Diversity in the Workplace: Credit Suisse Ranks Top among the Largest Swiss Companies Montag, 06. Februar 2017 - 10:00

Credit Suisse is leading the way in Switzerland in terms of diversity in the workplace according to the third Diversity Index compiled by the Institute of Financial Services Zug (IFZ) of Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts and the Commission for Technology and Innovation (CTI). Compared to the previous index published in 2014, Credit Suisse has thus moved up from fourth to first place. The selection criteria were age, gender, nationality, religion and health. General aspects of the company's diversity management were also considered.

This is the third time that the Institute of Financial Services Zug (IFZ) of Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts and the Commission for Technology and Innovation (CTI) have examined the measures taken to promote employee diversity in almost 40 of the largest Swiss companies. On the one hand, the focus was on questions relating to the diversity of the workforce in Switzerland based on criteria such as age, gender, nationality and religion. On the other hand, the embedding of diversity management in the organization, the provision of internal training, and the implementation of specific measures were also taken into account. Last year's programs in the fields of gender and age diversity in particular contributed to Credit Suisse’s rise from fourth to first place in this year's Diversity Index. Its offerings to promote employee health and wellbeing, as well as the integration of employees with disabilities, were viewed as especially positive. 

A Range of Measures to Recruit Female Specialists

One of the initiatives to promote gender diversity at Credit Suisse is the "Real Returns" program. It primarily enables talented women who have placed their careers on hold due to family commitments to reenter professional life. The aim is to prepare talented individuals to return to work permanently and to retain them. Currently, preparations are being made for the third round of the program, starting in March 2017. Credit Suisse also implements a wide range of other measures to support female professionals. A particular emphasis is placed on providing an attractive working environment and flexible working models. For instance, a project is currently underway to increase the use of job-sharing for female client advisors and managers so that women can perform these roles even on a part-time basis (40% to 60% of working hours). 

Generational Mentoring Facilitates Dialogue between the Generations

The positive assessment of Credit Suisse in terms of age diversity was due, among other things, to the Generational Mentoring program. It offers older employees (over 45) the opportunity to share ideas with younger mentors (employees up to the age of 30). Unlike traditional mentoring, where senior mentors pass on their experience to younger employees, this exchange involves a valuable dialogue with a focus on innovation and collaboration between the generations. The project has already been conducted successfully several times and is the only one of its kind in the Swiss banking sector. 

Claudia Segers, Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion at Credit Suisse, stated: "It is only thanks to the diversity of the members of our workforce with their varied skills, viewpoints, knowledge and experience that we as a bank can understand the diverse needs of our clients and subsequently offer them high-quality services. To ensure that our employees can develop and exercise these skills, we focus on promoting an inclusive working environment and attach great importance to equality of opportunity. Awards such as coming first in this year's Diversity Index motivate us to keep striving for diversity in our workforce and to drive new initiatives and projects forward." 

Further information on the Diversity Index can be found via the following link:
www.diversity-index.ch