As part of the pilot for the Toolkit: Women & Diversity in Innovation, Merkle set itself the goal to establish diversity in external communication and increase its visibility. Therefore, Merkle revised the existing guidelines for gender-sensitive language. Likewise, the visual language in external communication such as on the company’s website and in job advertisements was reviewed self-critically regarding diversity.

Managers at Merkle take on the role of coaches and maintain a professional and personal exchange with employees in the form of weekly feedback meetings. The intranet has developed into a transparent exchange platform that resembles a social network. In addition, Merkle has initiated several targeted measures to promote inclusion in HR management and internal communications.

⚒ | ＄ | ⏲ | Openings must be advertised internally and externally to attract the best individuals and ensure that the workforce is as diverse as possible. The consistent use of inclusive language and communication through multiple recruiting channels attracts the most diverse pool of candidates possible.

⚒⚒⚒ | ＄＄ | ⏲⏲ | An internal awareness campaign will send a strong message about the importance of diversity in innovation. It can help make different diversity groups visible and promote an inclusive culture in innovation.

⚒⚒ | ＄ | ⏲ | An inclusive language manual will ensure fair representation of various diversity groups in both external and internal communications as part of corporate communications. The publishing of the guide leads to the company’s brand image being seen as relevant and credible in the eyes of customers and partners.

⚒ | ＄ | ⏲⏲ | A balanced representation of diversity in external media promotes a progressive image of the organization and attracts a broader, more diverse audience. An inclusive brand image will help to grow new user groups while increasing the satisfaction of existing customers. Moreover, a progressive public image also plays an essential role in employer branding.

⚒ | ＄ | ⏲⏲ | Fair representation of diversity in internal media contributes to the development of an inclusive organizational culture and helps to create an inclusive working environment. Employers thereby signal that workers with a diverse range of characteristics are welcome and respected. Furthermore, the organization represents itself as open-minded and future-oriented by making socio-cultural diversity in the workplace visible.

⚒⚒ | ＄＄ | ⏲⏲ | A workshop on inclusive language can be held before creating a communication guideline, accompanying its introduction, or standing on its own as an individual measure. The theoretical and practical examination of inclusive language sensitizes workshop participants to the topic and allows them to explore new forms of expression.