“Supporting the Prague Pride festival as an official partner is particularly important to us. At ŠKODA AUTO, diversity and inclusion are firmly anchored in our corporate culture. Together, we are committed to an international working environment characterised by tolerance, openness, trust and understanding for each other as well as mutual respect. For us, one thing is clear: The diversity of our colleagues, with their different characteristics, qualities and views, is one of our company’s greatest strengths. In celebrating Prague Pride, we reaffirm our commitment to these values and at the same time, we want to send out a clear message – against homophobia, social exclusion and deliberately looking the other way.”
Maren Gräf, ŠKODA AUTO Board Member for People & Culture
Tomáš Bílý, Director of the Prague Pride Festival, adds: “We are delighted to have ŠKODA AUTO as such an important partner at our side this year. We really appreciate their long-term support and the steps they’re taking to create more equitable conditions for the company’s employees and their families. The festival is now back after two years, and we can expect a year full of new events and a programme that has something for everyone. Saturday’s Rainbow Parade, which we had to drop from the programme in the last couple of years due to the pandemic and strict social distancing measures, is also returning. It’s great that ŠKODA AUTO will be joining this year’s parade and walking with us symbolically through Prague’s historic city centre.”
Wide variety of topics and almost 150 events
First held in 2011, Prague Pride advocates equality for LGBTQ+ people and promotes their voices among the wider public. The event focuses on the importance of human rights, respect for diversity, as well as integrity and responsibility towards LGBTQ+ people and the world around us. The nearly 150 events include workshops, debates, theatre performances, concerts and various specialist conferences. The main focus this year is on social issues as well as homophobia and generational differences in everyday life together.
ŠKODA is participating in various events and the parade itself
ŠKODA AUTO is taking part in various events at the Prague Pride Festival related to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. In addition, the car manufacturer is getting involved in the debate on how to strengthen the rights of LGBTQ+ people sustainably and over the long term. The highlight of the Prague Pride Festival is the rainbow parade on 13 August: Along with family members and friends, anyone employed by the carmaker is welcome to join the ŠKODA Proud employee group in the parade.
Diversity strategy defines specific measures to promote inclusion
As part of its 2030 Diversity Strategy, ŠKODA AUTO actively promotes and supports Employee Resource Groups (ERG). ERGs are voluntary groups of employees who share an interest in certain characteristics of diversity (e.g. age, parenthood, gender, statehood and ethnicity, mental or physical disabilities, etc.). In addition, the company advocates gender balance, equal opportunities, mutual understanding and respect.
Participation in European Diversity Month and other diversity initiatives
To mark European Diversity Month in May this year, ŠKODA AUTO has launched numerous initiatives to raise awareness of the importance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. In addition to workshops and online events, the programme also included meetings with figures from the LGBTQ+ community, including Lenka Králová. She is an ambassador for Trans:parent, an organisation that advocates transgender people’s rights.
In May last year, ŠKODA AUTO joined the Pride Business Forum. The initiative promotes LGBTQ+ diversity in companies and aims to ensure that people treat each other respectfully and with understanding. The car manufacturer has been a signatory to the EU Diversity Charter since 2019. The EU Diversity Charter promotes diversity in businesses and other establishments over the long term and is supported by more than 12,000 such organisations across Europe.
A comprehensive overview of the various projects, initiatives and measures to promote inclusion and diversity can be found in ŠKODA AUTO’s current Diversity Report.