In the pursuit of better diversity, inclusion and equality, one pivotal question that companies need to consider is: Do we have a gender pay gap? Wintershall Dea investigated this question and have since initiated and completed out a 12-month certification process with the EQUAL-SALARY Foundation and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). Learn more from Petra Angstmann, Senior Vice President Global Human Resources and responsible for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Wintershall Dea,
Petra Angstmann is an experienced Chief Human Resource Officer and leader with over 30 years of experience in local and global “people and organisation” management.
Emphatic and pragmatic responsibility for staff, a deep understanding of diverse areas of business as well as a value and future-oriented way of thinking characterise her personality.
EQUAL-SALARY employer certification
The process began in 2021 and included salary analyses, surveys, focus group discussions and interviews with employees, followed by verification of the salary data. The EQUAL-SALARY employer certification was carried out as part of an audit by PwC, who followed the methodology prescribed by the EQUAL-SALARY Foundation.
No gender pay gap at Wintershall Dea
My experience has shown that the effort required for an Equal Salary Analysis should not be underestimated. As well as receiving a budget and time resources for the HR team, we have transparently embedded the process into our internal corporate communications, enabling us to answer the many questions that arise from managers and employees.
I was extremely pleased with the result, because it proves there is no gender pay gap at Wintershall Dea. By promoting the principle of equal pay, our company is supporting social change, positioning ourselves as a modern employer for new talent and emphasising the constant realisation of our diversity strategy according to the maxim “walk the talk”. The auditors were particularly impressed by the existing principle of equal pay as well as the globally applicable human resources strategy and its integration into the company’s objectives.
Ongoing process of global certifications
For Wintershall Dea the process of global certification is ongoing. During 2023 and 2024, a continuous review will be carried out by PwC in order to regularly reconfirm according to the criteria for award of certification and to eliminate any possibility of future gender pay gaps.
The non-profit EQUAL-SALARY Foundation, established in 2010, has created a certification that allows companies to prove they pay their female and male employees equally for the same job or for equivalent tasks. The certification process was developed in cooperation with the University of Geneva, an institution that specialises in labour market issues, and with leading global auditing firms. The European Commission recognises EQUAL-SALARY as a method that audits equal treatment of men and women in terms of pay and gender equality. (EU Report 2021, Tackling the gender pay gap in the European Union).
Company Profile
Wintershall Dea is Europe’s leading independent natural gas and oil company with more than 120 years of experience as an operator and project partner along the entire E&P value chain. The company with German roots and headquarters in Kassel and Hamburg explores for and produces gas and oil in 13 countries worldwide in an efficient and responsible manner. With activities in Europe, Russia, Latin America and the MENA region (Middle East & North Africa), Wintershall Dea has a global upstream portfolio and, with its participation in natural gas transport, is also active in the midstream business.
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