Social responsibility at Deutsche Bahn

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    • With more than 200,000 employees worldwide, millions of customers, and numerous business partners, Deutsche Bahn holds a central place in society. The company’s decisions and actions have an impact on the lives and daily work of many people. DB is therefore always mindful of its social responsibility.

    Deutsche Bahn has long taken on social responsibility across all areas of the company. Its commitment is correspondingly diverse. It ranges from creating good working conditions for DB employees to supporting station missions, all the way to initiatives that help preserve the historical heritage of the railway in Germany.

    "For us, demonstrating a stance means having a clear and value-based position, expressing it internally and publicly, and acting on it."

    Martin Seiler, Member of the Management Board for Human Resources and Legal Affairs, Deutsche Bahn AG

    Deutsche Bahn’s social commitment is shaped by four guiding principles that provide orientation for the company and its stakeholders. They reflect DB’s core beliefs and social values compass.

    Four standpoints as Deutsche Bahn's compass of social values

    Strengthening community

    Deutsche Bahn shapes the daily lives of many people in Germany – whether they are customers, employees, or business partners. This means DB is not only at the heart of society, but also an important part of it.

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    Supporting social engagement

    As one of the country’s largest companies, DB plays an important role in society. The Group’s ambition is therefore to help society function – extending beyond its own business activities.

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    Promoting diversity

    Deutsche Bahn stands for an open, inclusive society. Valuing social diversity is a firmly embedded part of the company’s culture, which the Group promotes both internally and externally through a variety of concrete measures.

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    Responsibility for its own history

    DB is inextricably linked with the history of the railway in Germany. For the Group, this creates an enduring responsibility to engage with this past and to preserve its memory.

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    Deutsche Bahn’s social responsibility follows a clear focus and a systematic approach. Behind its guiding principles lie various key areas with numerous activities and initiatives that make DB’s social commitment tangible and concrete.

    The Group's most important stakeholders are at the heart of its social commitment. Deutsche Bahn feels a special obligation to them.

    Stakeholder

    • Employees

      As one of Germany’s largest employers, Deutsche Bahn bears a special responsibility. The company’s employees are the foundation of DB’s success and are therefore at the center of many aspects of its social commitment – from occupational safety and working conditions to strengthening diversity within the organization.

    • Customers and business partners

      Customer and business partner satisfaction is of central importance to Deutsche Bahn. The company strives to act responsibly toward them at all times – from offering travel services that are as free from discrimination as possible to dealing fairly and with integrity with business clients, service providers, and suppliers.

    • Society

      As a federally owned company, Deutsche Bahn also considers itself committed to society as a whole. This is why the Group engages in activities that go beyond its core business to support the common good – from donations for victims of natural disasters to assistance for homeless people in and around train stations.

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    In addition to the DB Group, other affiliated stakeholders also assume social responsibility through their engagement.

    Other organizations

    Key focus areas of social responsibility

    From its four guiding principles for assuming social responsibility, Deutsche Bahn derives its various focus areas. These demonstrate how its understanding of social responsibility is put into concrete action.

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