds:

→ The Company of the Year: Equal Opportunities: Prague

→ The Company of the Year: Equal Opportunities: Regions

COMPANIES OF THE YEAR: Equal Opportunities 2010

in Prague:

1st place: T-Mobile Czech Republic, a.s.

2nd place: GE Money Bank, a.s.

3rd place: Allianz pojišťovna, a.s.

in the Regions:

OLHO – Technik Czech, Ltd.

The application form focuses on areas such as work-life balance, position of women and men within the company, compensation and marketing. In case a company applies repeatedly, it shall prove that it has undergone a positive development since the last time it participated. Companies that were awarded in the previous year are not allowed to participate the following year.

The applicants‘ form are allocated points within a two-tier system. In the first round, Gender Studies experts evaluate the forms and recommend companies for the next round where they are evaluated by a jury composed of five independent experts.

Jury:

The companies of this year were chosen by the following jurors:

Hana Hašková researcher at Gender and Sociology Department of Institute of Sociology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic

Štěpán Jurajda economist, director of Center for Economic Research & Graduate Education - Economics Institute

Bára Kiliesová media and PR expert, Fleishman-Hillard

Dušan Martinek HR expert, director of HR Development and Project Activities Section of ČMKOS (Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions)

Linda Sokačová sociologist, director of Gender Studies, o.p.s

Jury's Reasoning:

1^st place: T-Mobile Czech Republic, a.s.

The company has an elaborate system of supporting equal opportunities and diversity, it keeps gender statistics, it researches flexible work arrangements, it has an elaborate system of the prevention of bullying and sexual harassment; it supports women in leading positions, it has a website for parents and it offers a wide range of benefits. It also cooperates with agencies and NGOs in the field of equal opportunities and diversity.

2^nd place: GE Money Bank, a.s.

This year, the company has applied for the award for the first time. The jury has appreciated company‘s friendly environment. It acknowledged in particular the focus the company puts on diversity during the recruitment process when it makes sure that both men and women participate in the last rounds of the selection procedure. The company also keeps gender statistics and makes gender-focused researches, it has a women’s global network, too. Moreover, the company offers 5 days of paid paternal leave to be taken after the childbirth.

3^rd place: Allianz pojišťovna, a.s.

The company keeps gender statistics and records on the ratio of men and women in the recruitment process, on individual positions within the company, and among persons leaving the company. It has a pro-active approach towards the parents on maternity and parental leave: it keeps contact with them, it organizes workshops for them, it offers wide range of benefits, e.g. a cafeteria.

In the regions:

Regions: OLHO – Technik Czech, Ltd.

The company strives to assure equal opportunities untraditionally in the production sector. Particularly, it offers flexible working-hour arrangements, stress management programs, it also cooperates with the local kindergarten and offers summer school for employees‘ children.