Why is this important?

Incorporating sustainability aspects into incentive schemes can help boost motivation among executives and employees regarding the topic of sustainability. In particular, incentives can be used to systematically track and not lose sight of sustainability goals.

For example, , providing “orientation on sustainable and long-term corporate success”. Some companies have already anchored qualitative criteria, such as increasing attractiveness as an employer, under the definition of “sustainable and long-term success”. Quantitative goals are likewise increasingly finding their way into incentive structures, for example to boost resource productivity or reduce negative environmental impacts by factor x by point in time y. This is a promising way to make sustainability a practised part of the corporate strategy.

What do the terms mean?

Incentives can be financial in nature, such as bonuses for executives and employees which are tied to the achievement of specific goals. How sustainability is handled within a company can also be markedly improved by incorporating sustainability aspects into the design of existing non-monetary incentives (e.g. internal recognition) and by creating new incentives such as leave granted for voluntary work, idea management, professional development opportunities, etc.

What needs to be borne in mind?

Please bear in mind that the incentive schemes must be directly related to your company’s sustainability goals. Target agreements based on environmental and/or social sustainability aspects are of particular interest here, such as an increase in the proportion of investments brokered with a sustainability component or participation in professional development opportunities on the topic of diversity. You may also present incentive schemes related to employees’ involvement in innovation management or a suggestion scheme insofar as these are explicitly linked to the sustainability goals.

A1

State whether there is a remuneration system or some other non-monetary incentive scheme for employees and executives into which the sustainability goals have been incorporated and, if not, whether such a thing is planned.

A2

Explain how achievement of the goals agreed upon with the employees and executives is monitored and by which bodies.

A3

State whether sustainability goals already form part of the evaluation of the top managerial level (board/managing directors) conducted by the monitoring body (supervisory board/advisory board) and, if so, which ones.