Deutsche Telekom (DTAG) is the first company among the DAX – the Frankfurt stock market – to introduce a quota of women for its supervisory staff, in a country where public authorities have, so far, been counting on businesses’ good will to increase the number of women among their staff. If one is to believe the terms of the announcement, Deutsche Telekom isn’t simply doing an image campaign and really intends to impose this 30% quota at all levels – in Germany and abroad – of supervision. “We don’t see this quota of women as a politically correct “alibi directive.” It will help us implement, on a permanent basis, equal opportunities for the best talents, regardless of their gender. The policy of support to women we have been applying for years is indeed well intentioned but, as in every other large company, we have yet to witness its results” explained Mr. Sattelberger, who obviously doesn’t believe in good will alone anymore. Currently, 32% of DT’s global workforce are women. However, in management alone, this rate goes down to 13% (2.5% in average for the managements of the 200 biggest German firms). Finally, all members of DTAG’s management are men. And, even though three women sit at the company’s board, all three are staff representatives. Minister for Women and Families Kristina Schröder told the Financial Times Deutschland that she welcomed DT’s decision. She added, “First, I would really like to improve transparency and the obligation to render accounts. Businesses will have to determine the existing proportion of women, at what level, and how it evolves. They will be judged on this” she declared, reminding that she wants to achieve this via close dialog with businesses, and the introduction of a national quota would only be “a last resort.” For its part, Deutsche Telekom is going to impose objectives to achieve this quota by the end of 2015, in recruitment program, the selection of young graduates and internal training procedures for executives. Finally, the offer of flexible work schedules, part-time or corporate child care will be extended and adjusted gradually.
proportion of women, at what level, and how it evolves. They will be judged on this” she declared, reminding that she wants to achieve this via close dialog with businesses, and the introduction of a national quota would only be “a last resort.”
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