Too many qualified and motivated women run into rigid barriers in their attempts to balance their professional and family lives. Better career opportunities and child-care programs, more flexible work hours and new approaches to parental leave make DHL an attractive employer for qualified female employees.

Equal opportunities in management positions
DHL has established a Mentoring Program to actively promote equal opportunities among its male and female employees. Women have never been more qualified and motivated than today. Nonetheless, they remain heavily underrepresented in management positions. Surveys show that women progress considerably more slowly on their career paths than men despite their overall better educational achievements. We are changing this situation: Within the framework of our Mentoring Program, young female employees are "taken by the hand" by experienced managers and given individual coaching. All participants must have been with our company for at least two years to be accepted to the program. As a future manager, you must also have specific qualities - such as business ability, stamina, creatitivity, openness to criticism and dedication. Every two years, we assist 12 women in this program. Maybe you'll be next?

Return to the job after parental leave
DHL supports all employees who return to their jobs after spending time with their families. To make the return to the job as smooth as possible, we invite these employees to participate in information events and training sessions during their absence. Temporary assignments and fill-ins for employees who are on vacation or ill are also possible. The return seminar informs employees about the company's current direction. Once the employee is back in the job, flexible work-hour arrangements and assistance in organizing child care ensure that he or she can balance his or her professional and family lives.

Family service
The ability to balance one's professional and family lives depends to a great extent on the right child care arrangement. For the affected employees, the key concern is to find the right child care to suit their particular work and family situation. DHL supports its employees with a comprehensive family service.
The family service offers the following services and helps find, among other things:

• a permanent child care solution
• temporary child care
• child care in special situations and emergencies
• holiday programs

The company will continually broaden its offer of assistance to support its employees on an ongoing basis.