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Diversity & Inclusivity

ASTRON is committed to achieving a fair, welcoming, and sustainable work environment for all.

We believe that our staff should reflect our society – a diverse workforce successfully working together regardless of our real or perceived differences. We consider it vital that all of our employees, interns and guests feel valued, regardless of their background, sex, age, sexual orientation, (physical) ability or any other point of difference. We work to keep an environment where everyone feels safe at work and can perform at their best.

As an NWO institute, ASTRON follows the diversity policy of NWO. NWO wants to be an organisation where everyone feels welcome, can be themselves and can bring out the best in themselves and in teams. We therefore strive for a diverse organisation with an inclusive culture where everybody is needed, irrespective of cultural, ethnic or religious background, gender, sexual orientation, health and age. We can only achieve that if we shift the goal posts and change patterns, structures and processes. We do this by focusing our attention on our granting policy and employer’s policy. See the Diversity and Inclusion Charter for more information. ASTRON also states these aims via the Dwingeloo Code of Conduct (see below), which sets out our core values and expectations of behaviour.

The Dwingeloo Code of Conduct

ASTRON and JIVE are dedicated to provide an inclusive and safe environment for everyone: employees and visitors. We value and respect the differences between people in terms of their background including gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, race, age, opinion or religion. The environment includes our premises, buildings, online collaboration and communication tools, as well as in-person and hybrid conferences, meetings and activities.

We behave professionally and we are kind to others. All our communication, written, verbal and non-verbal should be appropriate for a professional audience including people of all different backgrounds. We do not insult or put down anyone. We do not tolerate any discriminative or exclusionary communication, behaviour or harassment in any form.

Many situations related to the code of conduct can be solved immediately by a respectful discussion. In other cases the situation can be reported using the following applicable method(s):

  • Employees can contact their line manager, the head of HR or the internal or external confidentiality counsellor
  • Visitors can contact their host or the head of HR
  • Conference attendees can contact the conference organizer(s) or the head of HR

The parties involved will be heard on the shortest possible notice. Based on the outcome of the investigation, further actions may be taken.

For NWO-I employees the following codes of conduct are applicable as well:

Implementation of our Diversity policies and adherence to our codes of conduct are the responsibility of the Management Team. In support there is a Dwingeloo diversity committee whose role is to advise, stimulate and support these efforts.

Workplace Pride

Since January 1, 2019 NWO – and ASTRON as an NWO institute – is a member of Workplace Pride. Workplace Pride is a not-for-profit foundation dedicated to improving the lives of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgenders and Intersex (LGBTI) people in workplaces all over the world. We strive for a world of inclusive workplaces where LGBTI people can truly be themselves, are valued and, through their contribution, help to lead the way for others.

NWO seeks to realise excellent science, which flourishes and has a maximum impact on our society. One aspect of this is encouraging an inclusive science culture with a view of diversity in the broadest sense of the word. Diversity leads to inspiration, creativity and innovation. NWO’s membership of the organisation Workplace Pride fits within the broad strategy to increase diversity within the organisation and in the realisation of our work, also with respect to gender, cultural and ethnic background, et cetera.

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