In 2017, and in cooperation with one of our health partners, the BARMER health insurance company, we launched the “Digitalization and Health” model project, with the University of St. Gallen and the Institute for Organizational Diagnostics and Social Research (IfOS) in Cologne, among others, providing scientific support. In this effort, and in the context of digitalization, we have developed solutions that can improve employee health and enhance their motivation and performance. Also, we have introduced various measures in the cooperation project and tested them together with Deutsche Telekom staff. The model project is now being continued on a regular operational basis.
In 2019, the pilot project “Healthy and mindful leadership” was launched. This is a multimodal course designed to improve the digital health literacy of employees. The course was initially aimed at executives, who are important multipliers. In the course of the pilot project, we were able to scientifically demonstrate the positive training effects on health, stress perception, and mindfulness. For this reason, in 2020 we expanded the project to the national level, under the “My Health Journey” program. To date, the course has been proven to have additional positive effects that remain significant three months after the end of the training period. The effects for participants included improved performance, a better sense of well-being, and enhanced health literacy. In light of these results, we made the training course available to the managers of nearly all German entities in 2021 and continued the project in 2022.
The “My Health Journey” program was expanded in 2022 to include additional elements involving resilience and mindfulness: The virtual sessions of the series ”Kopfsalat und Bauchgefühl” (Brain Turbulance and Gut Feeling) give our employees positive food for thought and practical assistance for strengthening their own resilience. The one-hour sessions are hosted by a neuroscientist and also give our employees a space where they can interact and share with one another.
In addition, since 2020 our employees in Germany have access to the FITMIT5 (fitwith5) app which is also integrated in the annual “My Health Journey” program. The training app includes an algorithm that puts together 5-minute workout programs tailored to users’ needs. In addition, it provides further exercise and meditation resources, as well as a nutritional tips. In light of the positive feedback received, this offer was continued in the reporting year and is now available to all company employees free of charge. We also launched a collaboration with SHENTISPORTS in 2022 that enables our business customers to offer the FITMIT5 app to their own employees.
The topic of mindfulness attracted particular interest on our Mindfulness Day in 2022. During this action day in September 2022, our employees had the opportunity to take part in online meditation and virtual yoga sessions, as well as follow presentations on non-violent communication and emotional labor. Our employees in Germany can also attend regularly held live workshops as well access online videos and handouts under the motto #myMoment that help them integrate mindfulness practices in their everyday (working) life.
Virtual 3D parkour courses on the health topics “stress and digital balance,” “sleep,” and “nutrition,” which we offered our employees for the first time in 2021, were continued in 2022. Moreover, the T-Systems segment offered additional resources in this context, such as podcasts and workshops on the topic of “sleep” as part of the company health management. This took place as part of the #ausruhezeichen sleep campaign, which was launched in 2020 and developed by the BARMER health insurance company, the Institut für Betriebliche Gesundheitsberatung (IFBG; Institute for in-company health counseling), and Deutsche Telekom. Our Gesunder Schlaf (healthy sleep) campaign once again give our employees tips from sleep research during the reporting year. In addition, we opened a sleep and relaxation room at our Bonn headquarters in 2022. This concept, which we developed for our employees the previous year as part of innovation scouting, includes a relaxation corner and a day bed for power naps. Evaluations of usage figures showed that our employees used the relaxation corner more often than the day bed. The pilot phase has been extended through February 2023, to gather further insights on how this offer is used.
With support from BARMER, we also continued to address the topic of nutrition in 2022. In 2020, we sponsored a pilot project that offered virtual presentations by nutritionists and top athletes, team workshops, and additional offers such as Weight Watchers Online. Following the Group-wide rollout of the project in 2021, we continued it in the reporting year and added additional campaigns and offerings.
In 2017, and in cooperation with one of our health partners, the BARMER health insurance company, we launched the “Digitalization and Health” model project, with the University of St. Gallen and the Institute for Organizational Diagnostics and Social Research (IfOS) in Cologne, among others, providing scientific support. In this effort, and in the context of digitalization, we have developed solutions that can improve employee health and enhance their motivation and performance. Also, we have introduced various measures in the cooperation project and tested them together with Deutsche Telekom staff. The model project is now being continued on a regular operational basis.
In 2019, the pilot project “Healthy and mindful leadership” was launched. This is a multimodal course designed to improve the digital health literacy of employees. The course was initially aimed at executives, who are important multipliers. In the course of the pilot project, we were able to scientifically demonstrate the positive training effects on health, stress perception, and mindfulness. For this reason, in 2020 we expanded the project to the national level, under the “My Health Journey” program. To date, the course has been proven to have additional positive effects that remain significant three months after the end of the training period. The effects for participants included improved performance, a better sense of well-being, and enhanced health literacy. In light of these results, we made the training course available to the managers of nearly all German entities in 2021 and continued the project in 2022.
The “My Health Journey” program was expanded in 2022 to include additional elements involving resilience and mindfulness: The virtual sessions of the series ”Kopfsalat und Bauchgefühl” (Brain Turbulance and Gut Feeling) give our employees positive food for thought and practical assistance for strengthening their own resilience. The one-hour sessions are hosted by a neuroscientist and also give our employees a space where they can interact and share with one another.
In addition, since 2020 our employees in Germany have access to the FITMIT5 (fitwith5) app
which is also integrated in the annual “My Health Journey” program. The training app includes an algorithm that puts together 5-minute workout programs tailored to users’ needs. In addition, it provides further exercise and meditation resources, as well as a nutritional tips. In light of the positive feedback received, this offer was continued in the reporting year and is now available to all company employees free of charge. We also launched a collaboration with SHENTISPORTS in 2022 that enables our business customers to offer the FITMIT5 app to their own employees.
The topic of mindfulness attracted particular interest on our Mindfulness Day in 2022. During this action day in September 2022, our employees had the opportunity to take part in online meditation and virtual yoga sessions, as well as follow presentations on non-violent communication and emotional labor. Our employees in Germany can also attend regularly held live workshops as well access online videos and handouts under the motto #myMoment that help them integrate mindfulness practices in their everyday (working) life.
Virtual 3D parkour courses on the health topics “stress and digital balance,” “sleep,” and “nutrition,” which we offered our employees for the first time in 2021, were continued in 2022. Moreover, the T-Systems segment offered additional resources in this context, such as podcasts and workshops on the topic of “sleep” as part of the company health management. This took place as part of the #ausruhezeichen sleep campaign, which was launched in 2020 and developed by the BARMER health insurance company, the Institut für Betriebliche Gesundheitsberatung (IFBG; Institute for in-company health counseling), and Deutsche Telekom. Our Gesunder Schlaf (healthy sleep) campaign once again give our employees tips from sleep research during the reporting year. In addition, we opened a sleep and relaxation room at our Bonn headquarters in 2022. This concept, which we developed for our employees the previous year as part of innovation scouting, includes a relaxation corner and a day bed for power naps. Evaluations of usage figures showed that our employees used the relaxation corner more often than the day bed. The pilot phase has been extended through February 2023, to gather further insights on how this offer is used.
With support from BARMER, we also continued to address the topic of nutrition in 2022. In 2020, we sponsored a pilot project that offered virtual presentations by nutritionists and top athletes, team workshops, and additional offers such as Weight Watchers Online. Following the Group-wide rollout of the project in 2021, we continued it in the reporting year and added additional campaigns and offerings.
Reporting against standardsGlobal Reporting Initiative (GRI)