Inclusive Culture Initiatives at Bayer Middle East

“Diversity & Inclusion  are the very foundation of our culture and a key driver of our success”

As a senior leader, I firmly believe that diversity and inclusion are not just values; they are essential drivers of innovation, resilience, and sustainable success. 

Throughout my career, I have witnessed firsthand how diverse teams bring richer perspectives, challenge conventional thinking, and ultimately lead to stronger outcomes. I am deeply committed to creating environments where every voice is heard, respected, and empowered to contribute.

I actively challenge bias, advocate for equitable opportunities, and work to open doors for underrepresented talent. Because when we embrace diversity and foster inclusion, we don’t just build better teams, we build better organisations and communities.

Bayer Middle East “A Culture Built to Thrive”

At Bayer Middle East, Diversity, and Inclusion (D&I) are more than guiding principles, they are the very foundation of our culture and a key driver of our success. Since embarking on our D&I journey in 2020, we’ve witnessed firsthand how inclusive practices fuel innovation, strengthen our decision-making, and deepen our connection with the communities we serve.

We're so passionate about D&I because, simply put, we believe everyone deserves to work in an environment where they feel respected, valued, and empowered to be their best. This isn't just a policy for us – it's a fundamental belief that informs everything we do, from how we hire and develop our people to the policies we put in place and how we connect with the world around us.

A Workplace for Everyone

Our journey began with a clear goal: to create a workplace where individual differences—across gender, nationality, age, abilities, and backgrounds—are not just accepted, but celebrated. We’ve made meaningful strides since 2020, thanks to a series of impactful initiatives and a culture of intentional inclusion.

First, get to know Bayer Middle East!

Spanning 16 countries in the Middle East, our cluster is a mosaic of cultures and backgrounds. We're fortunate to have a team of nearly 500 employees, drawn from 34 nationalities, each contributing with their unique talents.

Our commitment to diversity is an ongoing journey. We've made significant strides in shaping a more balanced employee profile, with a current split of 38% female and 62% male employees, and we're actively working to increase the representation of women in leadership, where they currently hold 36% of Director and above positions. 

We also recognize the value of generational diversity. Our team is currently composed of nearly 79% Millennials, alongside 16% Gen X, approximately 4% Gen Z, and just under 1% Baby Boomers, creating a vibrant mix of experience and innovation.

Inclusive Hiring through Multiple Assessment Tools and Diversified Panel Assessments

We started with the basics—rethinking how we attract talent. By revising our Talent Acquisition policies, we ensured our hiring practices are inclusive and free from unconscious bias. This involved updating job descriptions, diversifying our assessment tools, and ensuring interview panels reflect a range of perspectives. These changes have broadened our talent pool and created a fairer, more equitable recruitment process.

Empowering Growth Through Talent Development

Development is at the heart of inclusion. At Bayer Middle East, we place career growth in the hands of our people. Our development offerings are as diverse as our teams—ranging from traditional training programs and online learning to specialized opportunities like:

• Women’s Leadership Development Programs like Leadership Link

• New Leader Workshops

• #IAmRemarkable Workshops

• Regional and Global Project Assignments

• Mentoring and Coaching Programs

• Professional Development Assistance, including tuition support for continued education and certifications.

We believe that when people grow, organizations thrive, and we’re proud to enable both.

Accessibility & Empowerment

We are committed to fostering an accessible, inclusive environment for individuals with disabilities, both visible and invisible. In partnership with Helm, we delivered awareness trainings in Egypt and the UAE, equipping our teams with the knowledge and tools to build a more inclusive workplace.

Our offices underwent accessibility audits to remove barriers and ensure physical spaces are welcoming. In Saudi Arabia, these efforts were recognized with the Mowaamah Certification by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.

But we didn’t stop there. We introduced Inclusive Care Packages to support employees who have children with disabilities, because inclusion starts at home. Our teams also volunteer and conduct virtual sessions for people with diverse abilities outside of Bayer, further extending our impact to the broader community.

Women Empowerment in Action

Bayer Middle East became Women Empowerment Signatory, we demonstrated our commitment to gender equality by signing the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs). 

In a bold step toward gender balance and empowerment, Bayer Egypt welcomed seven exceptional women into leadership roles in 2024, a move that speaks volumes about our commitment to fostering diverse leadership across the organization.

Equal Pay for Equal Work

Equity is non-negotiable. Our Gender Pay Gap Analysis for 2024 across the UAE, Egypt, KSA, and Jordan confirms that there are no significant pay disparities between men and women across all levels. Since 2021, we’ve conducted these analyses annually to ensure fairness, transparency, and accountability in compensation.

"Our decision to become a WEPs signatory is not just a pledge — it's a reflection of our core values and our belief in the power of diversity.  We have already taken significant actions in this regard and still aiming for more. As we continue to grow, we remain dedicated to this mission and the promotion of equality in all its forms."

Hugo Hagen

Senior Bayer Representative

Bayer Middle East

Policies That Reflect Our Values

We continuously evaluate and enhance our policies to reflect the evolving needs of our people. Highlights include:

• Flexible Work Arrangements, including remote work and adaptable hours.

• Extended Maternity & Paternity Leaves, including additional provisions for adoption, twins, and children with disabilities.

• Reduced-Hour & Return-to-Work Programs for new parents for up to one year after childbirth.

These policies reflect our commitment to supporting employees through every stage of life.

Driving Change Through Community & Allies

We’re proud to have built a community of D&I Allies, employees, and leaders who champion inclusion in their daily roles. This effort was brought to life through our ‘D&I Allies 4x4 Snapshots’ video series, highlighting powerful stories of allyship and advocacy.

Our Business Resource Groups (BRGs) also play a pivotal role. At Bayer Middle East, we proudly host two active BRGs:

• GROW: Focused on gender equity and leadership development

• Enable: Dedicated to accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities

Our Business Resource Groups (BRGs) have played a vital role in enriching our company culture by developing and hosting a wide array of engaging activities and initiatives aligned with their respective missions. For example, GROW-ME has curated a comprehensive year-long agenda featuring events that celebrate key dates related to women, such as International Women's Day, Pink October, and World Contraceptive Day. These initiatives include internally focused programs designed to increase awareness and empower our employees through upskilling sessions on topics like Managing Guilt, Personal Branding Workshops, Accelerating Growth, Leveraging Networks, and Women in Sales. Additionally, GROW-ME fosters connections with our broader community through external-facing events like Bring Your Kids to Bayer Office, strengthening our ties with the surrounding ecosystem.

Building Our Brand from the Inside Out

Authenticity matters. We launched a local employer branding campaign featuring our own employees as models, redesigned our job postings, and revamped our LinkedIn Life page for the Middle East. This initiative not only showcases who we are, it invites others to join us.

Looking Ahead: Our D&I Commitments

We’re proud of how far we’ve come, but our D&I journey is far from over. Our future plans include:

• Monitoring D&I Metrics System to track representation, engagement, and equality across all levels.

• Launching Leadership Development Programs to support the growth of all groups.

• Expanding Community Partnerships to drive equity and social impact beyond our organisation.

“At Bayer Middle East, Diversity, and Inclusion are not initiatives, they are integral to who we are. We are building a workplace that reflects the world we want to live in: one that is fair, inclusive, and full of possibility, for everyone.

And while the journey continues, one thing is certain: we are all-in, and we are here to lead by example! ”

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of TDX Consulting or the Workplace in Action® program. The content and ideas presented by the authors are their personal opinions and should not be considered the official policy or stance of TDX Consulting or the Workplace in Action® program.