Values

175 Years of Bertelsmann | The Management The Group | Divisions | Spirit | Financial Information 37
Bertelsmann Essentials
Corporate Responsibility
Code of Conduct training for employees
Bertelsmann’s success is dependent upon its commitment to ethical conduct and compliance with the spirit and letter of the
law. In 2008, Bertelsmann introduced a binding global Code of Conduct to underscore its commitment to good corporate
citizenship, heighten awareness of key principles underlying our daily business, and provide information about ways in which
employees can raise their concerns and report violations of the Code of Conduct. Bertelsmann continues to further enhance and
develop the measures aimed at insuring ethical conduct and compliance. In 2009, a basic training was introduced to familiarize
employees worldwide with the Code of Conduct.
BeFit: Healthy employees for a healthy company
Getting and staying fi t is enormously important for each and every one of us. As a business, we also have a strong interest in
making sure that our employees are healthy and motivated. Th is is why we off er our employees a range of preventive measures
and excellent medical care. Bertelsmann’s various workplace health management activities are part of the “BeFit” campaign.
Among other things, we have developed modular health checks, in which more than 1,300 staff members participated in 2009.
Th e sports and health program was successfully expanded to include other divisions last year.
Long-term assistance in disaster areas
Natural disasters quickly disappear from the headlines, but the people aff ected have to live with the consequences every day,
and long-term aid is needed. Th is is why, for example, since 2005 Bertelsmann has been providing food, clothing, medical care,
and educational support for some 250 tsunami orphans in six SOS Children’s Villages, and this support is to continue for a total
of at least ten years. Following the devastating May 2008 earthquake in southern China, Bertelsmann made a donation to the
international children’s relief organization Plan to support the long-term rebuilding of schools in that region. Bertelsmann
again chose Plan as its partner after the earthquake disaster in Haiti in January 2010. In all, direct donations and fund drives by
Bertelsmann companies around the world have resulted in well over 45 million euros being raised for Haiti.
Working to protect the climate
In 2008, the Bertelsmann Executive Board initiated a comprehensive climate-protection strategy to supplement Bertelsmann’s
existing environmental policy, which was formulated in 2004, and the 2005 Bertelsmann Paper Policy. In order to develop and
defi ne binding targets for climate protection, the fi rst Group-wide carbon footprint was calculated in 2009. It indicates that
the Bertelsmann Group generated approximately 1.5 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions (CO 2 equivalents) from January
to December 2008. Th e development and implementation of Bertelsmann’s climate protection strategy is managed by the
“Be green” team, an international panel of environmental experts from all divisions.
Bertelsmann Annual Report 2009
Our Engagement