Objective:

The aim of the research project was to investigate structures and processes in companies that efficiently and effectively link the gender-differentiated needs of highly qualified couples on the one hand and the entrepreneurial demands on highly qualified individuals on the other, in accordance with the principle of equal opportunity. In this way, both highly qualified women can be better supported in realizing their professional careers and the needs of highly qualified couples can be better recognized in everyday corporate life. Furthermore, the requirements for targeted support of a dual career can be transformed into structural and process-related measures.

Procedure:

Human resource managers and personnel officers of six German companies from the fields of consulting/other services, automotive/transportation, industrial operations, electronics and financial services as well as dual career couples in four of the participating companies were interviewed.

Subsequently, a concept for the management of dual career couples was derived and differentiated in workshops together with representatives of the participating companies and public institutions. This resulted in proposals for a guideline for action and a method manual with checklists. Furthermore, approaches for differentiated employment models and evaluation possibilities for highly qualified couples were formulated. Initial measures are already being introduced and implemented in some companies.

Duration:

The project "Reference Model for a Dual Career Couple Concept and Implementation in Human Resources Policy" was successfully carried out in the period from 5/2005 to 12/2006.