Equal Borusan Platform
Borusan established its Equal Borusan – Social Equality platform in 2015, to adopt and internalize gender equality at both corporate and individual level. The platform aims to obtain results across a wide range of issues – from human resources policies to communication and awareness.

Gender Equality Seminars
The aim is to raise awareness of Borusan staff and their families on gender roles and equality through gender equality training organized in cooperation with the Mother Child Education Foundation (AÇEV). In class and online seminars held in the period of 2019-2020 reached approximately 750 people. Borusan Mannesmann has raised employee awareness on caring fatherhood through the project “Önce Babayım (I Am A Father First)” executed for plant staff in collaboration with AÇEV.

Gender Lens
Borusan Holding believes that every corporate policy and action, such as communication, hiring, promotion, performance, or remuneration, should be tackled from a new "lens" based on gender equality. The Holding also believes that tangible steps should be taken after a mental and cultural transformation. In this respect, the Gender Lens of the Holding serves as a very relevant guide in this matter.

It is about assessing every action taken while analyzing, planning, and passing decisions in terms of gender equality findings, and scrutinizing the Holding's perspective thoroughly. Checklists for all employees within the Gender Lens document acts as a formula to combat gender inequality. Meanwhile, "Equal Borusan" commitment pertains to all General Managers and is a testimony to the Senior Management's determination in this matter.

The Gender Lens documents were drawn up through the intensive efforts and collaborations of the Holding's Corporate Communication and Human Resources teams in the light of the opinions of leading NGOs in this area, including the Mother Child Education Foundation (AÇEV) and UN Women. The Senior Management's ownership of this matter is the key driver behind the Gender Lens approach. In an attempt to bolster and further enhance this ownership, the Holding aims to carry out regular communications, establish policies focused on gender equality, and monitor the progress through setting challenging goals and metrics.

The Gender Lens Program significantly differs from the Equal Borusan platform and the steps taken under that platform to date in that Gender Lens moved beyond merely raising the awareness of employees and companies in this matter, and instead set tangible actions and goals towards the achievement of gender equality at Borusan. Ambitious targets have been set to increase the number of women employees and women leaders in recruitment, participation in development programs, and promotion processes.

Within this scope, the following have been established as targets:

• Under the "Gender Lens Program,” reaching 30% and 40% women at Senior Management and Middle Management levels in a period of three years; shortlisting at least one woman in the hiring and promotion processes for senior and middle manager levels, and encouraging the 50% women ratio in the Leadership Faculty.
• Reaching the 40% target for office staff; and reaching the 20% target for plant, field, and workshop staff in the recruitment of women from 2020 to 2023.
• Creating a development program aimed at developing women leaders that is specific to high potential women with designated successors
• Mentoring support from the senior management to women successors,
• The aim is to run the rotation process for women successors from the support functions to profit center functions as a development and skills management approach.

Another aim is to develop policies with a focus on gender equality, introduce inclusive solutions that make working life easier, and continue to work in these areas so as to provide better working conditions for everyone. The Holding strives to improve its existing practices, such as private health insurance with childbirth coverage for women and men; the provision of an uninterrupted five and a half month maternity leave for women; support programs at birth and after birth; leaves for the first day of school and report card days; in-person meetings with women employees; flexible working conditions; and widespread daycare centers. Also, it aims to take tangible steps towards designing and executing new practices. The Gender Lens Program is intended to serve as a clear indicator of a cultural and mental transformation.

Borusan Holding prepared the "Gender Equality and Domestic Violence Guide" in the 2020 operating period. The Guide includes the Equal Borusan Commitment and principles, in addition to information on gender equality. The main section of the Guide covers domestic violence and forms of violence. It describes all support mechanisms, from leave and psychological support to safety measures and counseling centers. Information on violence against children is also provided.

Serving as a reference instrument, the Guide will lead the way for the steps to be taken by managers and employees in cases of violence; enable the staff to identify domestic violence in an easier manner, and provide support and assurance to the victims under the Borusan Group policies established to this end.

Domestic Violence Guide from Equal Borusan
Having conducted efforts to strengthen gender equality since 2015, the Equal Borusan Platform prepared the "Gender Equality and Domestic Violence Guide.” A pioneering initiative in this area, the guide consists of an Equal Borusan Commitment, principles, and information on gender equality. The main section of the Guide covers domestic violence and forms of violence. In addition, it describes all support mechanisms, from leave and psychological support to safety measures and counseling centers. Information on violence against children is also provided in the guide.

Serving as a reference instrument, the Guide will lead the way for the steps to be taken by managers and employees in cases of violence; enable the staff to identify domestic violence in an easier manner, and provide support and assurance to the victims under the Borusan Group policies established to this end. Borusan has made gender equality a priority duty and introduced Group-wide policies to reinforce gender equality. The Holding will continue taking firm steps towards gender equality in the periods to come.