You can find anti-discrimination
FAQs on how to apply the General Equal Treatment Act in the workplace on the website of the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency.
The Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency also provides a comprehensive AGG guide and the video “The AGG Explained.”
Discrimination in Recruitment
The Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency’s “Guide for Employers: Anonymized Application Processes” offers employers and HR professionals step-by-step instructions for implementing anonymized application processes.
Target audience: Employers, HR managers, employees in leadership roles
How do anonymized application processes work in practice? In the report “The Anonymized Application Process: A Practical Test at Small Nonprofits,” the Cologne Anti-Discrimination Office adopts the perspective of a nonprofit organization and evaluates the anonymized application process for its practical feasibility. The report guides readers through all phases of implementation: from preliminary considerations and application to the evaluation of results after the application process is complete.
Target audience: employers, HR managers; of particular interest to smaller nonprofit organizations
Countering
Prejudices Among Staff Having a conversation with employees or colleagues to draw attention to prejudices can certainly be a delicate matter. The RKW Competence Center’s guide “Prejudices in the Workplace” is particularly useful for employers, HR managers, and team leaders who want to use argumentation strategies in conversations with employees without embarrassing the other person. It offers suggestions, counter-questions, and examples for the actual conversation. It also provides information on key terms, statistics, and facts to help you prepare for potential counterarguments and respond more effectively.
Target audience: employers, HR managers, and employees in leadership positions
For anyone who wants to actively combat prejudice against refugee colleagues, the organization “Don’t Pick on My Buddy! – For Equal Treatment, Against Xenophobia and Racism” has published a guide. The brochure “Protecting Refugees – Countering Racism: A Guide for Activists in the Workplace” provides information on the legal context and explains the logic behind the arguments of right-wing and right-wing populist movements.
Target audience: Employees, employers, HR managers, consultants, works council members
The Verdi union also offers counterarguments on its website, aktiv-gegen-diskriminierung.info, to address typical reservations about people with a migrant background. These arguments are not only helpful for everyday work situations but are also generally aimed at committed individuals who want to counter widespread reservations about immigrants.
Target audience: everyone
Combating
Discrimination The Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency provides background information specifically for refugees and new immigrants on discrimination based on origin and religion—both in general and specifically in the workplace—in the brochure “Protection Against Discrimination in Germany: A Guide for Refugees and New Immigrants.” The publication is available in ten languages.
When discrimination occurs in the workplace, works councils are among the first points of contact. The General Equal Treatment Act (AGG) requires companies to establish an internal complaint office to which employees can turn if necessary. The IQ Network Bremen has published the guide “Combating Discrimination and Harassment in the Workplace! Guidelines on In-House Complaint Offices in Accordance with the General Equal Treatment Act & Additional Materials,” which outlines the steps companies must take to establish an in-house complaint office.
Target audience: business owners, works councils
The training phase has a significant impact on future social interactions in the workplace. The Research Institute for Workplace Education (f-bb), in collaboration with vocational education practitioners, developed the “Diversity in Vocational Training” toolkit. This offers teachers and trainers a variety of methods for addressing forms of discrimination, such as racism and sexism, with young adults.
Target audience: Vocational education and training staff (advisors at upper-secondary vocational centers (OSZ), teachers, and trainers), stakeholders involved in the professional development of vocational education and training staff (including human resources departments, works councils, managing directors, chambers of commerce, labor unions, and business associations)
Victims of discrimination often suffer in silence or blame themselves for their discomfort. One year after the AGG took effect, Basis und Woge e.V. published the guide “Recognize Discrimination and Take Action!” It is aimed at counseling centers and migrant organizations. The brochure offers step-by-step instructions, checklists, and background information to raise awareness of forms of discrimination and enable quick and competent assistance.
Target audience: Counselors, migrant organizations