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  • 2019 Corporate Responsibility Report

Totally connected

When the alarm clock goes off in the morning, many of us are immediately “on”. With eyes barely open, we reach out to the bedside table where our smartphone is. And we consume the first information of the day before we even get out of bed.

5

According to a study by the Institut zur Zukunft der Arbeit (institute on the future of work), Germany's employees spend an average of up to five hours of their free time per week in professional activities.

Always being up to date, responding fast – it’s a given for many people today, but it’s also stressful. We think we have to be available constantly. And not just at home, but also at work. According to a study by the Institute of Labor Economics, employees in Germany spend an average of up to five hours of their free time each week on job-related activities: reading emails, answering phone calls, researching something online ... always more, always faster – and in the end: sick? To ensure it doesn’t come to that, we at Deutsche Telekom rely primarily on prevention: for instance, by offering seminars or coaching on topics such as mindfulness and self-care – also in the context of digital media. We also involve our managers as important disseminators. The measures are part of our company health management scheme. We have received several awards for our target group-specific range of measures for health and safety and preventive health care, including the “Corporate Health Award” as an exemplary company.

What we do

From flu vaccines to stress coaching – our company health management scheme offers a wide range of options. Here are several examples from Europe:

1
Health check

All employees have the opportunity to be checked over by a company physician once a year, free of charge. The check consists of a physical examination, a full blood panel, identification of individual risk factors and explanation of the findings. If necessary, a specialist referral will also be made.

2
Flu vaccine

We offer our employees free flu vaccines. The quadrivalent flu vaccine offers comprehensive protection against the seasonal influenza viruses.

3
Colon cancer
screening

We offer our employees aged 45 and older the opportunity to have free colon cancer screening once a year; if there is a family history, the screening can be done at any age. Family members can also take advantage of this offer for a small fee.

4
Exercise

Mobile fitness trainers visit our teams and demonstrate exercises that are easy to do at work. We also offer stationary bikes that can be pushed up to desks. Larger locations have physiotherapy centers, and we also cooperate with fitness studios.

5
Anti-stress

Job-related stress or family conflicts? In these cases, our employees can take advantage of a consulting service by phone or personal coaching – always strictly confidential. In addition, we offer seminars on recuperation ability and healthy leadership.

6
First aid

First aid can save lives in emergency situations. All Deutsche Telekom locations in Germany have trained first responders, who receive regular training. Other European national companies have similar measures in place. For instance, first responders at T-Systems in Slovakia receive interactive training for first aid and resuscitation every year.

7
Ergonomic
work

Sitting for long periods at work can lead to health problems. Deutsche Telekom therefore makes sure that workplaces everywhere are ergonomic – whether in the office or in the car. These efforts in Germany are supported by health and safety specialists. At Hrvatski Telekom in Croatia, specially trained managers make sure that employees work correctly at the computer.

An app for healthier living and working?

Some predict the weather, others are virtual department stores: We have apps for every conceivable purpose. But can they also help us live and work in a more healthy and conscious manner? To find out, we began testing health apps in 2018. One example is the “NutriAssist” app. Employees can use it to determine their individual nutritional needs. Our employees also tried out an app to prevent headaches. The apps were tested as part of the “Digitalization and Health” project that we are conducting in Germany together with health insurer BARMER. In 2019, we also tested the Digital Health Guide as part of the project. This online platform lets our employees test themselves and define their individual health goals. They are then shown relevant employee health care offerings in the area.

Getting better and better

How successful are we with our measures to improve occupational health and safety? We gauge these not only with the help of various key figures, but also ask our employees directly. For instance, by using a risk assessment for emotional stress we can determine if our employees suffer from workplace stress and whether sufficient resources are available for them. The survey is conducted as part of our Group-wide employee survey. It gives our managers important insights they can use to initiate improvement measures and further develop their teams. A follow-up process takes place after each employee survey. Based on the results, we recommend measures that teams can take to stay healthy and productive. The effectiveness of the measures is continuously checked and they are polled again in the next major employee survey.

95.5

In 2019, our health rate was 95.5 percent (not including long-term illnesses). It indicates the percentage of planned working time our employees actually worked.

Health in figures

What percentage of planned working hours do our employees actually spend at the workplace – and how often are they sick? This is determined by the health rate. The higher it is, the better. Our goal: to achieve a Group-wide health rate of 95.9 percent, not including long-term illnesses, by 2020.

When we feel well, we are also better friends, partners, and parents. By promoting the health and health awareness of our employees, we are making a contribution to society that goes beyond company boundaries.

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