Which companies are already practising successful LGBTIQ diversity management? Who is succeeding in establishing sustainable structures for a culture of diversity? Where is there still untapped potential? The Uhlala Group gets to the bottom of these questions with the annual publication of the PRIDE Index. Our LGBTQIA+ network DITO also had itself and the REWE Group audited for the third year and was once again awarded the Pride Champion Gold Seal in 2024. We were able to improve again and achieve 95.67 per cent of the possible points - around five percentage points more than in the previous year.

The new LGBTIQ online training course, which has been available on the Group's internal learning platform PRIMUS since January 2024, had a particularly positive impact on the result. In the 7-minute, fully animated training session, Sam, a virtual, non-binary team member, explains the difference between gender identity and sexual orientation and the benefits of diverse teams, among other things.

Queer Network Award for LGBTIQ e-learning
Online training specifically on individual diversity dimensions such as LGBTIQ has only been established at a few companies to date. The PROUT AT WORK Foundation recognises this and presented the training course with the Queer Network Award in the "Big Impact Initiative" category. On 24 October, two of the national DITO network spokespersons, Martina Weinhold and Tobias Koch, accepted the award in Hamburg. "We are incredibly proud that our impulse for such an online training programme was heard and implemented and that we have now been rewarded with a very good PRIDE Index result and the Queer Network Award," says Martina Weinhold.

About the Pride Champion Seal
The PRIDE Champion Seal recognises companies that use holistic LGBTIQ+ diversity management to create structures in which all employees feel valued and can contribute. It is acquired through a rigorous examination in the form of an (online) audit. The overall results of all participating companies and organisations are published on the UHLALA Group website in the form of the PRIDE Index Report. More information can be found at www.pride-champion.de.

Tobias Koch and Martina Weinhold one: Once a year, the Uhlala Group awards the LGBTIQ+ labour seal of approval "Pride Champion" to honour particularly progressive companies. Why do we have our measures audited by an external company in the first place?

Martina Weinhold: Of course, we know that we are already successfully implementing many measures and have been firmly anchored at REWE Group for many years with DITO. Nevertheless, it is important for us to have an external review of how effective our efforts for visibility and acceptance are, especially in comparison to other large companies. The Pride Index provides this information and also shows where we can improve.

one: This year, we were able to improve our result once again and achieved 95.67 per cent of the possible points. In which areas did we score particularly well?

Martina Weinhold: Firstly, we have many good measures in place that continue to contribute to our consistently good result. We were able to achieve the additional points primarily thanks to the new LGBTIQ online training programme. Such proactive and comprehensive sensitisation of employees is not a matter of course and we are very proud of this measure.

one: Despite the top result, where do you still see room for improvement and what ideas do you have for expanding our commitment?

Martina Weinhold: In general, our goal is to reach even more colleagues in the stores and in logistics and make DITO accessible. That will certainly be our biggest to-do in the coming years.