Covestro Leads the Way in Recruitment with Salary Transparency

Covestro Leads the Way in Recruitment with Salary Transparency

(IN BRIEF) Covestro is leading the way in salary transparency by disclosing salary ranges for all job advertisements in Germany, aligning early with the EU Pay Transparency Directive set to take effect in 2026. This initiative aims to foster trust, fairness, and equality while streamlining recruitment. Initially piloted in engineering roles, the move has increased applications, improved candidate discussions, and reduced time-consuming salary negotiations. Transparency benefits all applicants, particularly underrepresented groups, by promoting equal opportunities and addressing issues like the gender pay gap. Covestro’s proactive approach enhances its employer brand, supports fair working conditions, and prepares for future compliance. Current openings with salary details are available on their career page.

(PRESS RELEASE) LEVERKUSEN, 5-Dec-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — Covestro, a global materials manufacturer, is setting new benchmarks in recruitment by disclosing salary ranges for all job advertisements in Germany, regardless of role or hierarchy level. This forward-thinking approach aligns with the EU Pay Transparency Directive, which will mandate salary disclosures in the recruitment process starting in 2026. By proactively adopting these measures, Covestro aims to foster trust, fairness, and equality while strengthening its employer brand and improving hiring efficiency.

Revolutionizing the Recruitment Process

Initially piloted in engineering roles—where skill shortages are particularly acute—the publication of salary ranges has now been extended to all advertised positions. The results have been promising: Covestro has seen an increase in applications, more focused recruitment discussions, and positive feedback from candidates.

“Publishing salary ranges signals our commitment to trust and fairness as core employer values,” said Sophie von Saldern, Global Head of Human Resources at Covestro. “It demonstrates our dedication to open and equitable dialogue, benefiting both applicants and our existing workforce, who also have access to internal salary bands.”

Empowering Applicants Through Transparency

By disclosing salary ranges, Covestro provides job seekers with clarity and confidence during the application process:

• Entry-level professionals gain a clear understanding of salary expectations.
• Experienced candidates can better assess their market value and discuss career development opportunities.
• Women and underrepresented groups, who often undervalue themselves in salary negotiations, benefit from predefined salary bands, reducing bias and promoting equality.

“Our goal is to create a fair and open basis for discussion from the outset,” explained Dr. Ute Breitsohl, Head of Employer Branding & Recruiting in Germany. “This transparency builds trust and enables interviews to focus more on career aspirations and growth opportunities.”

A Step Toward Greater Fairness

Covestro’s initiative also addresses broader societal issues, such as the gender pay gap. “Transparent salary structures enable comparability across genders, setting a new standard for fairness in the workplace,” added Dr. Breitsohl.

The move is not just about compliance with future legislation but reflects a strategic effort to enhance Covestro’s position as an employer of choice. As part of the chemical industry, Covestro already benefits from attractive collective bargaining agreements, and salary transparency further strengthens its appeal to candidates.

Preparing for Future Compliance

The EU Pay Transparency Directive, set to become mandatory in 2026, will require many companies to disclose salary information in job postings. Covestro’s early adoption of this practice positions the company as a leader in promoting fair and transparent working conditions.

“Our transparency is more than just preparation for upcoming regulations—it’s a strategic tool to enhance our employer brand and attract top talent,” emphasized von Saldern.

Join Covestro’s Transparent Workforce

With approximately 140 open positions in Germany, Covestro is inviting candidates to explore job opportunities and benefit from its commitment to transparency and fairness. Interested applicants can view current job postings, complete with salary ranges, on Covestro’s career page at www.career.covestro.com.

This bold step underscores Covestro’s commitment to creating a more equitable and efficient recruitment process while setting a new standard for transparency in the workplace.

About Covestro:

Covestro is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of high-quality polymer materials and their components. With its innovative products, processes and methods, the company helps enhance sustainability and the quality of life in many areas. Covestro supplies customers around the world in key industries such as mobility, building and living, as well as the electrical and electronics sector. In addition, polymers from Covestro are also used in sectors such as sports and leisure, telecommunications and health, as well as in the chemical industry itself.

The company is geared completely to the circular economy. In addition, Covestro aims to achieve climate neutrality for its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2035, and the Group’s Scope 3 emissions are also set to be climate neutral by 2050. Covestro generated sales of EUR 14.4 billion in fiscal year 2023. At the end of 2023, the company had 48 production sites worldwide and employed approximately 17,500 people (calculated as full-time equivalents).

Forward-looking statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Covestro AG. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Covestro’s public reports, which are available at www.covestro.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

Media Contacts:

Przemyslaw Jedrysik
Head of Communications Europe
przemyslaw.jedrysik@covestro.com
+49 214 6009 786
+49 162 38 60218

Sirin Emre-Flender
Corporate Channels & Media Relations
sirin.emre-flender@covestro.com
+49 162 733 0374

SOURCE: Covestro AG