The GWZO aims to be an institution that promotes multifaceted and bias-free scholarly enquiry, engagement with the public, a constructive culture of discussion and collegial exchange. We strive to create a work environment that fosters open debate and participation as well as constructive feedback and criticism. We are therefore committed to ensuring the well-being and good physical and mental health of our employees and guests.

In accordance with the European Commission's Whistleblower Protection Directive (EU) 2019/1937, companies and institutions with more than 50 employees are obliged to enable anonymous reporting of suspected misconduct or abuses. The GWZO fulfils this obligation by providing an anonymous reporting channel with the following link.

The GWZO is a great place to acquire further academic qualifications and strives to be an attractive part of any career. At the Institute, together with cooperative partners in-house and within the Leibniz Association, young researchers seeking to qualify can make the most of a broad spectrum of opportunities for professional and personal development.

The GWZO conducts research together with collaboration partners across the world. Together, they organise international conferences in Leipzig and elsewhere, plan panels at international congresses, show exhibitions throughout Europe and publish in English. This is how the Institute shares its knowledge with the world. The team of experts working locally and many of the scholars who spend time at the GWZO temporarily to conduct research come from abroad.

The GWZO strives to make its research accessible to as many people as possible and offers free access to as many research results as possible.  GWZO series, including the magazine Mitropa are published in open access. Virtual archives, currently under construction, aim to render parts of the on-site inventory searchable and researchable. Digital exhibitions on the subjects of our major exhibition projects allow users to view the material online permanently. A new structure for Research Data Management, currently under construction, will offer research data for further inquiry.

The GWZO is affiliated with four other organisations of the Leibniz Association to form the Leibniz research network »Knowledge for Sustained Development«. This network encourages its members to come together to develop sustainable solutions for research and promote sustainable societal transformation.

Researchers from Germany and across the world – visiting scholars and employees  alike – all bring one thing with them: data about themselves and others. The on-site data protection takes care of this data's security.

The GWZO is committed to promoting the inclusion and participation of people with disabilities. As far as possible, research results and outputs should therefore be made available to all, providing equal access to resources and communication tools. This includes the accessible design of the GWZO’s public presence as a Leibniz Institute such as its website, which can be accessed in an easy-to-read version.

The GWZO’s employees have a works council. This body facilitates participation, representing employees’ interests in discussions with the administration.

The GWZO promotes equal career opportunities for its staff at all career stages and in all areas pf work. We are working to make family life and the pursuit of a career as compatible as possible. We support the careers and ongoing qualification of our female colleagues in particular, uphold gender balance when filling new positions and are attentive to gender-fair speech as well as to any kind of gender-based discrimination. The Leibniz Association supports these efforts with the Mentoring Programme for Female Scientists and Academics and other support programmes. In July 2021, the GWZO was awarded the TOTAL E-QUALITY Distinction for Equal Opportunity 2021. 

The Diversity Charter is an employers' initiative aiming to promote diversity in companies and institutions across Germany. The centrepiece of the association is the »Diversity Charter Certificate«, with which the GWZO voluntarily commits itself to maintaining an institutional culture characterized by mutual respect and appreciation. To this end, the institute's personnel processes are reviewed to ensure that they do justice to both the diverse abilities and talents of all employees and our performance standards.

The certificate has been signed by the director of the GWZO, Prof. Dr. Maren Röger, the Federal Government Commissioner for Migration, Refugees, and Integration, and State Minister Reem Alabali-Radovan.