Equal Opportunities Policy

Our Commitment

Founderland is committed to equal opportunities for everyone who works with us, applies to work with us, or participates in our programmes and community. We believe that talent, potential, and ideas are equally distributed; opportunity is not. Changing that is the founding logic of everything we do.

We will not discriminate against any person on the grounds of age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. This applies to all employment decisions and to all aspects of our programme delivery.

Scope

This policy applies to:

• all current and prospective Founderland staff, including full-time, part-time, fixed-term, and freelance contractors

• interns and volunteers

• programme participants, applicants, and community members

• partners, facilitators, and suppliers acting on Founderland's behalf

It covers recruitment, selection, employment conditions, programme access, and the conduct of everyone associated with Founderland.

Legal Framework

Founderland operates under German law and is committed to compliance with the General Equal Treatment Act (Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz, AGG), the European Convention on Human Rights, and applicable EU equality directives. Where we work across borders, we apply the standards of the most protective framework available.

Employment

Founderland is committed to fair and transparent employment practices across the full employment lifecycle.

In recruitment, all roles will be advertised clearly, selection criteria will be based on the requirements of the role, and decisions will be made solely on merit. We actively encourage applications from people who are underrepresented in the organisations and industries we work within.

In employment conditions, all staff will receive equal pay for equal work, access to the same opportunities for development and progression, and the same standard of treatment regardless of the characteristics listed in section 1.

We will make reasonable adjustments to support staff with disabilities or specific needs to perform their roles effectively.

Programme Access

Founderland's programmes are designed to reach women founders who face structural barriers to opportunity, particularly those from racially and ethnically marginalised backgrounds. This focus is intentional and consistent with our charitable purpose.

Within that mission, we are committed to ensuring that no eligible participant is excluded on any additional grounds. We will make reasonable adjustments to ensure our events, content, and communications are accessible, and we will actively seek feedback from participants on barriers they experience.

Responsibilities

The Managing Director holds overall responsibility for this policy and for ensuring it is embedded in Founderland's culture and operations.

All staff, contractors, and facilitators are expected to understand and act in accordance with this policy. Any behaviour that contradicts it — whether in the workplace or in programme delivery — will be taken seriously.

Harassment and Bullying

Founderland will not tolerate harassment, bullying, or victimisation of any kind. This includes unwanted conduct related to any of the protected characteristics listed under our commitments, as well as conduct that creates a hostile, degrading, or offensive environment for any person.

Anyone who experiences or witnesses such behaviour is encouraged to report it. Concerns will be handled with confidentiality, fairness, and care.

Complaints Procedure

Anyone who believes they have been treated unfairly — whether as a staff member, participant, or partner — is encouraged to raise their concern.

In the first instance, concerns should be directed to the Managing Director at hello AT founderland.org. Where the concern relates to the Managing Director directly, it may be raised with a Founderland board member.

All complaints will be acknowledged promptly, investigated fairly, and resolved as quickly as possible. No one who raises a concern in good faith will be penalised for doing so.

Monitoring and Review

Founderland is committed to reviewing the effectiveness of this policy annually. This includes reflecting on the diversity of our staff, our applicant pools, and our programme participants, and identifying where we can do better.

This policy will be reviewed by the Managing Director each year, or sooner following any significant change in our team, operations, or legal context.

Linked Policies

This policy should be read alongside Founderland's Safeguarding Policy and Privacy Policy.