"We are delighted about the new certification. It shows that our efforts to create optimum conditions for our employees are successful," stated Prof. Wolfram Carius, the member of the Board of Managing Directors responsible for Personnel at Boehringer Ingelheim. A family-friendly policy benefits everyone concerned. "However, we didn't want to rest on our laurels, so we used the new audit to meet the individual needs of our employees even more in areas such as working hours, work organisation, personnel development and service for families," emphasised Prof. Carius. This current auditing process was focused on increased support of employees who look after relatives at home as well as working.

Numerous measures on work/life balance have been implemented at Boehringer Ingelheim over the years, such as provision of crèche places, creation of an emergency childcare centre, organisation of holiday academies for children and cooperation with the house for multiple generations in the city of Ingelheim. In addition, the pharmaceutical company has provided further opportunities for flexible working and measures for returning to work. Over the next few years, the company aims to expand the options for improving employees' work/life balance.

The audit
In 1998, the not-for-profit Hertie Foundation set up berufundfamilie gGmbH, which has been responsible for all the foundation's activities relating to work and family ever since. berufundfamilie gGmbH is now renowned throughout Germany as a leading specialist in work/life balance issues. It generates ideas and impetus in this field, and is a key player in the certification of family-oriented human resources policies. The German Federal Ministry of Family Affairs supports the "work and family audit" with money from the European Social Fund. The audit is recommended by leading German industrial associations - the Confederation of German Employers' Associations, the Federation of German Industries, the German Chambers of Industry and Commerce and the German Confederation of Skilled Crafts. A total of 371 companies, institutions and universities have gone through the auditing process in the past 12 months, and they have now received their certificates in Berlin.

About Boehringer Ingelheim
The Boehringer Ingelheim group is one of the world's 20 leading pharmaceutical companies. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, it operates globally with 145 affiliates and more than 44,000 employees. Since it was founded in 1885, the family-owned company has been committed to researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing novel medications of high therapeutic value for human and veterinary medicine.

As a central element of its culture, Boehringer Ingelheim pledges to act socially responsible. Involvement in social projects, caring for employees and their families, and providing equal opportunities for all employees form the foundation of the global operations. Mutual cooperation and respect, as well as environmental protection and sustainability are intrinsic factors in all of Boehringer Ingelheim’s endeavours.

In 2011, Boehringer Ingelheim achieved net sales of about 13.2 billion euro. R&D expenditure in the business area Prescription Medicines corresponds to 23.5% of its net sales.