The Group Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy Campaign.
As a company we have many reasons to be proud of ourselves, when it comes to Diversity. As already in 1995, the first plan was adopted at management level to specifically support women in the company. In 2006, these efforts resulted in the first Diversity Policy that underlined the importance of the topic and gave guidance on how to implement it in the everydays.
Why was the Diversity Policy renewed?
Life went on in a fast pace and especially since 2020, Telekom have been witnessing unparalleled changes at work and in society due to a global pandemic and mass digitization. This is both to reflect the ambitions we have as a company in forstering diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) and to expand the focus from gender diversity to a broader scale such as health conditions and sexual orientations. As Telekom, we are committed to ensuring that everyone is offered the same opportunities, regardless of their personal circumstances.
The Policy
The Policy is a good starting point for everybody to get informed about what these terms mean specifically, how to uphold them in the everydays and what to do when there is a threat of breach. However, reading it is only the start, how it comes to life and lived in our company is up to all of us.
That is why the accompanying communication and commitment campaign entitled "Connected As One" was launched to raise awareness of the issue among managers and employees, to inspire further action. It also aims to inspire people to get involved in activities and networking. The campaign is a call for everyone to take up the discussions on diversity, equality and inclusion and draw their own insights from them so that improvements can subsequently be achieved. It was accompanied by a kick-off video that addresses the key topics and objectives of "Connected As One".
What does “Connected As One” mean for us as a company?
"Connected As One" stands for the fact that we as a Group are a team. We challenge and encourage each other. We always adhere to what we believe is right and fair, both inside and outside our company. We are curious and constantly learning. This attitude allows us to grow both as an organization and individually.
What do the “Connected As One” visuals mean?
We created pictures out of face parts of different leaders and employees in the company, so call “face-mashes”. The underlying intention is to reinforce that we might all look different or have other, not-so-visible attributes that differentiate us, like cultural background, religion, sexual orientation, skillset, health status etc. But when it comes to fostering diversity, equity and inclusion in Deutsche Telekom, we are united. We are Connected As One.
