Adhering to behavioral standards

While the strategy clarifies what and where we want to go, the Guiding Principles provide us with the necessary orientation needed to reach our goals. Our understanding of performance always includes the questions, "What have I accomplished?" and "How did I behave in doing so?" Both aspects are important to us. We want to reach our goals and we want to do so in a way that is consistently ethical and exemplary.

Misconduct and violations of behavioral standards pertaining to respect and integrity as well as violations of laws and legal regulations can have serious consequences not only for individuals personally, but for the entire company. This is why misconduct cannot be tolerated.

The Deutsche Telekom Group effectively disciplines individuals guilty of intentional and unlawful misconduct as well as violations within the framework of legal provisions, and does so irrespective of an employee’s rank or position within the company. This particularly applies to cases of corrupt behavior or in situations in which the Deutsche Telekom Group’s assets were damaged through a criminal offence.

All of the Guiding Principles are firmly anchored, particularly in human resources processes and instruments. The Deutsche Telekom Group competence model is standardized worldwide and based on our Guiding Principles. It forms the basis for development, career advancement, and the filling of internal vacancies.

Because they also function as role models, the Deutsche Telekom Group has particularly high expectations of its senior executives and expects their behavior to be commensurate to the competency requirements of their position.

The Deutsche Telekom Group expects all employees to act in accordance with the Guiding Principles.