In the GLOBAL FORWARDING, FREIGHT division, the number of full-time equivalents dropped by 6.4% to 38,859. The SUPPLY CHAIN division improved its competitive position by reducing the number of employees by 7.9% to 132,367.

In the Corporate Center/Other segment, staff levels continued to decline, dropping by 9.0% to 13,898. Our cost reduction programme is beginning to take effect, particularly in the indirect functions such as IT and accounting.

The majority of our employees work in Germany, where the workforce has remained stable. In the rest of Europe, the Americas and the remaining regions, staff levels have declined because of the economy and the reorganisation of our US express business. In Asia, the number of employees has increased as a result of an acquisition.

Our aspiration: to be the most attractive employer in our sector

Having dedicated, skilled employees is crucial to the success of Deutsche Post DHL. For this reason, we want to be regarded as a preferred employer wherever we operate. Our new human resources organisation, which we introduced in the middle of the year, will allow us to meet the Group’s requirements even more effectively. We have defined five cornerstones for our efforts in human resources: to establish a leadership culture based on our principle of Respect and Results; to motivate our employees even more; to strengthen co-operation within the Group; to promote the growth of our business; and to increase the efficiency of our human resources processes by finding simplifying and sustainable solutions.

Important step: wage agreement reached

On 30 October 2009, we reached agreement with the Verdi trade union on extensive measures to relieve our cost burden and secure the jobs of the approximately 130,000 employees of Deutsche Post AG. According to the agreement, there will be no pay increases in 2010 or 2011. We have also reduced paid breaks during night shifts, suspended payment of overtime premiums and agreed upon additional cost-cutting measures. In return, layoffs have been ruled out until the end of 2011, extending the previous agreement by another six months and securing jobs.