14.12.2017
The 14 December saw this year’s final ceremony in which family and women-friendly companies, holders of the basic and advanced MAMFORCE standard were presented in Zagreb.
Marija Felkel, Member of the Management Board and the Chief Human Resources Officer in HT, and Diana Kobas Dešković, the founder of MAMFORCE method
Hrvatski Telekom and Zagrebačka banka received the confirmation of a high level of competencies in the implementation of family responsibility and gender equality policies in human resources management. Hence, they were awarded the Advanced MAMFORCE COMPANY Standard, whilst the Basic MAMFORCE Standard was awarded to the Croatian subsidiary of BKS Bank AG.
The ceremony also included a lecture delivered by Željka Kamenov, Ph. D, a Full Professor of Social Psychology at the Zagreb-based Faculty of Philosophy, entitled "Challenges of (Un)Equal Opportunities of Men and Women in the Workplace". The Professor Kamenov stated the following on this occasion: "Irrespective of the fact that most people believe they treat men and women equally, that is actually not true due to gender stereotypes that we all still believe in, and hence we treat them differently. Men are normally treated as more important, and as a result of a belief in their higher potential, they are given more opportunities, as well as greater support, more resources, autonomy, and promotion than equally qualified women."
Diana Kobas Dešković, the founder of MAMFORCE method, provided a special overview of the insufficient presence of young women in increasingly required and well-paid STEM jobs. "The share of 34% of women attending graduate study programmes in STEM fields in Croatia, which include technical, natural, and biotechnical sciences, clearly shows a need for further popularisation of these increasingly in-demand professions amongst women. Moreover, it is fundamental to raise awareness of employers on the requirement for creation of working conditions aimed at attracting young, talented women, who frequently, due to a need for harmonisation of work and family life, prefer to opt for teaching careers, rather than those in industry."
HT currently has 43% women in management positions, and it hence provides a role model and encourages women to become involved in STEM jobs
Hrvatski Telekom employs 3,730 staff, and women account for 40%, whilst the share of women in managerial positions reaches 43%. Measures aimed at providing support to achievement of balance between professional and private life of the employees are ensured through regular surveys on employee satisfaction and involvement. Organisational culture is characterised by open communication, whilst respecting differences and caring about gender equality. Furthermore, within their own STEM HUB incubators, they work on the foundation of the community of young STEM experts, with a special emphasis on women.
On the occasion of the acceptance of the certificate, Marija Felkel, Member of the Management Board and Chief Human Resources Officer in Hrvatski Telekom, noted as follows: "We are proud to have been awarded the MAMFORCE Standard for the second consecutive time, which clearly shows the direction in which Hrvatski Telekom is striving to develop its relationships with the employees. It is important to highlight the fact that we are involved in an industry in which the pace of work is dynamic and intense, whilst the employees are expected to be highly involved and committed, prepared for changes and innovativeness. In addition, whilst keeping abreast with the latest trends of the digital society, HT is the first company to have launched an initiative to popularise STEM fields in Croatia, and we are aiming to provide a role model and encourage the greatest possible number of women to become involved in these professions. Consequently, this year, upon the initiative by HT, Croatia has become involved in a large international project Women STEM Awards, intended to encourage young women graduates throughout the world to opt for a career in one of STEM fields. It includes prize money for the best graduate or master’s theses and dissertations in STEM fields. Through this project, HT is additionally investing into the generation of young experts who have the required skills for working in technological projects in Croatia, since it is extremely important to encourage women to a higher share of involvement in progressive and well-paid jobs."
MAMFORCE Standard is awarded by ZAPOSLENA MAMA Institute for Research and Education to the companies that succeed in successfully organising work and workplace environment, whilst simultaneously complying with the principles of balance between the professional and private life and equal opportunities for professional development. The evaluation method is scientifically sound and has been developed in co-operation with the leading academic and international institutions.
The sponsors of MAMFORCE Standard as a tool for the implementation of positive changes on the Croatian labour market are: Ombudswoman for Gender Equality, the Ministry of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Crafts, the Ministry of Labour and Pension System, the Croatian Employers’ Association, the Croatian Chamber of Economy, and Global Compact Hrvatska.