'Dining With The Big Boss' And Birthday Donations For Students – Direct Group China Determined To Live Essentials

"The Essentials have to be lived by everybody, and everybody has to be able to experience them regardless of which job they hold, on which level, and in which country." With these words, Gunter Thielen appealed to employees and executives in his letter at the end of January to put the ideas of the new essentials into action, and it was heard without delay in Shanghai. Direct Group China launched a Bertelsmann Essentials campaign a few days ago under the motto "Living the Bertelsmann Essentials." It aims to familiarize employees with the values of the company and give them common goals and orientation in an understandable and transparent way. The colleagues in China also have a copy of the Essentials in their native tongue – Chinese is one of the ten languages in which the Essentials were published.

"I feel honored that Chinese is among these ten languages," admitted Bryan Ellis, President, Direct Group China, in his letter sent out to launch the campaign. "It shows the importance attributed to the Chinese market." Ellis also said that it is the duty of each employee to bring the Essentials to life. For this reason, he called on the employees, whom he had personally greeted with a handshake at the entrance to the company grounds, and with a thick stack of Essentials brochures in his other hand on the day the campaign was launched, to participate in this issue with ideas, initiatives, and events.

Once a month, Ellis will invite a few employees to a joint luncheon in order to discuss the business situation with them and to get their feedback about their work and job. In addition to the "Dining with the Big Boss," Ellis will organize the "Annual Best Entrepreneur Award" once a year. This award will honor two employees who stand out with their entrepreneurial thinking and actions and thus contribute to creating a positive and engaged atmosphere in their working environment.

Furthermore, Direct Group China awards the "Annual Creativity Star Team Award" every year and has installed a "Creative Idea Box." This box will collect creative ideas that can help save costs, increase revenues, take advantage of synergies, and make customers even more satisfied. In the end, the best suggestions will have a chance to win the "Creativity Star Team Award."

And, in order to do justice to the social responsibility as stipulated in the Essentials, the company is founding the "Bertelsmann Birthday Fund." Those who wish to do so can make a gift to others on their own birthday by contributing any amount into the fund. The donated money will benefit students who would not be able to finance their university studies with their own resources.