Social dialogue and co-determination

Co-determination

50Hertz is committed to freedom of association, collective bargaining and the protection of employee representatives. Particular emphasis is placed on trust and constant cooperation with all trade unions, especially IG BCE (trade union for mining, chemicals, and energy sectors). Half of the members of the Supervisory Board of 50Hertz are employee and union representatives. In a total of four Supervisory Board meetings in 2023, its members were informed about the current course of business, the organisation’s economic situation and the status and development of risks by means of written reports and oral statements. Furthermore, the Works Council and a committee of middle-management spokespersons represent the interests of employees and managers, respectively. Both of these bodies have wide-ranging information and consultation rights in human resources- and organizational issues, and are also entitled to negotiate with executive management on e.g. working conditions, health & safety management and employee training (details are regulated in the Works Constitution Act, a federal law). Additionally, a cross-company discussion takes place on an annual basis in Elia Group’s European Works Council with representatives from Elia and 50Hertz.

50Hertz is committed to addressing employee concerns through joint events such as those organised by the Electricity Industry Group Committee and the Netzer Working Group. In addition, the company regularly sends guest speakers and lecturers to IG BCE educational events. In order to promote employee involvement in trade union affairs, taster courses on co-determination are offered to staff. A youth and trainee representative committee (JAV) promotes the interests of young people at the company. The JAV works closely with co-determination bodies.

Employees are able to share their views about the organisation on a regular basis (see section on stakeholder participation) through different means, including the “Say it!” employee survey. Employee surveys are conducted every two years. 91% of employees took part in the survey in 2021 (2017: 91%) and 50Hertz was once again able to achieve an above-average employee commitment index of 71 (2017 survey: 68). The results were explored as part of company-wide discussions; as part of a follow-up process that was launched in the first quarter of 2021, company-wide fields of action and measures for individual teams were then decided upon. In 2020, the survey was sent to all employees across the Group for the first time, with the same questions and during the same period. This included questions related to the topic of diversity in the section on corporate culture for the first time.