What does a women's representative do?

Her main task is to serve and represent the interests of women who are employed in the non-scientific area of administration and technical sector at the University. Her legal position, duties, and rights as well as her deputy are laid down in the Bundesland's equality law, article 1, (promotion law). She must observe these laws and support the heads of department in their realization.

The women's representative is directly assigned to the head of department and has the right of immediate statement.

She should be involved from an early stage in any personal, social, and organizational measures that concern female employees and has the right to object to any measures she regards as incompatible with the equality law or other regulations concerning the equal treatment of men and women.
Furthermore, the women's representative can take the initiative in introducing measures towards the realization of equality within the department. She can hold consultation hours and call a meeting of all women employed in the department once a year.
She can also be involved in interviews and other personnel selection processes upon request.

Female employees can contact the women's representative directly with their concerns.

The women's representative of the University of Heidelberg is elected by all women in non-scientific area by postal vote and is appointed by the Vice-Chancellor for four years.

Additional tasks include:

• creating and implementing the women promotion plan
• reconciling career and family
• encouraging further education
• consulting and discussion on a one-to-one basis
• setting up women networks
• safety at work