Our employees’ opinions matter to us

We aim to be the first choice for our customers, our employees and our shareholders. To achieve this, we need to know what our employees think of us and where we can make improvements. In September, we conducted our third Group-wide employee opinion survey for this purpose. The response rate remained stable at 76%. In light of the persistent economic crisis, we were pleased to find that 68% of all those surveyed were satisfied with their jobs (previous year: 65%). The figures for our customer promise (70%) and co-operation (72%) were also high. We continue to see room for improvement in the areas of employee survey follow-up measures (45%), communication (56%) and strategy (56%). Based on the results of the survey, we are developing measures to be implemented jointly by executives and staff.

Our executives also rely heavily on our “360-degree feedback”. During the year under review, all senior-level executives allowed themselves to be rated anonymously by their superiors, colleagues and staff. We then established rules of conduct for treating each other with respect based on our principle of Respect and Results.

Employee ideas provide added value

In the reporting period, Group employees again submitted many suggestions for streamlining workflows, reducing repair and energy costs, and improving environmental protection, the latter being once again a main focal point. As part of the Save Fuel Idea 2009 competition, employees came up with nearly 7,000 ideas for reducing fuel consumption. In 2010, we would like to integrate our idea management programme even more firmly in our global Group.

A.62 Idea management
		2008	2009
Savings per employee	€	499.98	550.24
Suggestions for improvements	number	218,711	226,993
Accepted suggestions for improvements	number	162,471	178,303
Benefit	€m	265.0	262.6
Cost1)	€m	12.5	12.0